According to data released by the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), manufacturing companies in the US are investing heavily in automation, by deploying industrial robots. The major adopter is the automotive industry, which registered 14,678 robots installed in 2023, which makes up 33% of industrial robot installations in the US in 2023.

The data paints part of the picture: while robots hold appeal by offering greater efficiency, precision, and automation, they’re also being deployed in droves to the manufacturing industry to fill the gaps left by labour shortages. Within the US, a major contributor was the pandemic, where more than 50 million workers quit. Of this number, the manufacturing industry lost approximately 1.4 million jobs – suffering a big setback. As of January 2024, according to the US Chamber of Commerce, 622,000 manufacturing jobs within the US are yet to be filled.

Enter RobCo. Hölzl was responsible for co-founding RobCo in 2020, a startup that manufactures modular robotic solutions for SMEs in Germany and today, is being deployed across different manufacturing sectors, playing roles in electronics, precision welding, palletising, and product stacking.

“While gaining a lot of industry experience in the technology sector, I’ve published several academic papers on human-machine interaction and worked in product development, technology management, and data science at some amazing companies like Tesla, Kuka, and BMW,” outlined Hölzl. “These experiences have shaped my career and fuelled my passion for innovation and technology.”

Along with his Co-Founders Constantin Dresel and Paul Maroldt, the research they conducted at the Chair of Robotics and Artificial Intelligence “laid the groundwork for our venture,” he said. The belief Robots: the future of manufacturing? Roman Hölzl, CEO and Co-Founder of RobCo driving RobCo is that robotics will drive automation technology and address industry needs – namely, that manufacturing sectors are facing labour shortages, which are only set to worsen in the coming decades, and companies still need to be able to operate as usual.

Dig a little deeper into the robotics industry and you’ll find a continually growing market which has been benefiting manufacturing for decades, and in recent years, is becoming indispensable. It is not without its challenges: a major challenge, which RobCo is seeking to address, is the outdated systems robots operate on. They have addressed this by manufacturing modular robotic solutions with self-programming features.

Modular robotics refers to robots that can be reconfigured to perform different functions and in doing so, offer advantages related to cost, size, and flexibility. “Unlike traditional, rigid robotic systems, modular robots can be easily adapted and expanded to meet rapidly changed demands,” said Hölzl. “This flexibility is crucial for medium-sized companies that often operate in dynamic markets and need to quickly respond to evolving customer needs.”

“The major advantage of enabling self-programming with our robots is the seamless plug-and-play solution we offer,” explained Hölzl. “This simplifies the integration of modular robots into existing production environments and makes it much easier for companies to get up and running quickly. With standardised interfaces and preconfigured settings there’s no need for extensive programming or specialised personnel.”

This plug-and-play approach to robotics differentiates them from competitors, Hölzl said, as well as their platform. “With this platform, our robotics can be configured, implemented, and managed remotely via a digital twin, allowing for rapid plug-and-play deployment in just a matter of days.” This is different to the “traditional methods.” Referring to a “low-code approach,” Hölzl alluded to the traditional robots of yore that require staff with extensive programming and engineering skills. “This eliminates the need for complex programming or specialised personnel.” It also draws on AI implementation which means its robotics can perceive, analyse, and plan actions autonomously.

The aforementioned labour shortages and a shrinking pool of skilled labour means these individuals are even harder to find, recruit, and retain – which is where Hölzl sees the greatest need for robots.

“As someone deeply immersed in this field, I’ve seen how modular robotics address these challenges across various sectors of manufacturing,” Hölzl stressed, “From assembly lines to welding stations, from palletising to quality control checks, these adaptable robots offer tailored solutions for companies navigating through different product variants. They’re like the Swiss Army knives of the manufacturing world.”

RobCo’s modular robots are equipped with sophisticated technology including cameras and sensors that assist with areas such as quality control by detecting defects in manufactured parts. Cameras and sensors help robots to somewhat perceive the world as the human eye would: where it would be quite natural to spot a broken part on a conveyor belt, robots need to be programmed and trained to spot defects and step in.

The highlights for RobCo, according to Hölzl, have been securing three rounds of financing, which has helped the startup to grow and expand. “In May we moved into larger office and production spaces, which is another milestone for the company,” he added. “Other milestones are all of the thousands of robot modules deployed across more than 10 countries – RobCo only exists because of our customers, and we’re proud to serve them.”

Next on the agenda for RobCo is to continue helping customers with modular robot solutions, but also to go beyond that. “Our ambitions go far beyond merely delivering robots – we aim to reduce mundane tasks, enhance product quality, and scale manufacturing outcomes to billions,” explains Hölzl. To do this, he said, RobCo will double its team, demonstrating that even in the realm of robotics, humans remain a key part.