Puma lets Maersk run and rent out its U.S. automated distribution centers

# What happened

Maersk will run the sites under a contract logistics agreement and may rent unused capacity to other brands. The Torrance facility will become Maersk North America's first multi-client AutoStore deployment, with the site able to handle roughly 20 million units of throughput each year once third-party capacity starts in 2027.

# Maersk made the deal Puma is outsourcing U.S. operations to optimize performance of its automated assets. Puma's stated aims are faster order processing, lower costs and improved support for retail stores, wholesale customers and online shoppers. By allowing Maersk to commercialize spare capacity, Puma converts idle automation into a cost-offsetting revenue stream.

For Maersk, the agreement expands an existing integrated-logistics relationship with Puma and grows its North American contract logistics network. Maersk already operates more than 70 warehouses in North America (about 22.5 million square feet) and more than 500 warehouses globally. Managing Puma's automated sites adds high-density AutoStore capacity close to strategic air and ocean gateways and major consumer markets.

# What the automation looks like All three Puma facilities are equipped with AutoStore systems. AutoStore stores inventory in a compact grid and uses robots to retrieve goods and deliver them to workstation pickers. The system is designed for flexible, scalable throughput and can help maintain fulfillment performance as demand changes. Torrance is singled out for its capacity and location value tied to Southern California gateways and markets.

# Immediate operational impacts

• Maersk will operate the warehouses and integrate them with its broader services, including ocean, airfreight, customs, and inland transportation where relevant.
• Starting in 2027, Maersk will offer space at Torrance to other brands that need fast, automated fulfillment near major gateways and a large consumer base.
• Turning excess capacity into a revenue stream benefits both Puma (reduced net cost of automation) and Maersk (expanded contract logistics business).

# Broader context for logistics and automation The move illustrates a commercial trend: companies are monetizing in-house logistics infrastructure by outsourcing operations to 3PLs that can aggregate demand and rent spare capacity. For logistics providers, managing automated, multi-client sites allows them to offer specialized fulfillment near key markets without the capital expense of building every automated site themselves.

# Practical implications for shippers and retailers Retailers or brands seeking automated fulfillment near Southern California, Phoenix or the U.S. Midwest can potentially gain access to AutoStore capacity through Maersk's multi-client offering. Brands that already own automation may also consider renting spare capacity as a way to lower ownership costs.

# What to watch next

• Torrance and the other sites starting in 2027.
• How quickly Maersk fills the available capacity and what pricing models it offers for multi-client access to AutoStore throughput.
• Any operational performance metrics Maersk or Puma publish after the transition, such as order-cycle times or cost savings.