Amazon launched a 2.8 million-square-foot robotics fulfillment center in Charlton, MA, according to multiple supply chain publication reports.

The four-story facility is equipped with hundreds of Amazon robots, each capable of lifting up to 1,500 pounds, to assist more than 1,000 employees in processing thousands of customer orders daily, including books, electronics, toys and houseware. According to a report, approximately 32 million items are currently in stock at the fulfillment center.

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As a “first mile” facility, the Charlton DC is responsible for storing, packaging and labeling parcels before they are sent to “middle mile” sort centers. From there, the packages move on to “last mile” delivery stations, where they are loaded onto vehicles for final delivery to homes and businesses, a process outlined in the supply chain publication reports.

Construction on the more than $300 million project began in March 2022, with operations officially starting in November 2024, according to the reports. It represents Amazon’s largest investment in Massachusetts to date. Since 2010, the company has invested $23 billion in the state, which includes eight fulfillment and sortation centers, 17 delivery stations and one Prime Now fulfillment center, the supply chain publication reports said.

In other recent company news, Amazon announced the deployment of over 750,000 robots throughout its global fulfillment and logistics network. The growing use of robotics supports Amazon’s ongoing efforts to boost warehouse efficiency and enhance workplace ergonomic, according to the company’s June 11 release.

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Amazon uses a variety of robots, including mobile units and robotic arms, to automate warehouse tasks such as inventory storage, item picking, sorting, packing and shipping. Many of these systems are in operation at the company’s new 3.1 million-square-foot fulfillment center in Shreveport, LA, which opened in September 2024. According to the company, the facility highlights Amazon’s continued commitment to investing in automation technologies.