PressClub Latin America, Caribbean · Article.
idealworks: BMW Group subsidiary gains Agile Robots AG as majority shareholder
26.10.2023 Press Release
+++ Significant investment strengthens idealworks’ competitive position to become the powerhouse of industrial automation +++
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Juan Bernardo Vazquez Mellado
BMW Group
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Author.
Juan Bernardo Vazquez Mellado
BMW Group
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.