Every two years, Automatica brings together the brightest minds and boldest machines in robotics—and 2025 was no exception. This year’s edition was buzzing with energy, packed with global exhibitors, and bursting with ideas that may well shape the next decade of automation. If there's one thing that stood out above all, it's that AI is no longer the future of robotics—it’s the now.
The big themes at Automatica 2025
1. AI is everywhere: especially in vision
Artificial Intelligence dominated the show. But it wasn’t AI in the abstract—it was AI applied to perception, with a heavy focus on vision-guided robotics. From bin picking to part localization, the intelligence layer is rapidly becoming the new battleground for innovation, not just hardware.
2. The humanoid moment
Humanoids were a hot ticket. Sleek designs and smoother motion control showed that these robots are no longer research-only novelties. The industry seems genuinely curious—and cautiously optimistic—about their place on factory floors or in logistics.
3. China's rise in robotics
Chinese companies made a massive impact, bringing an incredibly broad product portfolio and a powerful presence. Their momentum is shifting the center of gravity in the global robotics ecosystem, challenging both European engineering legacies and Japanese industrial depth.
4. Cobots were everywhere
The message is clear: we’re moving past the early-adoption phase. Cobots are now the norm, and the real differentiation is moving to software, AI, and integrated solutions.
Where Robotiq shines: Our grippers in action
Amid all the buzz, Robotiq grippers were busy doing what they do best—enabling innovation and bringing to market quickly industry ready solutions. Here’s how our technology powered demos across some of the most compelling use cases and companies at the show.
AI-powered applications (Theme: Vision + AI)
- UR with NVIDIA AI Accelerator
Universal Robots demonstrated the synergy of their platform with NVIDIA’s edge AI capabilities—again using Robotiq grippers to execute precise manipulation tasks.
- Doosan booth
A standout demo showcased voice-to-robot programming. Say, “Bring me a bottle of water”, and the robot interprets it, generates the program, and executes the task—all in one seamless loop. The robot was equipped with a Robotiq Hand-E, making this vision-guided AI truly hands-on.
- Neura showcased a rich portfolio using our tools—underscoring how our grippers are becoming integral to plug-and-play solution ecosystems.
- InBolt (France)
Known for their robust vision-guided robotics, InBolt used our Hand-E C10 for bin picking. It's a strong match between perception and adaptive gripping.
- Roboception
Focused on vision-guided assembly, Roboception leveraged the 2F-85 gripper in dynamic applications with linear axes.
- Basler Booth
A pick-and-place demo using the 2F-140 took advantage of its wide stroke, coupled with Basler’s vision stack—a clean and efficient combination of perception and handling.
- React
This AI company used the EPICK gripper in a vision-guided context, continuing the theme of software-defined automation.
- Rollon
Their display of a moving robot on a linear axis with our gripper offered a compelling example of flexible automation.
- Asyril
Long-time collaborators, Asyril featured our grippers in flexible feeding systems, powered by a Hand-E.
Research labs: Tomorrow's robotics today
- ROX Consortium
This new harsh-environment robot includes Rheinmetall, Germany’s largest defense manufacturer. Their IP-rated cobot uses a high-IP Hand-E—demonstrating our readiness for extreme industrial contexts.
- Neo Mobile Robot
This autonomous robot carried a Hand-E around the venue. It might be worth a deeper look at Neo’s site to understand how they integrate mobile platforms with robotic manipulation.
- DLR (German Aerospace Center)
Their assistive robotics platform used the 2F-85, continuing their tradition of bleeding-edge demos.
- TU Munich
Showed a unique approach to skill teaching in robotics. They used a Hand-E not only for manipulation but also as a tool changer, showcasing a versatile and creative use of our hardware.
- KUKA IWA Lab Testing
Robotiq grippers were again visible in research setups aimed at testing new interaction paradigms.
Final thoughts: innovation > adoption?
Automatica 2025 reaffirmed why it remains one of the most inspiring shows in our industry. It’s where global innovation converges. But it also left me reflecting on a familiar tension: innovation is moving faster than adoption.
Many end-users still hesitate, held back by integration complexity, internal change resistance, or unclear ROI. Yet the floodgates feel close to breaking. When they do, we’ll see a wave of real-world deployment that finally matches the pace of technical progress.
Until then, it’s our job—at Robotiq and beyond—to bridge that gap. And shows like Automatica remind us that the future is closer than it seems.
P.S. If I missed your booth and you are using our products, please reach out!