From lifting heavy boxes to working in spaces without air conditioning or heating, the task of loading and unloading trucks and containers has attracted robotics developers. Affordable Robotics and Automation Ltd., or ARAPL, this week announced the first order of its Atlas AC2000 autonomous forklift from its ARAPL RaaS subsidiary, which recently rebranded as Humro.
The company said the order from a large U.S. logistics firm marks Humro’s entry into a new product category as it expands globally. The customer conducted prototype trials over the past three months at its facilities.
“Considering the scale and competition in the U.S. market, we are thrilled to announce the success of our product with an established logistics player,” stated Milind Padole, founder and managing director of ARAPL. “This order, following stringent approvals and successful prototype performance, not only opens new doors for us, but also is a step towards positioning ‘Make in India’ mobile robots prominently in the global warehouse robotics sector — otherwise dominated by large U.S. and Chinese players.”
Founded in 2005, ARAPL offer turnkey automation for sectors including automotive, general industry, and the government. The Pune, India-based company said it has experience in line automation, robotic inspection stations, and automated assembly systems, as well as robotic welding cells and automated car-parking systems.
ARAPL designs AMRs for safety, easy management
Adoption of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) has grown worldwide, particularly in the U.S. because of efficiency and safety demands, noted Humro. The company specializes in safety-certified AMRs for warehousing, manufacturing, and logistics. It said it uses ARAPL’s proprietary i-ware controller, plus artificial intelligence and swarm robotics to deliver scalable automation.
The Atlas AC2000 is equipped with lidar-based navigation, real-time obstacle detection, and precision control algorithms to safely automate truck loading and unloading, said ARAPL. The lift truck also integrates with warehouse management systems (WMS) and enterprise resource planning (ERP) platforms, the company claimed.
ARAPL’s portfolio includes over 400 employees, more than 7,000 industrial robots, and over 10,000 automated car-parking systems. The company said its AMRs run on patented technology and claimed that it was India’s first publicly listed robotics firm.
Save the date for the 2026 Robotics SummitHumro gets first U.S. orders plus investment to grow
The initial Rs3.6 crore ($405,000 U.S.) order is for two robots leased for a period of three years. ARAPL noted that it can deploy 15 to 16 AMRs to the 15 U.S. warehouses owned by the same client over the next two years.
To help its U.S. expansion, Humro in December adjusted its prices by 10% to reflect tariffs at the time, but it said its products are still 15% to 20% more cost effective than those of its competitors.
“Being a deep-tech robotics player competing in a high-potential market, Humro has ticked all the right boxes since its inception in 2021,” said Padole. “With a robust product portfolio [and] strong client validation, we are now well-positioned for customer acquisition.”
In addition, ARAPL announced that it plans to invest $8 million to $10 million in Humro, including $3 million from Padole, preferential allotments, and debt financing.
Humro provides proprietary FleetOps software and secure iWare integration. It also offers its systems through a robotics-as-a-service (RaaS) model, leasing, and perpetual licenses. The company said it can “enable businesses of all sizes to scale operations, boost efficiency, and modernize without heavy upfront investment.”
