The Robotics Business with Fexingo: Automation, Industrial Robots, and Hardware Startups

In this episode of The Robotics Business podcast, Lucas and Luna dive into the world of robotic grocery packing — specifically how one startup, Fizyr, is using AI-powered robot arms to pack an online order of 50 items in under 2 minutes. They explore the technical challenge of picking a wide variety of objects (a bunch of bananas, a jar of pasta sauce, a bag of frozen peas) into a single bag without crushing anything, and why this problem is so much harder than warehouse picking. Lucas explains that Fizyr's system uses a mix of 3D vision, force sensors, and a packing algorithm that treats the problem like a 3D Tetris game. They discuss the economics: a robot can pack one order for about 1 cent in electricity and maintenance, versus 15-20 cents of human labor. But the real bottleneck is the speed of the vision system — the robot spends 40% of its time just looking at the items. The show also touches on Ocado's automated warehouses and the race to make grocery e-commerce profitable. A natural donation tie-in: if you find these deep-dives valuable for your business, listener support keeps the show ad-free. #Robotics #GroceryAutomation #Fizyr #OnlineGrocery #AI #ComputerVision #PackingRobot #LogisticsTech #ECommerce #Ocado #LastMile #WarehouseAutomation #Cobot #SupplyChain #Business #Technology #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

Berries are one of the last crops to resist automation. A single raspberry has less than a second of optimal ripeness, and a human picker's touch is nearly impossible to replicate mechanically. But a startup called HarvestNow, spun out of a Danish ag-tech lab, claims its soft-robotic gripper can pick strawberries at 90 percent of human speed with zero bruising. Lucas and Luna break down the engineering challenge: why berry-picking is harder than assembling a car, how the gripper uses air-filled rubber fingers and a camera system that scans for color and firmness, and what the economics look like for a farm that pays $0.50 per clamshell to a robot instead of $3.00 to a migratory worker. They also touch on the broader shift in agricultural robotics — from tractor automation to delicate end-effectors that could eventually handle tomatoes, peaches, and avocados. If the tech scales, it could reshape the $20 billion fresh-berry labor market within five years. #HarvestNow #SoftRobotics #AgriculturalRobotics #BerryPicking #RoboticGripper #LaborShortage #PrecisionAgriculture #AgTech #RoboticsStartup #EndEffector #ComputerVision #FreshProduce #Automation #FoodSupplyChain #BusinessAndTechnology #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #RoboticsPodcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

In this episode of The Robotics Business, Lucas and Luna explore the rise of microfactories — small, highly automated production facilities that use robotics to compete with traditional large-scale manufacturing. They discuss the case of Bright Machines, a company that raised $400 million to build autonomous microfactories for assembly tasks, and how startups like Instrumental and Righthand Robotics are applying similar principles to electronics and logistics. The hosts break down the economics: how microfactories reduce capital expenditure by 70% compared to traditional lines, why they enable faster product iteration, and the trade-offs in throughput. They also examine the broader trend of modular, reconfigurable production systems and what it means for supply chain resilience. The episode ends with a reflection on whether microfactories could democratize manufacturing globally, giving smaller players access to advanced automation that was once reserved for Fortune 500 companies. #Microfactories #BrightMachines #IndustrialRobotics #Automation #ModularManufacturing #SupplyChain #ElectronicsAssembly #Instrumental #RighthandRobotics #RoboticsStartups #Manufacturing #Cobot #AssemblyLine #ProductionInnovation #Business #Technology #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

Over 50 million tons of electronic waste are generated globally each year, but less than 20% gets recycled properly. This episode explores how robotics companies like AMP Robotics and Apple's Daisy robot are tackling the e-waste crisis with AI-powered sorting arms and disassembly lines. Lucas and Luna discuss the economics of robotic recycling, why e-waste is uniquely challenging for automation, and whether these systems can scale beyond pilot projects. Specific focus: how computer vision and dexterous grippers are being trained to recognize and dismantle circuit boards, batteries, and rare earth magnets. #Robotics #Ewaste #Recycling #Automation #AMPRobotics #AppleDaisy #ComputerVision #IndustrialRobots #HardwareStartups #Sustainability #Business #Technology #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #Podcast #CircularEconomy #RareEarthMagnets #LithiumIonBatteries Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

Episode 21 of The Robotics Business. Lucas and Luna explore the frontier of tactile sensing for robot grippers—why it matters, who's doing it, and how a startup called GelSight turned a lab curiosity into a commercial sensor. They break down the core challenge: most robot hands are blind, relying on vision and force sensing. But recent advances in vision-based tactile sensors, like GelSight's gel-based fingertip that sees texture and slip, are changing manipulation. They discuss why Amazon's picking challenge exposed the limits of suction cups, how MIT's GelSight technology spun out, and why the robot hand market is a $10 billion opportunity that sensors haven't fully captured yet. No prior episodes have covered tactile sensing, making this a fresh angle on dexterous manipulation. #Robotics #TactileSensors #GelSight #RobotHands #DexterousManipulation #HardwareStartups #MIT #Grippers #Automation #Sensors #IndustrialRobots #Business #Technology #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #RoboticsBusiness #RobotTouch #Manipulation Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

