The materials handling sector carries steady momentum into the second half of 2026, as warehouse operators continue investing in automation, robotics and fulfillment capacity even as broader capex discipline persists.
North American robot orders totaled 36,766 units valued at $2.25 billion in 2025, up 6.6% in units and 10.1% in revenue year over year, according to the Association for Advancing Automation (A3), with non-automotive demand, led by food, electronics and life sciences, outpacing automotive for the year.
Momentum cooled in the first quarter of 2026: North American companies ordered 9,055 robots valued at $543 million, essentially flat in units but down 6.4% in revenue, as a cyclical pullback in automotive OEM orders (down 35.1% in units) offset continued strength in collaborative robots, up 55.6% in units.
The 2026 MHI Annual Industry Report, produced with Deloitte, found that supply chain leaders now view artificial intelligence as the most disruptive technology of the next decade, prompting investment not only in AI and robotics but also in workforce reskilling to operate increasingly automated facilities. That shift was on display at MODEX 2026 in Atlanta, where automation, AI-enabled warehouse management systems and robotics dominated exhibitor floors.
Supply-side capacity remains a key underwriting consideration. OEM depth, parts availability and remarketing strength continue to vary meaningfully by product tier, particularly as lift truck, conveyor and robotics suppliers compete for the same warehouse-modernization dollars.
Implications for equipment finance: durable origination pipelines should persist in core assets such as lift trucks, conveyors and racking, alongside growing demand for automation cells, AMRs and software-rich systems. Structures built around faster technology refresh cycles, including refresh options, step-rate leases and service-wrapped terms, combined with careful attention to asset remarketability by OEM tier, will help lenders balance utilization risk against the sector’s continued growth trajectory.
