{"id":577994,"date":"2024-02-26T16:05:14","date_gmt":"2024-02-26T21:05:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.therobotreport.com\/?p=577994"},"modified":"2024-02-26T16:07:14","modified_gmt":"2024-02-26T21:07:14","slug":"robco-raises-42-5m-for-automation-for-small-midsize-manufacturers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.therobotreport.com\/robco-raises-42-5m-for-automation-for-small-midsize-manufacturers\/","title":{"rendered":"RobCo raises $42.5M for automation for small, midsize manufacturers"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"RobCo Use Case - Palletizing\" width=\"740\" height=\"416\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/mcMuLMUu4bg?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>While most industrial automation is currently used by large manufacturers such as global automakers, robot developers and providers are building systems to make it more accessible. RobCo GmbH today said it has raised $42.5 million in Series B funding to support its development and growth trajectory.<\/p>\n<p>Three researchers led by Roman H\u00f6lzl, the chair of robotics and artificial intelligence at the Technical University of Munich, founded RobCo in 2020. The company currently has more than 50 employees.<\/p>\n<p>It develops flexible robotic hardware kits for applications at small and midsize enterprises (SMEs) including machine loading and unloading, dispensing, palletizing, and welding. In addition to its patented modular hardware, RobCo offers a low-code and remote approach to deploying systems.<\/p>\n<p>The Munich-based startup also said that its &#8220;plug-and-play functionality&#8221; can help manufacturers address challenges such as skilled-labor shortages, production scalability, and the transition to Industry 4.0.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are only at the beginning of an extensive journey in automation and aim to become a leader in modular robot automation for SMEs in Europe,\u201d stated H\u00f6lzl<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&nbsp;in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.robco.de\/en\/company\/press-articles-en\/lightspeed-as-investor\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">release<\/a><\/span>. &#8220;RobCo is uniquely positioned with its easy-to-implement robots that offer a positive ROI [return on investment] from Day 1.&#8221;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-568305\" src=\"https:\/\/www.therobotreport.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/RSE24_728x90_RegOpen_Vs1.jpg\" alt=\"SITE AD for the 2024 Robotics Summit registration.\" width=\"728\" height=\"90\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.roboticssummit.com\/\">Learn from Agility Robotics, Amazon, Disney, Teradyne and many more.<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<hr \/>\n<h2>RobCo offers modular robotic arms<\/h2>\n<p>For SMEs, machines are worth the investment only if they can be quickly and flexibly reprogrammed for changing tasks and maximum utilization, said RobCo. The company&#8217;s robotic arms are made up of seven or eight modular pieces with varying payload capacities and ranges, depending on the use case.<\/p>\n<p>For example, its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.therobotreport.com\/tag\/machine-tending\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">machine-tending<\/a> laser system includes eight modules, has a 4 kg (8.8 lb.) payload, and has an 800 mm (31.5 in.) range. Meanwhile, RobCo&#8217;s palletizing offering, which also uses eight modules, has an 8.5 kg (18.7 lb.) payload and 1,300 mm (51 in.) range.<\/p>\n<p>These kits enable users to intuitively assemble robots with RobCo Studio, a vertically integrated hardware and software platform, said the company. <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With RobCo Studio, deployed robots can be configured, implemented, and managed remotely via a digital twin.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This low-code approach eliminates the need for complex programming or specialized personnel on-site, claimed RobCo. It added that<\/span> the platform includes &#8220;future-proof interfaces,&#8221; as well as a sensor and software layer to ensure the longevity of the hardware.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;Through a comprehensive RobCo automation solution in the palletizing area, we can actively address the ongoing shortage of skilled workers with technology and at the same time save costs,&#8221; said Martin Matern, plant manager at DE-VAU-GE Gesundkostwerk Deutschland GmbH in L\u00fcneburg, Germany.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_577995\" style=\"width: 780px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-577995\" class=\"wp-image-577995 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.therobotreport.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/RobCo-modularer-Roboter-featured.jpg\" alt=\"RobCo has designed its modular robotic arm for small and midsize enterprises.\" width=\"770\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.therobotreport.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/RobCo-modularer-Roboter-featured.jpg 770w, https:\/\/www.therobotreport.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/RobCo-modularer-Roboter-featured-300x195.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.therobotreport.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/RobCo-modularer-Roboter-featured-150x97.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.therobotreport.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/RobCo-modularer-Roboter-featured-768x499.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.therobotreport.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/RobCo-modularer-Roboter-featured-368x238.jpg 368w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-577995\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">RobCo has designed its modular robotic arm and software for small and midsize enterprises. Source: RobCo<\/p><\/div>\n<h2>Lightspeed leads investment round<\/h2>\n<p>Lightspeed Venture Partners led RobCo&#8217;s Series B round as a new investor. Former Apple and NVIDIA investor Sequoia Capital also participated in the round, along with Kindred Capital and Promus Ventures.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>This funding brings RobCo&#8217;s total <a href=\"https:\/\/www.therobotreport.com\/robco-brings-in-13-8m-for-its-modular-robotic-arms\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">to date<\/a> to $60 million. The company said it plans to invest the capital into expanding its distribution channels and advancing product development.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The fact that a venture capital powerhouse like Lightspeed supports our next steps with a $42.5 million financing round tells us that we are on the right path \u2013 and is an incredible motivational boost for all of us to take our solutions to the next level,\u201d said H\u00f6lzl.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The use of robotics in the industrial setting was previously reserved almost exclusively for large corporations with the corresponding financial and human resources,&#8221; noted Alex Schmitt, a partner at Lightspeed. &#8220;High costs and enormous complexity made them partly unaffordable and challenging to manage for small and medium-sized enterprises.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;RobCo has already made a significant breakthrough in this field with its developments,&#8221; he said. &#8220;We recognize both technological and commercial potential for the German and international markets. It is crucial to optimally foster this potential and make robotic automation solutions accessible to all companies.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"RobCo Robot Live Demo\" width=\"740\" height=\"416\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/LgRCWX0YEdU?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>RobCo develops flexible robotic hardware kits for various applications in SME manufacturing, including machine loading and palletizing.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":90,"featured_media":577995,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rbr50_analysis":"","rbr50_state":"","rbr50_country":"","rbr50_description":"","rbr50_numemps":"","rbr50_text_taxonomy_radio":null,"rbr50_text_taxonomy_select":null,"rbr50_url":"","rbr50_yearfounded":"","_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1298,1274,3502,1396,2020,1401,1291,2039,1293,2255],"tags":[3191,3963,150],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.5 - 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