Inbound Logistics/MODEX 2026 Interview Series: Attabotics - Mark Dickinson, SVP, Sales and Software

— Good afternoon. Joe Biondo with inbound logistics live from Modex 2026. I'm here with Mark Dickinson, SVP of sales and software with Attabotics. Mark, how you doing? I'm doing well, thanks. How are you? I'm doing well, man. Hanging in here. It's been a busy day so far. We can see the show floor behind us. But Mark, I wanted to ask a couple of questions of you. So what would you say is the biggest pain point your customers are bringing to you this year compared to like 2 years ago? You know, they really seem to be focused on how to get these systems implemented, how they apply to to their operation. That's something we work very closely with them on. Really understanding their business and how the technology that we've developed can really support them. You know, we we stand pretty close with them and make sure that what we're working on is something that that deployed capable and meets what their needs are. So we spend a lot of time in data, operations and designing with them. So this is a good vantage point to ask this question. But looking around the show floor here at Modex today, what would you say is something you've seen that was you know unthinkable even just 5 years ago? You know, a lot of this was unthinkable 5 years ago. You know, you look at some of the market dynamics, reasons why some of these technologies were born. You know, we don't make for the most part real big million square foot buildings anymore. We're doing a lot more with smaller facilities, buildings that have existed, buildings that are being retrofitted and that kind of thing. So how do we squeeze more out of the existing floor space, that kind of thing. So these technologies that get into a lot more denser storage while still remaining flexible and scalable uh is really interesting to watch. And what would you say with that in mind, what would you say is the biggest mistake you see companies making as they're embarking on their digital transformation journey? You know, trying to take whatever it is that's out on the floor and shoehorn their operation into it. You know, each one of these companies that's here to here at the show, they they've all got in incredible capabilities and technology, but it's really the fitting that to the customer's operations so that you're not forcing them to change the operation in order to stay on product. And it's a balancing act that everybody follows. It's really making sure that we as solutions providers understand the business and be able to affect positive change rather than the last thing we want is somebody to stand there and be like, you know, I shouldn't have done this, that. We want to work with them to make sure that it's adopted. Mark, so we've heard this is a new era for Autobotics with the Lafayette Systems merger or partnership. What could you say to customers that are looking at Autobotics now that they have the 30 years of operational discipline at Lafayette behind them? Yeah, so Lafayette brings an incredible amount of capability, integrity, and just knowledge. Um they've done hundreds of systems um you know, bringing additional value to their customers. You know, taking that mindset and that mentality and putting that into the to the Autobotics technology really gives it a springboard from which to be successful. You know, we've already rationalized manufacturing across the the Canadian US border. Um we're also looking at different other pieces, um you know, using some of the PLC technology and re- re-imagining um some of the things that we've got we've been working on with the robots, you know. At the end we we've got similar technology, similar capabilities, and Lafayette family of companies brings us the ability to look at things in a different light and make sure that we're aimed in the right direction. So with safety and resilience top of mind, you know, you just unveiled the Guardian metal bin here a couple minutes ago. Oh, can you explain how moving from plastic to galvanized steel changes the game for fire suppression and insurance certifications? Sure. So, the robot itself we've always designed that with safety in mind, you know, we use certified systems for charging for the capacitor bank and for the robot itself. You know, the Guardian bin was kind of the next evolution of where we take it. So, by being able to remove not use plastic injection molded we remove a lot of the cross section of fire components that would be in go into a system. So, by using the metal bin it really provides another level of risk mitigation to customers to make sure that we're taking care of their the contents that they put into the system. That makes perfect sense. So, you recently announced an expansion into the US manufacturing here in

Kentucky. How does having production on both sides of the border control lead times and better serve North American based customers? Yeah, so we have the ability now to directly supply customers here in the US with US made made equipment. Actually part of the booth some of the equipment that's on the booth today was manufactured in Kentucky. So, from a when you look at the global market and some of the different macro effects that are being recognized we feel that having the ability to supply out of both countries really gives us gives our customers the ability to mitigate any tariffs supply chain constraints that kind of thing. So, for the most part I think US customers would see would have US manufactured product coming out of Kentucky. Um, you know, any projects in Canada or international would come out of Calgary. So, for the skeptics uh who love the technology, but we're looking for a stable partner. What is your message to them coming out of Modex 2026? You know, the Lafayette family of companies really provides that stability. Yeah, Bruce and and the family have spent the last 35 years um building their reputation and they stand on it firmly. Um, having Autobotics technology be part of Lafayette in addition to to Mechatronics and Kendale, uh Century Conveyor and Lafayette Engineering, um customers should get a you know, a good feeling about the solution that we provide to them.