Voith has entered into a strategic partnership with Munich-based robotics company Franka Emika, with a new joint venture formed – Voith Robotics – and Voith taking a stake in Franka Emika.
Voith Robotics, with headquarters in Munich, is to become a global system supplier for robot-assisted automation in the digital age. Voith Robotics will offer self-teaching lightweight robots made by Franka Emika, along with software solutions, apps, services and process consulting, to customers in various industries and markets throughout the world.
As part of the strategic partnership Voith will also have a direct stake in Franka Emika, thus emphasizing the long-term and strategic commitment by the two companies to cooperation. Martin Scherrer, formerly a member of the Board of Management of Voith Paper, will be the new chief executive officer of Voith Robotics, which is to be managed by Voith.
The still very young market for collaborative robots, also called cobots, currently has a volume of some €300 million and is predicted by industry researchers to grow exponentially in the coming years. The global market volume is expected to come to about €15 billion by 2025.
Franka Emika is a designer and developer of powerful, self-teaching and easy-to-use lightweight robots. They will make it possible for the first time to automate repetitive and often monotonous tasks like finely controlled fitting, screwing and joining, as well as testing, inspection and assembly.
“By bringing together a young company with its unique product portfolio and an experienced, family-owned and world-wide engaged company with a global network, we are creating a role model for Industry 4.0,” said Dr. Simon Haddadin, CEO of Franka Emika. “We will be able to offer customers throughout the world a combination of exceptional services and support, based on unique technologies.”
“Through its strategic partnership with Franka Emika, Voith has taken the logical next step in its digital agenda. We have defined robotics as a key competence and intend to add it to our existing portfolio,” added Stephan Schaller, President and CEO of Voith GmbH & Co. KGaA. “Franka Emika and Voith complement each other in an ideal manner by combining robotics, artificial intelligence and digital apps for users in various target markets with our know-how in automation and processes.”
