Rockwell Automation, Inc. has signed an agreement to acquire Clearpath Robotics Inc. Clearpath, an Ontario, Canada-based company, specializes in autonomous robotics for industrial applications, and Rockwell hopes the acquisition will aid the company as it attempts to bring its vision of the Connected Enterprise to life. Clearpath’s OTTO Motors Division features autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), as well as fleet management and navigation software. Rockwell plans to pair Clearpath’s offerings with its array of solutions to create a complete portfolio of advanced material handling solutions.
In a recent quote, lake Moret, Chairman and CEO, Rockwell Automation, said, “Rockwell and Clearpath together will simplify the difficult and labor-intensive task of moving materials and product through an orchestrated and safe system to optimize operations throughout the entire manufacturing facility. The combination of autonomous robots and PLC-based line control has long been a dream of plant managers in industries as diverse as automotive and consumer packaged goods. With Clearpath, Rockwell is uniquely positioned to make that dream a reality across virtually all discrete and hybrid verticals, optimizing planning, operations, and the workforce.”