Dedicated to helping businesses and individuals prioritize safety, health, and compliance in the workplace. From small startups to large corporations, safety is essential, and we're here to make it easier.
Attabotics last week launched Guardian - a formed metal bin for its automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS) engineered to help mitigate fire risks.
The bin replaces combustible plastics with inert galvanized steel and is designed to contain leaked liquid to limit spills, while also supporting the effective distribution of fire suppression fluid through high-density racking.
“Firefighters respond to nearly four warehouse fires each day in the U.S. On an annual basis, that adds up to more than 1,500 fires and over $300 million in direct property damage,” said Mark Dickinson, Attabotics SVP & GM. “For supply chains running on tight timelines and low margins, those statistics represent a critical threat. Our goal with the Guardian bin is to support our customers’ strategies to operate safely and efficiently.”
Attabotics will showcase its Guardian bin and discuss its applicability within robotic cube storage for goods-to-person fulfillment applications at MODEX 2026 in booth C14787.
The trade show is being hosted by MHI April 13-16 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Following a fire at a Canadian Tire warehouse - one of Attabotics’ largest clients - the ASRS provider filed for bankruptcy in 2025.
In Feb. 2026, Attabotics restarted operations as part of LaFayette Systems.
“We’re focused on accelerating development, improving reliability, and listening to what matters to customers so that we can meet demand for technology that simplifies complex fulfillment operations,” Dickinson said.
Attabotics said fire safety considerations are central to the Guardian bin’s design.
When fire suppression systems are activated, the bin collects and allows water to pool briefly before overflowing downward to adjacent storage locations, supporting effective distribution of suppression fluid throughout the storage structure to and help maintain structural integrity during a fire.
The metal construction provides predictable behavior and maintains structural integrity at elevated temperatures, which supports broader system-level safety strategies.
Attabotics is actively collaborating with commercial insurance providers toward fire safety certification of the bin for use in ASRS environments.
A purpose-built plastic base maintains low noise levels on high-speed conveyors and interfaces seamlessly with robotic handling equipment to prevent damage and support a long service life.
The bin’s flat-pack design enables shipments of up to 2,800 bins in a single container - nearly 10 times the amount that can be shipped with conventional bin designs - improving logistics efficiency and reducing environmental impact.
The metal construction also enables easy cleaning, helping to limit the impact of spilled or leaked beverages, industrial fluids, personal care products, or other liquids. The bin can hold up to 0.5 gallons of liquid to help mitigate contamination of electronic components in the system.
Guardian is designed to address fire risks without compromising throughput or performance. It is compatible with existing Attabotics structure and storage locations, available in three different heights, and subdividable up to 16 compartments - just like standard plastic bins.
Join our Safety Matters newsletter and get safety news across logistics, warehousing, manufacturing, construction, and other high-risk environments. Get the latest regulatory updates, alerts, safety products, equipment and training, and analysis.
Don't miss a single news story, product review or safety resource. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest safety news, updates, and exclusive offers.
