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Featured report  ·  STIQ Ltd  ·  2026

STIQ 2026 Pallet Automation Equipment Report

STIQ's global report on pallet ASRS covers stacker cranes, mother-child shuttles, 2D pallet shuttles (also known as 4-way or 4D shuttles) and 1D shuttles. Rainbow Dynamics is featured in the report, including an interview with our CEO.

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72 pagesFree report
STIQ LtdPublisher
3Q26Interviews conducted
Cover of the STIQ Pallet Automation 2026 report showing stacker cranes, shuttles and warehouse staff in an illustrated high-bay warehouse

Report cover: STIQ Ltd, Pallet Automation 2026. Gold sponsors named on the cover: Movu Robotics, ZS Robotics, Spacemaker Systems.

About the report

A market view of pallet ASRS, with the 2D shuttle at its centre

STIQ Ltd is a research firm focused on the logistics and supply chain market. Its 2026 pallet edition focuses on the global pallet ASRS market (cranes, mother-child shuttles and 1D shuttles) and on the growing popularity of the 2D pallet shuttle. It draws on interviews with vendors, system integrators and end customers conducted in 3Q26.

Authors: Tom Andersson (Founder) and Adam Botterill (Partner), STIQ Ltd.

Terminology. STIQ refers to this technology as a 2D Pallet Shuttle, while it is commonly known in the industry as a 4-Way or 4D Shuttle. The report uses "2D" because the shuttle moves in two dimensions (X and Z). Rainbow Dynamics' own system is called 4D Shuttle AS/RS. Satellite shuttles are "1D shuttles".

Pallet ASRSStorage & retrievalStacker cranesMother-child shuttles2D pallet shuttles (4-way / 4D)1D (satellite) shuttles

What's inside

Executive summaryp. 2
Pallet ASRS
Intro and segmentation · market size and trend · non-2D shuttle market
p. 3
The 2D pallet shuttle
Market drivers · end customers · market by continent
p. 19
2D shuttle system integrator evaluationp. 36
Vendor go-to-market strategiesp. 44
2D pallet core components
Shuttle racking and sourcing · software · pallet quality
p. 47
End customer interview
The global 3PL on 2D pallet shuttles
p. 60
Vendor directory, credits and list of interviewsp. 66

Key industry insights

What STIQ found

Selected findings from the report, each referenced to its page. Read the full report for the interview evidence behind them.

Executive summary · p. 2

Incumbent pallet ASRS systems see stable growth while 2D shuttles expand into white space and take market share

STIQ expects 2D shuttles to gain a significant and dominant market position in the medium to longer term, while the technology remains relatively nascent.

4.3

Average sector sentiment for 2026F, out of 5 (3.9 for 2025A)

p. 11
50–70%

Steel and racking share of 2D shuttle projects, "often as high as"

p. 2
4

Primary pallet ASRS technologies, plus hybrids

p. 6
Cold chain · p. 2

ROI improves in temperature-controlled sites

ROI for 2D shuttles improves sharply in temperature-controlled environments, or when they are part of a larger integrated warehouse solution.

Brownfield · p. 32

The go-to option for existing buildings

2D shuttles are the go-to option for brownfield facilities, but ceiling height and building shape still need to be considered.

Cross-docking · p. 21

Cross-docking requests are recurring

Cross-docking appears to be a relatively frequently recurring end-customer request for 2D shuttles, and an emerging trend.

Cranes · p. 14

Cranes and 2D shuttles stay complementary

While the 2D shuttle is on trend, the most likely longer-term development is that cranes and 2D shuttles remain complementary.

Software · p. 55

Software becomes the differentiator

With 2D shuttle hardware commoditizing, software plays an increasingly important role as a unique selling point.

Outlook · p. 11

Optimism for 2026, uncertainty beyond

STIQ's sentiment tracker shows short-term optimism for the sector, but longer-term uncertainty is likely to remain.

Market-size figures are not reproduced on this page. STIQ provides market size data separately to the report (p. 2, p. 10). Source: STIQ Ltd, Pallet ASRS Automation report.

Technologies shaping pallet automation

Four primary pallet ASRS technologies

Pallet ASRS covers storage and retrieval systems built on cranes and shuttles. Hybrids, such as stacker cranes with satellite shuttles, are also offered (report p. 6).

Stacker crane

Mature and reliable, typically deployed in greenfield high-bay warehouses (p. 15).

Typical depth
1–2 pallets
Max height*
>50 m
Moves on
Rails (ground + top)
Power
Contact

Mother-child shuttle

Likely to remain in the market, especially if racking and steel pricing improves for 2D shuttles (p. 2).

Also called
Mother-daughter
Typical depth
1–2 pallets
Max height*
<40 m
Power
Contact

2D Pallet Shuttle

Entered a relative white space and is increasingly competing with incumbent legacy ASRS systems (p. 8).

Also called
4-way / 4D shuttle
Typical depth
Unlimited
Max height*
<30 m
Power
Battery

Satellite shuttle (1D)

Mainly a first entry into hybrid manual-automated environments, with a focus on density (p. 2).

Also called
2-way, satellite
Typical depth
Unlimited
Max height*
<10 m
Power
Battery

* The report notes the market is changing quickly and suitable height is often determined by comparable ROI rather than product limitations. Specifications are simplified from STIQ's comparison table (p. 6). Illustrations are simplified diagrams drawn for this page, not the report's artwork.

Rainbow Dynamics in the report

Our role in the 2D pallet shuttle shift

Rainbow Dynamics is featured in STIQ's Pallet Automation 2026 report, listed in its vendor directory (p. 69), with an interview with our CEO (p. 72).

Real-world deployment

In the U.S., we have deployed a large number of shuttles at a small-scale pilot facility prioritizing throughput, for a cross-docking facility operated by a major e-commerce player. STIQ notes that cross-docking is a relatively frequently recurring end-customer request for 2D shuttles (p. 21).

Flexible, rack-agnostic solutions

In 2D shuttle projects, racking is a large share of cost: STIQ cites steel and racking often as high as 50–70% of projects (p. 2). We focus on the shuttle units and software, and can work where racks are procured by the customer or the system integrator (p. 46).

Growing partnerships in Japan

We aim to expand our partnerships with system integrators and logistics companies across Japan. If you are interested in 2D shuttles, please contact us.

Contact us

Orange pallet shuttle inside a high-density rack lane
Our system

4D Shuttle AS/RS

High-density pallet storage with a 40%+ increase over static racking, full automation to save forklift and labour, and scalability. Optimized for cold storage.

Explore 4D Shuttle AS/RS →

Statements about Rainbow Dynamics' systems and deployments are the company's own. The STIQ report does not endorse any vendor's products.

STIQ Pallet Automation 2026 report cover

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Get the STIQ 2026 Pallet Automation Equipment Report

72 pages on pallet ASRS, stacker cranes, mother-child, 2D and 1D shuttles, including core components, system integrator views and a vendor directory. Free from STIQ Ltd.

Download from STIQ Talk to our team

Source: STIQ Ltd, "Pallet Automation 2026". Data in the report uses third-party and proprietary sources; STIQ recommends readers verify any data before reuse. Not investment advice.

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