Toyota Industries Corporation (“TICO”the leadership team for its new global intralogistics business unit, Toyota Automated Logistics (“TAL”appointed Jones CEO of the Americasand.M.
With their first joint appearance at LogiMAT, which takes place in Stuttgart from March 23 to 25, 2026, Toyota Automated Logistics is combining the expertise of Bastian Solutions and the warehousing business of Vanderlande, as well as viastore, under a single brand, which will be officially launched on April 1, 2026. This merger creates an integrated offering of scalable systems, intelligent software, and comprehensive lifecycle services for logistics and automation from a single source.
Growing challenges
“Thomas Hibinger and Aaron Jones have already achieved impressive success leading two of our intralogistics companies . Their vision has significantly shaped the further development of automated intralogistics and contributed to the implementation of innovative and practical solutions to meet the complex and changing logistical challenges of our customers”explains Hitoshi Matsuoka.
“Warehouse and fulfillment processes run around the clock and know neither time zones nor geographical boundaries. By combining these, we are creating additional scalability, innovation, and long-term added value”says Thomas Hibinger, CEO EMEA and APAC (Asia-Pacific).
The dynamically growing intralogistics market is driven by increasing demands for delivery speed, higher throughput, the best possible order accuracy, and optimal warehouse performance. TAL meets these challenges with an integrated approach along the entire automation chain. The new company thus provides support – from the initial automation of manual processes in existing warehouses to the optimization of highly automated by large e-commerce platforms and global fulfillment organizations used
The new leadership trio
● Hitoshi Matsuoka, CEO, Global: Matsuoka joined Toyoda Automatic Loom Works, Ltd. (now Toyota Industries Corporation) in 1990, initially working in sales of textile machinery and in material handling. From 2020 to 2025, he served as President of Toyota Automated Logistics North America. Since 2025, Hitoshi Matsuoka has been an Executive Officer of Toyota Industries Corporation and a member of the Board of Directors of Toyota Material Handling Europe.
● Thomas Hibinger, CEO, EMEA and APAC: Hibinger is currently President and CEO of viastore. He is responsible for a broad portfolio of innovative solutions for material flow and distribution. Under his strategic leadership, the company provides comprehensive technologies, systems, and software solutions for warehouse automation in more than 3,000 facilities across Europe.
● Aaron M. Jones, CEO, Americas: Jones is currently President and CEO of Bastian Solutions. During his tenure, he oversaw a period of strong growth, during which the company's revenue more than quadrupled. After assuming the presidency from the company's founder, he led Bastian Solutions through its transformation into a subsidiary of the Toyota Automated Logistics Group and through five strategic acquisitions.
At LogiMAT: Hall 1, Stand 1J31
