Humanoid Robot Pilot by AGCO and Agility Robotics Planned for Kansas Manufacturing Plant

Insider Brief

• AGCO and Agility Robotics signed a commercial agreement to pilot Agility’s Digit humanoid robot at AGCO’s Hesston, Kansas, manufacturing plant beginning in 2027.
• Digit will initially handle repetitive and physically demanding tasks including parts sorting and stacking and placing totes into storage as AGCO evaluates humanoid automation in existing production workflows.
• Agility said Digit can adapt to changing workflows through AI and be managed with its Agility Arc fleet platform, adding AGCO to a customer group that includes Toyota, GXO and Schaeffler.

AGCO and Agility Robotics have signed a commercial agreement to pilot Agility’s Digit humanoid robot at AGCO’s manufacturing plant in Hesston, Kansas, beginning in 2027.

According to the companies, the agricultural equipment maker plans to use Digit initially for repetitive and physically demanding production tasks, including sorting and stacking parts and placing totes into storage. AGCO indicated the pilot is part of its effort to introduce more flexible automation into manufacturing operations without requiring major changes to existing facilities.

“This strategic relationship views humanoid robotics and AI as essential ‘teammates’ in building flexible, intelligent factories,” AGCO director of manufacturing technology Thomas Enghof said in the announcement. “They unlock automation in complex, human-centric workflows, augmenting human capabilities by absorbing repetitive, strenuous or hazardous tasks. By pairing human ingenuity with robust robotic engineering and strict safety governance, we create resilient manufacturing systems that empower the workforce and deliver measurable business value.”

AGCO, which manufactures agricultural machinery and precision agriculture technology under brands including Fendt, Massey Ferguson, PTx and Valtra, said the pilot will allow it to evaluate whether humanoid robots can improve ergonomics and operational efficiency while shifting repetitive physical work away from employees.

Agility noted that Digit uses AI to adapt to changing workflows and can be managed through Agility Arc, its cloud-based platform for deploying and operating robot fleets. The company said the system is designed to help customers introduce robots into existing operations without extensive infrastructure changes.

Agility noted the agreement adds AGCO to a group of companies testing or deploying Digit in industrial environments. Agility identified Toyota, GXO and Schaeffler as other companies using its humanoid robots.

“We’re excited to work alongside AGCO as they continue to lead the way in agricultural innovation,” added Daniel Diez, chief business officer of Agility Robotics. “By introducing Agility’s Digit humanoid robots into AGCO’s operations, we have an opportunity to strengthen manufacturing processes, support employees in demanding tasks and demonstrate how advanced robotics can create measurable impact across modern production environments.”