Agile Robots is preparing for a new phase of development in Munich. Pursue The company is expanding its portfolio in two ways: Firstly, it is acquiring large parts of Thyssenkrupp Automation Engineering in Europe and North America. Secondly, the series production of its first industrial humanoid, Agile One, is about to begin.
Zhaopeng Chen, founder and CEO of Agile Robots, says:
“Now is the right time to combine AI, robotics and industrial know-how. Physical AI offers industry enormous leaps in productivity. With Thyssenkrupp Automation Engineering, we are gaining the perfect addition to jointly drive the next industrial revolution. And all of this from Germany.”
New structures and industrial impulses
Agile Robots was founded in 2018 as a spin-off of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in Munich and currently employs more than 2,500 people from around 60 countries. With the acquisition of Thyssenkrupp Automation Engineering, the team grows by approximately 650 experts and ten new locations. Key factors in choosing Thyssenkrupp Automation Engineering were its technological expertise, long-standing customer relationships, and international industry experience – particularly in the automotive sector.
The integration of Thyssenkrupp Automation Engineering – soon to be Krause Automation – strengthens Agile Robots' mechanical engineering expertise and expands its global supply chain. It also opens up new opportunities in high-growth sectors such as consumer electronics, medical technology, and intralogistics. Furthermore, the North American business provides the company with new possibilities for a stronger presence in the US market.
Rolf-Günther Nieberding, CEO of Thyssenkrupp Automation Engineering, says about the acquisition:
“We are bringing our many years of experience in plant engineering and project management for demanding processes, mission-critical projects, and global customer structures to the dynamically growing organization of a future-oriented German company. With Agile Robots' innovations in the application of robotics, software, and system integration, as well as our expertise, we can create targeted added value for our joint customers – and further support the steep growth of the Agile Robots Group.”
Production of Agile One starts in 2026
In parallel, Agile Robots is driving the development of Physical AI. The humanoid Agile One Agile One is designed for industrial applications such as material handling, pick-and-place, machine operation, and precise manipulation. Production is slated to begin entirely at the company's own plant in Bavaria in early 2026. Agile One complements existing systems such as Agile Hand, FR3, Diana 7, the Thor series, as well as autonomous mobile robots and AGVs. It is based on the AgileCore software platform, which connects all systems.
Chen commented:
“At Agile Robots, we are convinced that the next industrial revolution will be shaped by Physical AI: intelligent, autonomous, and flexible robots that can perceive, understand, and act within the physical world. Agile One embodies this vision.”
