The HVAC supply warehouse is becoming increasingly automated.
First Supply has received new recognition for its 308,000-square-foot Joe Poehling Distribution Innovation Center in West Salem, Wisconsin, which combines automated storage, renewable energy and advanced fulfillment technology.
The facility became operational in May 2025.
But the technology inside it provides a useful picture of where HVAC distribution is heading.
31 Robots and 53,000 Storage Bins
First Supply worked with Exotec to install a Skypod automated storage and retrieval system.
It uses:
31 autonomous robots.
53,000 high-density storage bins.
The system supports both branch replenishment and e-commerce orders.
That means robots can retrieve inventory rather than employees spending time walking through enormous warehouse aisles.
Speed Is Becoming a Distributor Product
Contractors increasingly expect:
Accurate inventory.
Fast delivery.
Same-day availability.
Online ordering.
That puts pressure on wholesalers to improve the systems behind the counter.
Warehouse automation can potentially improve:
Pick speed.
Accuracy.
Inventory density.
Labor productivity.
The Facility Also Produces Its Own Power
First Supply installed 1,150 rooftop solar panels, capable of providing approximately 50% to 70% of the facility's daily electricity demand, depending on the season.
The company has also prepared infrastructure for future geothermal cooling.
Contractor Takeaway
HVAC distributors are no longer competing only through branch count and product lines.
The next distribution battle is increasingly about how quickly and accurately a wholesaler can move the right part from a warehouse shelf to the contractor who needs it.
For First Supply, that now involves a fleet of robots.
