Neura’s first market-ready robot is MAiRA, an arm that it said can fully perceive its environment. | Source: Neura Robotics
Neura Robotics GmbH this week said it is relocating production of its “cognitive” robotics from China to Germany this year. The company currently produces the majority of its systems in China but plans to reduce that volume while ramping up production capabilities in Metzingen, Germany.
The company said the move demonstrates the “importance of a robust home base in Germany” for its growth strategy.
“The relocation of production to Germany is a milestone on NEURA Robotics’ path to becoming the ‘Next German Hero,'” said David Reger, founder and CEO of Neura Robotics, in a release. “We are convinced that international innovation leadership and regional ties are not mutually exclusive – a principle that automotive companies have taught us over decades.”
“Cognitive robotics will have a similar significance in the future,” he added. “‘Made in Germany’ continues to be a seal of quality and excellence worldwide, especially in areas where top hardware is in demand. With this strategic decision, we want to demonstrate that Germany is the ideal location for cognitive robotics.”
Neura hones in on a strong domestic market
Neura Robotics said its decision to relocate production to Germany is the second example of its focus on a strong domestic market. The company recently announced that it would be building an engineering hub with a focus on artificial intelligence and a central unit to manage its global sales network. The hub will be in Munich so Neura can benefit from the region’s strong innovation and technology landscape.
“Strong domestic locations are the next logical step for NEURA in our expansion strategy,” stated Dr. Bernd Heinrichs, chief growth officer at Neura. “Munich, as a vibrant hotspot for AI and robotics, will be our new hub for research and development, where current and future top talents will work on the future in the know-how melting pot.”
“At the same time, we are relocating our production to Germany,” he said. “The connection between the technology regions of Munich and Stuttgart, with Metzingen as a robotics hotspot, offers the ideal basis for ambitiously consolidating our position as the world’s leading innovation driver in the field of cognitive robotics.”
Neura’s product line includes collaborative robot arms, mobile platforms, and a one-armed robotic assistant. To counteract rising energy prices and cover the growing energy requirements of production, the company said it is relying on solar or photovoltaic (PV) power and buildings are as efficient as possible.
“Despite the high energy prices and other challenges, we are moving production to Germany in order to demonstrate our confidence in Germany as a business location – and we are counting on politicians to act quickly,” Reger said.
Neura to bring cognitive robot expertise to Robotics Summit
Neura said its cognitive robots go beyond sight, hearing, and touch to fully perceive their environments and the humans in them and then to act autonomously. It said these robots offer benefits such as production optimization, short amortization times, increased flexibility, and space savings.
The company, formerly known as Han’s Robot, raised $71 million last year to expand in the Japanese and U.S. markets.
Neura CEO Reger will be giving a talk at the 2024 Robotics Summit & Expo, which will be at the Boston Convention and Exposition Center on May 1 and 2. His presentation, titled “Developing Cognitive Robotics Systems, will be held on the first day of the show.
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