Soft Robotics Inc. (Boston, MA, USA), a company that specialized in soft gripping, 3D-vision, and AI solutions for industrial automation, has changed its name and its business strategy. The company, now known as Oxipital AI, will focus on developing and providing AI-enabled vision systems for robotic picking and inspection applications, say Oxipital officials.
“For years, our AI vision solutions have enabled the automation of labor-intensive processes in the food industry," says Mark Chiappetta, president/CEO of Oxipital AI. "Although under a new banner, we remain steadfast in our commitment to customers as they embrace Industry 5.0, and in providing the AI technology they need to unlock previously unattainable levels of resiliency, sustainability, and resource efficiency in their manufacturing operations."
An important part of this change is Oxipital AI’s sale of its soft gripping business to The Schmalz Group (Glatten, Baden-Württemberg, Germany). Schmalz specializes in vacuum automation and ergonomic handling systems, with a focus on the food industry. With the acquisition of Oxipital AI’s soft gripping business, The Schmalz Group will become the sole proprietor of the soft, modular gripping line of products previously designed and manufactured by Soft Robotics.
"The food industry is a growth market," says Kurt Schmalz, Schmalz Group managing partner. "With our new portfolio of finger grippers, we now offer our customers finger grippers for the automated handling of food products in addition to an extensive portfolio of vacuum grippers."
The sale price has not been disclosed.
With the sale of its soft gripping business, Oxipital AI is solely focused on inspection and bin picking/sorting solutions in the food industry. The company says the solutions are easily integrated into existing operations and easily operated by employees who may have minimal machine learning experience.
Machine builders can use Oxipital AI's solutions with the end-of-arm tool of their choice, thus unlocking more value and delivering more capability to robotic deployments, Oxipital AI officials say. Oxipital AI and Schmalz will continue to work in partnership on opportunities where the combination of soft grasping and AI are critical.
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