Starlinks selects Swisslog to automate aviation MRO warehouse in Saudi Arabia

Starlinks has selected Swisslog to supply warehouse automation systems for a new aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul facility in Saudi Arabia, part of a broader supply chain programme for a leading aviation company in the Middle East. Starlinks is responsible for the overall supply chain solution, covering supply chain design, automation planning and operational implementation, while Swisslog is providing the automation systems and software to support inventory storage, material handling and distribution operations at the facility.

The integrated automation solution combines an AutoStore high-density storage system with pallet automation and Swisslog's SynQ software platform, allowing both small parts and palletised inventory to move within a single coordinated material flow. The AutoStore system uses a modular grid of stacked bins, with robots travelling on top to retrieve items. The pallet automation scope includes Swisslog Vectura stacker cranes, Swisslog ProMove pallet conveyors, a pallet shuttle car, inbound transport systems and picking stations.

Alexander Komianos, Managing Director UAE & Solutions at Starlinks, said the combination of logistics expertise and Swisslog's automation technologies would deliver a foundation for long-term growth and operational excellence as Saudi Arabia invests heavily in aviation, logistics and industrial capabilities. Rami Younes, General Manager of Swisslog Middle East, said the combination of AutoStore technology, pallet automation and SynQ software would ensure high inventory availability, efficient use of space and reliable material flow as aviation supply chains grow in scale across the region. Starlinks is a subsidiary of Ali Zaid Al Quraishi & Brothers Company (AZAQ), operating across Saudi Arabia and the GCC, while Swisslog, headquartered in Buchs/Aarau, Switzerland, is part of the KUKA Group.

This deal belongs to a wider trend of aviation MRO operations bringing warehouse automation into facilities that historically relied on manual picking and storage, as parts inventories grow in both volume and diversity. Combining small-parts storage with pallet automation under one software platform reflects how MRO warehouses differ from generic logistics sites: they must handle everything from tiny fasteners to bulky palletised assemblies within the same building, often against tight turnaround pressure on aircraft on the ground.

For the segment, the case illustrates how supply chain integrators and automation vendors are splitting roles on these projects — one party owning design and implementation, the other supplying the physical and software systems — a division that lets aviation companies scale facilities without building in-house automation expertise. As Saudi Arabia continues to invest in aviation and industrial capacity, similar automated warehouse builds are likely to accompany other MRO expansions in the region.

What remains to be seen is the facility's completion timeline and the identity of the aviation company it serves, neither of which was disclosed by either party.