Hakuou Robotics
About
About Hakuou Robotics
Hakuou combines its own driving software and object recognition with forklift vehicles supplied by Logisnext. AutoFork's playback setup records a transport workflow, while onboard cameras recognise multiple pallets and support pickup. Integration with warehouse equipment lets the vehicle participate in a material flow that includes conveyors and other handling stages.
In September 2026, the company organised the range into AutoFork Walkie and the newly announced AutoFork Reach. Walkie focuses on compact pallet and inter-process transport. Reach is being developed for one-tonne loads and storage into racks, extending the offering beyond floor-level movement. Hakuou targets commercialisation of the Reach model during 2027.
Products
- AutoFork
AutoFork
Operations
Orders & commitments
- Order / commitment
2026-04-15 - Hakuou said the first 10-unit production lot of AutoFork sold out about three months after availability began, with units entering live manufacturing and logistics operations. - initial production lot
Source
Operating milestones
- Operating milestone
2026-08-05 - AutoFork entered live operation at Ebara Logistics’ Tsuyama centre, exchanging PLC signals with a robotic palletizer to move finished and empty pallets across a roughly 50-pallet-per-day workflow that includes overnight operation. - named customer workflow - Tsuyama Logistics Center
Source - Operating milestone
2026-07-28 - One AutoFork Standard entered stable operation at a Nippon TransCity logistics site, handling a workflow of 100–150 pallets per day through a vertical conveyor interface. - named customer workflow
Source
Funding
- 2024-08-27 - Strategic investment - Prologis invests in Hakuou Robotics
Hakuou Robotics completed a third-party allotment to Prologis to expand AutoFork development, sales and support. - source: hakuou.co.jp
Investors
- Prologis - Lead - Unknown - 1 funding event - first seen 2024-08-27
Team
- Tomohiro Suzuki - Representative Director & CEO - Leads Hakuou Robotics and AutoFork development.
- Tsutomu Shiobara - COO, Business Development - Leads business development and operations.
Timeline
Events
- 2026-08-05 - Deployment - Hakuou Robotics puts AutoFork into operation at Ebara Logistics
AutoFork removes finished pallets and replenishes empty pallets for the production line. The connected workflow covers pallet handling between the factory and logistics centre. The system can continue the pallet-transfer workflow overnight.
Source - 2026-07-28 - Deployment - Hakuou Robotics deploys AutoFork at Nippon TransCity logistics site
The production unit picks pallets from multiple staging rows and loads them into the vertical conveyor. A fork-tip sensor checks whether the conveyor is occupied and holds the robot back when required. The site went live about one month after ordering and is Hakuou's first deployment through Logisnext Japan.
Source - 2025-08-28 - Partnership - Hakuou and Mitsubishi Logisnext sign AutoFork sales partnership in Japan
Hakuou Robotics signed a sales cooperation agreement with Mitsubishi Logisnext for AutoFork, with nationwide dealer sales scheduled to start on 1 September 2025. The product uses a Mitsubishi Logisnext walkie-lift base vehicle with Hakuou’s automation functions and can switch between manual and unmanned operation. AutoFork offers same-day route setup through playback learning, 360-degree obstacle sensing, multi-pallet recognition and a 570-kilogram maximum load; maintenance is split between Hakuou’s automation systems and the base vehicle’s manual functions.
Source - 2024-08-27 - Funding - Prologis invests in Hakuou Robotics
Prologis invested in early August 2024. Hakuou said the funding would support hiring and AutoFork commercialization.
Source
Relations
Relationships
- Ebara Logistics
Autofork Deployment Customer - Hakuou Robotics deployed AutoFork at Ebara Logistics’ Tsuyama centre for autonomous pallet movement and overnight operation.
- Nippon TransCity Co., Ltd.
Customer Deployment - Hakuou Robotics deployed one AutoFork Standard at Nippon TransCity's Mie Asahi Logistics Center for pallet transfer into a vertical conveyor.
- Logisnext Japan Co., Ltd.
Deployment Channel Partner - The Nippon TransCity AutoFork installation was Hakuou Robotics' first deployment through Logisnext Japan.
- Mitsubishi Logisnext Co., Ltd.
Sales And Service Partner - Mitsubishi Logisnext sells AutoFork and provides nationwide maintenance support in Japan.