Agile Robots closes acquisition of thyssenkrupp Automation Engineering

Munich, 01 April – Agile Robots, a leading provider of AI-powered robotic solutions, has successfully acquired assets of thyssenkrupp Automation Engineering in Europe and North America. Through the acquisition, the Munich-based company is strengthening its position in next-generation automation solutions and is tapping into new growth markets and close partnerships with leading OEMs. The acquisition had initially been announced in November 2025.

thyssenkrupp Automation Engineering will continue as Krause Automation as part of Agile Robots, reflecting its tradition as a leading provider of automated production systems. The acquisition unites Agile Robots’ AI-powered automation solutions with more than 75 years of engineering and implementation expertise of Krause Automation. The expanded portfolio reinforces Agile Robots’ position as leading provider of automation solutions from Germany and partner of choice for industries worldwide.

As part of Agile Robots, Krause Automation will tap into new sectors such as consumer electronics, medical technology, and logistics. Customers benefit from enhanced end-to-end expertise, ranging from industrial robots to plant integration – full service from early planning stages to successful project implementation.

Zhaopeng Chen, CEO and founder of Agile Robots, comments: “The acquisition reflects our ambition to harness the full potential of Physical AI for global industries.” Physical AI bridges artificial intelligence and robotics: systems that do not merely execute pre-programmed instructions, but perceive their environment, learn from real industrial data, and adapt in real time. “The result: complete manufacturing systems where every element is intelligent, interlinked, and continuously learning”, Chen adds.

Agile Robots is uniquely positioned to lead this transformation. Founded by researchers from the German Aerospace Center (DLR), the company combines deep robotics expertise with one of the industry's largest R&D teams and a proven track record of over 20,000 robotic solutions deployed worldwide. This combination of research excellence, real-world industrial data, and execution capability makes Agile Robots a frontrunner in bringing Physical AI from the lab to the factory floor. The addition of Krause Automation to the portfolio further strengthens Agile Robots’ engineering expertise and expands its global network to include established locations and supply chains in all major industry markets.

Strong signal for German industries

At a time when German industries are facing profound structural change – from the transformation of the automotive sector to mounting competitive pressure from global markets – Physical AI offers a concrete path forward. Germany's unique combination of deep mechanical engineering expertise, industrial systems know-how, and extensive real-world production data creates a strong foundation for AI-driven manufacturing.

“By bringing together Agile Robots' AI capabilities with Krause Automation's engineering heritage, the combined entity is a strong example of what German industry can achieve on a global scale – offering customers smart automation solutions, from robot hardware and AI software to full plant integration, developed and delivered from Germany”, comments Dr. Rolf-Günther Nieberding, previously CEO of thyssenkrupp Automation Engineering. He will continue to lead Krause Automation as CEO.