Automatica 2025: Wandelbots introduces NOVA Cloud

German software-defined industrial automation provider Wandelbots recently announced it will demonstrate its expanded NOVA platform with the new NOVA Cloud module at Automatica 2025 in hall B6 booth 308.

The trade show is being hosted by Messe München GmbH June 24-27 at the Messe München Trade Fair Center in Munich, Germany.

Companies such as Schaeffler, SmartRay and SHL are already relying on Wandelbots to accelerate automation processes, reduce costs, and establish flexible production structures. The comprehensive Wandelbots platform - including integrations with NVIDIA and Microsoft - and practical use cases will be demonstrated live at Automatica.

The NOVA vendor-agnostic robot operating system was showcased for the first time in the U.S. at ProMat 2025.

NOVA Cloud centralizes robot orchestration

Wandelbots said its holistic software platform can allow manufacturing companies to automate processes faster, optimize them more intelligently, and scale them more reliably. The company said industrial robots can become software-defined systems that improve themselves autonomously. 

The aim of the NOVA Cloud enhancement is to provide comprehensive digital control and improvement of robot-supported processes in production and logistics across factory borders. Wandelbots said it provides the technical basis for a holistic automation strategy that can help transform rigid, hardware-based production lines into adaptive systems.

With NOVA Cloud, a control and optimization level is added to the NOVA OS operating system, which was previously used locally. This creates a central platform that can connect, simulate, and coordinate different robotic systems regardless of the manufacturer. In addition to programming individual robot applications, the company said entire process chains can now be mapped, monitored, and gradually optimized regardless of location and in real time using NOVA Cloud.

Wandelbots said it can provide end-to-end control: from planning and virtual commissioning to deployment and ongoing operation on the shopfloor. This can allow companies to deploy their robot fleets more flexibly, reprogram them more quickly, and operate them more efficiently.

AI-powered NOVA platform supports end-to-end automation

The extended automation platform from Wandelbots consists of three modules that together enable end-to-end planning, implementation, and control of robot-supported processes:

• NOVA Cloud: the central control level for the intelligent planning, optimization, and monitoring of global production processes. It enables the management of digital twins, AI-powered analyses and standardizable workflows, all while at the same time taking site-specific requirements into account.
• Developer Portal: a modern development environment for the creation, simulation, and provision of individual automation systems. By connecting to a growing partner ecosystem - for example through the integration of NVIDIA Omniverse - the portal offers an open infrastructure for collaborative development and rapid iteration.
• NOVA OS: a manufacturer-independent operating system for industrial automation. It controls robots and peripheral devices in real time and ensures that simulated processes can be transferred directly to operation without additional programming effort, which can minimize system interruptions and reduce dependence on proprietary systems.

"There is no way around holistic automation.” said Christian Piechnick, Wandelbots co-founder and CEO. "Industrial companies need to comprehensively automate their processes in order to keep up with the pressure on costs, efficiency, and innovation. With our software-centric approach, automation can be designed efficiently, cost-effectively, and sustainably. In this way, Wandelbots makes a significant contribution to the competitiveness of industry and to securing the business location."

Demonstrations at Automatica 2025

Schaeffler: From simulation to reality

At Automatica, visitors can experience how Schaeffler seamlessly combines simulation and real shop floor use with Wandelbots, transforming production into a scalable, digitalized process. 

At its heart is the NOVA operating system, which can be used to virtually simulate, validate, and optimize the behavior of robots, providing robot control for the entire automation life cycle, from virtual planning to operation in series production. 

The physical execution of the virtually simulated workflows takes place without reprogramming, overcoming the previous discrepancy between simulation and reality (Sim2Real gap). Wandelbots said this process can enable:

• Faster deployment of robotic workflows
• Lower development costs and integration time
• Higher first-time-right rates and reduced trial-and-error cycles
• Improved robot uptime due to fewer problems with runtime integration
• Company-wide digital factory model with scalable automation logic

SmartRay: AI system for path planning

The Wandelbots booth will also showcase an AI-based path planning system for SmartRay integrated into a robotic-based inspection workflow. 

Grid Dynamics has developed a customized app using the Wandelbots Developer Portal and Wandelbots NOVA operating system. With the app, SmartRay can automatically generate executable robot paths for weld inspection from CAD files without manual programming. Wandelbots said the app can enable:

• Less effort for robot programming and simulation
• From CAD import to test-ready robot path in just a few minutes
• Immediate ROI validation through automated feasibility studies
• Less rework and warranty costs thanks to more accurate fault detection
• Scalable through reuse of applications and AI

SHL: Intelligent automation systems

System integrators like SHL have to deliver customized automation systems faster, more flexibly, and under tighter cost and resource constraints. With more than 3,500 grinding, deburring and polishing robots installed, SHL is one of the world's leading suppliers of surface treatment automation. 

By integrating Wandelbots' software platform, SHL is expanding its offering from mechanical quality to software-driven intelligent automation systems that meet flexible manufacturing requirements. SHL’s goals include:

• 30 to 50% less time to productivity for new workpieces
• Up to 40% less changeover time
• Higher plant utilization through multiple use of robotic systems
• Up to 25% cost savings for integration and fine-tuning
• Increased productivity and uptime through continuous software optimization