Bosch Rexroth AG is planning to acquire a majority stake in Kassow Robots ApS to add collaborative robots to its portfolio.
The Lohr a. Main, Germany-based automation machinery manufacturer said the Kassow cobots will be used in the company’s new technology focused factories that use robotics, artificial intelligence, 5G, and more to increase production. The companies call them “factories of the future.”
“Collaborative industrial robots are another important building block for the versatile factory of the future,” stated Dr. Marc Wucherer, a member of Bosch Rexroth’s Executive Board who oversees sales and factory automation. “The lightweight robots from Kassow can be used in a variety of ways in industrial production. The cobots have a high payload and range and can be used in the tightest of spaces: With seven axes, a cobot from Kassow can grasp items around corners like an arm – a unique flexibility on the market to date.”
Bosch Rexroth to help Kassow Robots expand globally
Kassow was founded in 2014 and is based out of Copenhagen, Denmark. The company specializes in collaborative robots for industrial use. It has five models with reaches ranging from 850 mm (33 in.) to1,800 mm (70 in.) and payloads from five (11 lb.) to 18 kilograms (39 lb.) .
All models have seven axes. The software provides a modular platform allowing easy integration of peripherals like grippers, vision systems or other customized functionalities, according to Kasswow.
Since 2019, Kassow Robots has sold cobots in a lower three-digit range. Bosch Rexroth is planning to significantly expand the business internationally.
“With Bosch Rexroth, we have found a partner who is an international leader in factory automation and who can help us expand our business activities,”said Kristian Kassow, Kassow Robots founder, managing director, and joint owner. “This will enable us to open up new markets for our cobot portfolio.”
Cobot market only going up
The collaborative robot market is predicted to be valued at $199 billion by 2030, according to Research and Markets.
“There is huge demand for flexible robotic systems. In the coming years, the market for cobots is expected to grow by 15 to 20 percent each year,” Wucherer added. “We want to take advantage of this potential and expand our portfolio with collaborative robots from Kassow Robots. This will benefit in particular, our customers in the consumer goods and mobility industry including battery production as well as in the semiconductor production.”
Thanks to the combination of reach and payload, the cobots can perform a wide range of automation tasks: from packing, machine loading and pick-and- place applications to visual quality control, the companies said.
Bosch Rexroth envisions “factory of the future”
Only the floors, ceilings and walls will be stationary and fixed. Everything else will be interchangeable and flexible – this is how Bosch Rexroth sees “the factory of the future.” The company said it is continuously launching solutions that fit optimally into this concept. Its portfolio includes software for production, drive and control technology, digital assistant systems for employees as well as smart manufacturing and transport robots.
Bosch Rexroth and Kassow Robots signed a respective contract on March 18, 2022. Both sides have agreed to keep the purchase price confidential. The transaction is subject to anti-trust approval.
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