Rethink Robotics was known for its Baxter and Sawyer robots that featured a screen that displayed eyes and eyebrows that indicated to human workers what direction it was going to move in. Baxter first appeared in 2011, Sawyer in 2015. In the UK, Cobotix had been the reseller, but that firm was dissolved earlier this year (read Machinery’s feature on Cobots here).
The pioneering firm went out of business in early October, but was picked in the same month by Hahn, who purchased all patents and trademarks of Rethink Robotics of Cambridge, Massachusetts, along with its Intera5 software platform for robot programming. Hahn already had a stake in the company, however, and had been selling its cobots in Germany.
Said Thomas Hähn, CEO of Hahn Group: “The acquisition of Rethink Robotic's technology marks an important milestone for the development of our portfolio of collaborative robotics solutions. This transaction will bring us not only a boost in innovative technologies but also access to highly specialized know-how in one of the most dynamic future markets. We are very pleased that we could convince the owners of Rethink Robotics to agree to the sale of its robotic technology around the 'Cobot Sawyer' as well as the Intera5 software.”
The company says that it intends to further develop Rethink Robotics' technology, with the goal of combining this technology with German engineering and know-how of industrial applications.
