Alstef Mobile Robotics celebrates 50 years of innovation
Alstef Mobile Robotics (previously BA Systèmes), a subsidiary of Alstef Group, proudly celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. On Friday, 200 employees gathered to honor this milestone. Over five decades, the company has designed innovative AGV-AMR solutions for intralogistics and airport logistics. Now, it embarks on a new era centered around smart and sustainable growth.
A Leading Expertise in Mobile Robotics
Founded in 1975 as ‘Bretagne Automatisme’, the company evolved into BA Systèmes and launched its first AGVs in 1983. Since then, it has continuously innovated while focusing on its core mission: designing, manufacturing, and installing customized, high-performance robotic systems.
In 2023, the company rebranded to Alstef Mobile Robotics to showcase its full integration into Alstef Group, a group which stands out as a global expert in turnkey automated solutions for airports, intralogistics, and parcel sorting.
Today, over 2,000 mobile robots developed by Alstef Mobile Robotics operate worldwide, supporting industrial, logistics, and airport sectors.
A sustained Growth
The company has steadily grown over the years. It doubled its workforce in 2010, and in 2015, expanded its production area to 8,000 m². Most recently, it opened a new industrial site in Pacé, near Rennes, France. Furthermore, a new 12,000 m² facility is planned for 2027.
In 2024, Alstef Mobile Robotics achieved its best performance yet, reaching €26 million in revenue alongside record production levels. The company aims to produce 300 machines per year by 2027, compared to the current 120 to 180 units annually.
Group Synergy and International Ambitions
Since joining Alstef Group in 2018, Alstef Mobile Robotics has leveraged strong synergies with its parent company. Together, they share a clear vision: to deliver flexible, scalable, and complete solutions to customers worldwide.
Alstef Group has expanded rapidly, acquiring Glidepath in New Zealand in 2020 and U.S.-based Solutions Net Systems in 2023. Currently, the group operates in 18 countries, with systems installed in 97 countries and more than 1,000 employees.
Alstef Mobile Robotics plays a key role in this global strategy. The company plans to expand internationally, focusing especially on North America, where several projects are already in progress. Consequently, exports should represent one-third of its business in the next few years.
A Future-Focused Vision
The company’s R&D teams drive future innovation. A major program launched at the end of 2023 focuses on developing smarter, more autonomous, and easier-to-maintain AGV-AMR systems. Artificial intelligence and machine learning will play pivotal roles in the upcoming generation of mobile robotics.
Moreover, air cargo automation remains a strategic priority. Thanks to Alstef Group’s airport expertise, the company has designed a new range of solutions tailored for this rapidly growing sector. These innovations address increasing demands for productivity and reliability.
“We are proud of our 50-year journey. It has been a human and technological adventure that shaped our strong expertise in mobile robotics,” says Olivier Imbert, Managing Director of Alstef Mobile Robotics. “As the successor of BA Systèmes, Alstef Mobile Robotics continues to grow with the same passion. We combine the agility of a human-scale organization with the strength of a global group. What we celebrate today is our ability to innovate sustainably and help our customers build the factory of the future.”