Munich. Munich-based technology company Agile Robots
AG is joining idealworks, a subsidiary of the BMW Group founded at the
end of 2020, as a strategic investor. As a deep tech company,
idealworks is significantly promoting industrial automation in
production and logistics by developing a robotics ecosystem. The
idealworks portfolio consists of the intelligent automation platform
AnyFleet, the autonomous mobile robot (AMR) iw.hub
and the mobile robotics operating system iw.os. Agile Robots
AG, a spin-off of the German Aerospace Center (DLR), which produces
robotic-based solutions for the automotive and consumer electronic industries.
Partnership with great synergy potential
With Agile Robots AG, the BMW Group gains a strong strategic partner
for idealworks. The investment made within a Series A financing round
confirms the trust of both shareholders and enables idealworks to
expand its product portfolio. In addition to continuing existing
collaborations with leading technology companies such as NVIDIA
Corporation, Microsoft Corporation and ADLINK Technology Inc., the
investment enables the joint development of new solutions and
technologies as well as access to further branches and markets.
As future strategic partners, idealworks and Agile Robots AG
complement each other both in their industry expertise and in their
range of solutions.
“Since 2020, over 600 iw.hubs have already been successfully
implemented in the BMW Group’s intralogistics work processes. A proof
point for the digitalization and technological development within the
BMW iFactory. Together with Agile Robots AG, idealworks will further
expand its robotics ecosystem to promote new and innovative solutions
in the field of industrial automation — both in the software and
hardware sectors. The cooperation also accelerates the
internationalization of the business segment. We are delighted with
this partnership,” says Dr.
Michael Nikolaides, Head of Production Network and Logistics
at the BMW Group.
Dr. Zhaopeng Chen, CEO of Agile Robots AG, adds: “In
addition to our common origin in Munich, the intelligent combination
of software and hardware provides the basis for serving our customers
internationally with the right automation solution. We will combine
German innovation and engineering expertise with the speed, global
reach, and entrepreneurial vision that both companies have already
demonstrated in the past.”
“With this Series A financing round, we are strengthening our
position within the realm of industrial automation together with Agile
Robots AG as our second strong investor. Thanks to our complementary
portfolios, we will jointly develop innovative solutions that
contribute to our robotics ecosystem strategy. Through this
partnership, we offer our customers even more stability and
reliability in the idealworks brand,” says Michael
Alexander Schneider, CEO of idealworks.
Artificial intelligence as key success factor
The cooperation offers both partners extensive growth potential:
Agile Robots AG is active in major regions of the world and, in
addition to its expertise in robotics and artificial intelligence,
contributes its global network. idealworks brings in the BMW Group as
one of its largest customers and its industrial know-how. Following
the first successfully completed customer projects in the USA,
idealworks’ global business will expand to the Asia-Pacific region as
early as next year.
In a dynamic competitive environment, both companies rely on
cross-process platforms that enable the simultaneous integration of
several robots — including devices from third-party providers.
Artificial intelligence is a key success factor when using
heterogeneous robot fleets in complex environments and when creating
digital twins for planning and simulation purposes.
The transaction is subject to prior approval by the relevant
authorities. Both sides have agreed not to disclose the terms and conditions.
If you have any questions, please contact:
BMW Group Corporate Communications
Dr. Britta Ullrich
Telefon: +49 89 382-18634
E-Mail: britta.ullrich@bmwgroup.com
Agile Robots AG Communications
Lysann Guhl
Telefon: +49 172 5115 436
E-Mail: communications@agile-robots.com
idealworks Communications
Sarah Kuehn
Telefon: +49 151-53846-316
E-Mail: sarah.kuehn@idealworks.com
idealworks
As a forward-thinking deep tech company, idealworks has been enabling
the future of logistics and industrial automation since November 2020.
Its flexible, scalable robotics ecosystem, featuring the intelligent
automation platform AnyFleet for seamless mobile robot integration,
the CE-certified autonomous mobile robot (AMR) iw.hub, and the
advanced robotics operating system iw.os, is reshaping intralogistics
processes for companies globally. Emerging from its roots as a BMW
Group spinoff, idealworks is committed to driving efficiency and
operational optimization in a rapidly evolving automation landscape.
Agile Robots AG
Agile Robots AG is an international high-tech company based in
Munich, Germany, with more than 1,200 employees worldwide. Our mission
is to bridge the gap between artificial intelligence and robotics by
developing systems that combine state-of-the-art force-moment sensing
and world-leading image processing technology. This unique combination
of technologies allows us to provide user-friendly and affordable
robotic solutions that enable intelligent precision assembly. Further
information is available at: https://www.agile-robots.com
The BMW Group
With its four brands BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad, the BMW
Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and
motorcycles and also provides premium financial and mobility services.
The BMW Group production network comprises over 30 production sites
worldwide; the company has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.
In 2022, the BMW Group sold nearly 2.4 million passenger vehicles and
more than 202,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in the
financial year 2022 was € 23.5 billion on revenues amounting to
€ 142.6 billion. As of 31 December 2022, the BMW Group had a workforce
of 149,475 employees.
The success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term
thinking and responsible action. The company set the course for the
future at an early stage and consistently makes sustainability and
efficient resource management central to its strategic direction, from
the supply chain through production to the end of the use phase of all products.
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