Insider Brief
- PIA Automation said it is launching a new business unit focused on embodied AI and humanoid robotics to expand its industrial automation portfolio into more flexible, adaptive systems
- The company is working with Agibot through the Joybot Manufacture joint venture to develop and scale humanoid robots across the full stack, from embodied AI to hardware production
- PIA plans to deploy humanoid systems across assembly, logistics and factory operations and build European manufacturing capacity, with initial platforms including industrial, service and research-oriented robots
PIA Automation announced it is launching a new business unit focused on embodied AI and humanoid robotics.
According to the company, the new division expands the China-based company’s traditional automation portfolio to include humanoid robots designed to physically interact with their surroundings and adjust to changing production tasks.
“Integrating embodied AI and humanoid robotics into industrial applications opens up entirely new production possibilities for our customers,” chief sales officer and chief technology officer Thomas Ernst said in the announcement. “From flexible assistance systems in assembly to adaptive logistics processes, a wide range of applications is emerging that supports teams in various working environments and enables new forms of human-robot collaboration.”
PIA said the new unit will focus on deploying humanoid systems across assembly, logistics and other factory operations where conventional automation has struggled to scale. The goal is to improve efficiency and maintain quality while allowing production lines to adapt more quickly to shifting demand.
The company said it is working with robotics firm Agibot through a joint venture called Joybot Manufacture to develop and industrialize humanoid systems. The partnership spans the full stack, including embodied AI, hardware development and large-scale production.
The company outlined three initial systems. P-Bot is a service-focused humanoid designed for environments such as retail and public venues, with multimodal interaction capabilities. I-Bot is an industrial humanoid with a mobile base intended for factory use, supporting tasks such as data collection and precision manufacturing while navigating complex shop floors. A-Bot is a smaller platform aimed at research, education and interactive applications.
PIA also plans to build manufacturing capacity in Europe to support localized production of humanoid robots to speed up deployment across regional industrial customers. PIA Group employs about 1,800 people across 12 locations in Europe, North America and Asia, serving industries including automotive, energy storage, life sciences and electronics.
“Embodied AI and humanoid robotics will enable automation in areas where traditional approaches have previously reached their limits,” Earnst said. “For us, the key is to integrate these systems reliably, safely and efficiently into existing production environments, thereby creating clear added value for our customers.”
Image credit: PIA Automation
