Bankruptcy is not always the end of the line for robotics startups. Attabotics Inc., which last year filed for bankruptcy, this month said it will restart operations as part of LaFayette Systems, which acquired it in September.
“As we begin this new chapter, our goal is simple: Pair the exceptional technology from Attabotics with LaFayette’s warehouse automation expertise and customer-first culture,” said Bruce Robbins, who founded LaFayette in 1989. “We believe that combination brings the right focus and discipline to the technology and allows us to deliver reliable, long-term value for our customers.”
Danville, Ky.-based LaFayette is a privately owned, closely held organization with decades of experience in material handling automation.
Attabotics to stay in Calgary
Attabotics claimed that it built the world’s first robotic goods-to-person (G2P) cubic storage system in 2016. The company said its automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS) offered a space-efficient and high-speed alternative to traditional warehouse fulfillment with a patented structure and robotic shuttles that used both horizontal and vertical space.
In July 2025, Attabotics laid off most of its approximately 200 employees. The Calgary, Alberta-based company said its struggles stemmed from losses on interest rates, slower consumer spending, and delayed projects.
Now, Attabotics’ existing facility will continue to house key engineering, business, and manufacturing functions. Legacy Attabotics team members Mark Dickinson, John Hickman, and Derek Fortier remain with the organization.
Dickinson will be leading overall strategy and operations, Hickman will head manufacturing, and Fortier will oversee supply chain management. Several veteran Attabotics engineers also remain on staff, preserving specialized technical expertise.
LaFayette to help automation scale
“Attabotics was built on innovative technology and strong engineering, and now, as part of LaFayette Systems, we have the support to fully realize its potential,” says Mark Dickinson, senior vice president and general manager, and part of the Attabotics team since 2020. “We’re focused on accelerating development, improving reliability, and listening to what matters to customers, so that we can meet demand for technology that simplifies complex fulfillment operations.”
LaFayette Systems maintains a coast-to-coast U.S. presence through its family of companies, including: