Rethink Robotics, founded by Rodney Brooks of iRobot fame in 2008, pioneered the concept of robots working collaboratively with humans. Here are a few previous posts.
First post about Rethink Robotics 2015
Employees hired by Universal Robots 2018
New Products at IMTS–Side note: Reacher and Riser are not as cool as the original Sawyer and Baxter, but interesting that they came back.
Now the Hahn Group, who acquired the assets in 2018, has decided to revive the company. It has announced a female team to lead the company back into the market.
Following a successful launch of the company’s new product portfolio at the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) in Chicago, Rethink Robotics Inc., the United States pioneer of collaborative robots, recently named a new all-female leadership team. Effective immediately, Julia Astrid Riemenschneider has been appointed chief executive officer and Franziska Lorenz chief operations officer. With these appointments, Rethink Robotics becomes the first and only player in the field of collaborative robotics with two women at the helm.
In these new roles, top priorities for Riemenschneider and Lorenz will be to deliver pioneering technologies in collaborative robots, oversee the installation of Rethink Robotics’ North American headquarters, and expansion of the team. By the end of 2025, the company plans to triple its team size, open a U.S. headquarters, and relocate robot production from Europe to the United States.
The newly introduced product line now includes collaborative robots in payloads ranging from 7 to 30 kg, two autonomous mobile robots (AMR), and a mobile manipulator (MMR) platform. The robots are designed for increased precision, speed, and reliability, making them highly capable for industrial applications.
As CEO, Riemenschneider is responsible for managing all customer-facing related departments, including marketing, sales, business development, product development, and application engineering. Riemenschneider brings more than 10 years of business development experience in industrial automation. Prior to Rethink Robotics, Riemenschneider worked for United Robotics Group in Europe and the United States, growing the business development organization. Previously, she worked in the United States for an international sensor manufacturer, following Europe-based business development roles with a machine vision manufacturer, and collaborative robot market leader Universal Robots.
Franziska Lorenz, previously responsible for corporate development and compliance at HAHN Automation Group, United Robotics Group, and Schenck Process Group, holds a master’s degree in international business administration. She brings extensive international experience from her studies and professional work in Italy, Spain, and Mexico. Recently, Lorenz spent 18 months at Robotnik, a manufacturer of in- and outdoor mobile robots in Valencia, Spain, successfully managing their integration in the group.
In her new role as chief operations officer, Lorenz will be managing HR, finance, production, and service and is looking forward to creating a diverse team as the foundation of success.
“As a newly U.S.-based company, Rethink Robotics is thrilled to contribute to the creation of high-tech American jobs. Our mission is to offer opportunities for skilled and driven professionals to innovate with collaborative robots, addressing the challenges faced by modern manufacturing. The new Rethink Robotics leadership team brings significant industry knowledge and strong business acumen,” said Thomas Hähn, founder of HAHN Automation Group and United Robotics Group, and Rethink Robotics’ president. “With Riemenschneider and Lorenz in these leadership roles, we are well-positioned to execute this fast growth phase as a leading robotics provider.”
I researched the company’s history with a little help from claude.ai.
Rethink Robotics was a pioneering robotics company founded in 2008 by Rodney Brooks, a renowned roboticist and former director of MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL). The company was originally called Heartland Robotics and was based in Boston, Massachusetts.
Key milestones in its history include:
1. In 2012, Rethink Robotics introduced Baxter, a groundbreaking collaborative robot designed to work safely alongside human workers in manufacturing environments. Baxter was notable for its affordable price, user-friendly interface, and built-in safety features.
2. In 2015, they launched Sawyer, a more precise, smaller single-arm robot aimed at more intricate manufacturing tasks.
3. Despite innovative technology, the company struggled financially and was unable to achieve widespread commercial adoption of its robots.
4. In October 2018, Rethink Robotics ceased operations and was acquired by the German automation company HAHN Group.
The company was significant in advancing the concept of collaborative robotics, demonstrating that robots could be designed to work more intuitively and safely alongside human workers, particularly in small and medium-sized manufacturing settings.