Episode 20 of The Robotics Business explores the surge in piece-picking robots for e-commerce fulfillment. Lucas and Luna break down why Amazon, Walmart, and other giants are betting on robotic arms that can handle individual items from mixed bins, and the technology behind vision-guided grasping. They discuss the market shift from pallet-level automation to item-level picking, the rise of startups like Covariant and RightHand Robotics, and the economics that make these systems viable at scale. Plus, a look at how these robots are learning to handle fragile goods like eggs and wine bottles. By the end, you'll understand why warehouse robotics is finally moving beyond box-moving to the hard stuff: picking a single toothpaste tube from a tote. #Robotics #WarehouseAutomation #ECommerceFulfillment #PiecePicking #Covariant #RightHandRobotics #AmazonRobotics #WalmartAutomation #VisionGuidedGrasping #LogisticsTech #SupplyChain #Business #Technology #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #RobotArms #AI #Grasping Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

Episode 19 of The Robotics Business podcast explores how robot arms are mastering the delicate, high-precision task of smartphone assembly. Lucas and Luna examine a specific case: a Chinese electronics manufacturer that deployed a new generation of force-sensing robot arms to assemble camera modules for a flagship phone. They discuss the technical leap from earlier rigid automation, the cost savings in rework and yield, and why this signals a shift in how consumer electronics factories think about manual labor versus robotics. The episode also touches on the implications for supply chain resilience and the future of manufacturing jobs. Featuring specific numbers on cycle times, defect rates, and return on investment, this is a grounded look at a quiet revolution on the production line. #SmartphoneAssembly #RobotArms #ForceSensing #ConsumerElectronics #Manufacturing #Automation #SupplyChain #YieldImprovement #CameraModule #PrecisionAssembly #IndustrialRobots #LaborShift #Business #Technology #Podcast #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #RoboticsBusiness Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

Episode 18 of The Robotics Business. Lucas and Luna explore how robotic arms are being deployed in indoor vertical farms—not just for planting and harvesting, but for pruning, pollinating, and quality inspection. They focus on a specific case: a startup called Iron Ox that uses a gantry-mounted robot to tend leafy greens at its California facility. The hosts break down the economics: Iron Ox claims its robot can manage 30,000 plants per cycle with 40% less labor cost than traditional greenhouse farming. They discuss why agricultural robotics is different from factory automation—unstructured environments, variable crop shapes, and the need for gentle gripping. Lucas shares a surprising stat: the global agricultural robotics market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 20 percent through 2030, but profitability remains elusive for most startups. Luna questions whether the tech is ready for staple crops like wheat and corn. The episode closes on a reflective note: will robots replace farmworkers or just make them more productive? #AgriculturalRobotics #IndoorFarming #IronOx #VerticalFarming #RobotArms #Automation #CropHarvesting #PrecisionAgriculture #FoodTech #LaborCosts #GantryRobot #Greenhouse #RoboticsBusiness #Sustainability #Technology #Business #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

In this episode, Lucas and Luna examine how the failed promise of the consumer robot vacuum is finding new life in commercial cleaning. They break down why the sector is projected to hit $14 billion by 2030, how companies like Brain Corp and Avidbots are retrofitting existing machines instead of building from scratch, and why the biggest unlock might be a simple software update. They also discuss the business model shift from selling hardware to leasing cleaning-as-a-service, and what that means for margins and total addressable market. If you're following automation beyond the factory floor, this is a concrete look at where the puck is going. #RobotVacuums #CommercialCleaning #BrainCorp #Avidbots #CleaningAsAService #Automation #Robotics #Business #Technology #HardwareStartups #ServiceRobots #RoboticCleaning #AutonomousMobileRobots #AMRs #FloorCleaning #FacilityManagement #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

Episode 16 of The Robotics Business shifts focus from hardware to pricing. Lucas and Luna explore why an increasing number of robotics startups are abandoning upfront capital sales for recurring revenue models. They examine a specific case: a collaborative robot company that switched from a $35,000 one-time purchase to a $2,500 monthly subscription, and how that change affected customer adoption, cash flow, and product development. The hosts discuss the trade-offs — higher lifetime value vs. slower initial revenue, the appeal to smaller manufacturers who can't afford capex, and the risk of customer churn. They also look at how this trend is pushing robot makers to build software services that justify the monthly fee, from remote monitoring to predictive maintenance. No hype, just the numbers and strategy behind a quiet shift in how robots are sold. #Robotics #Business #Technology #SubscriptionPricing #SaaS #Cobots #Manufacturing #HardwareStartups #RevenueModel #Automation #PredictiveMaintenance #IndustrialRobots #CustomerChurn #CapexVsOpex #RobotAsAService #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #LucasAndLuna Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

Surgical robots have been around for decades, but they've mostly lived in big academic medical centers. This episode looks at why smaller hospitals are starting to adopt them now, and what that means for patients, surgeons, and the companies building the machines. We focus on one specific system: the Versius robot from CMR Surgical. We discuss its design philosophy, the training model for surgeons, and the economics that make it feasible for a 200-bed community hospital. Along the way, we touch on the competitive landscape (Intuitive Surgical's da Vinci still dominates, but new entrants are forcing price and design innovation) and the regulatory path. The goal is to give listeners a concrete sense of how robotic surgery is moving from a luxury to a standard tool. #SurgicalRobots #CMRSurgical #IntuitiveSurgical #DaVinci #Versius #RoboticSurgery #MinimallyInvasiveSurgery #MedTech #HospitalAdoption #BusinessOfSurgery #TechnologyTransfer #RegulatoryAffairs #FDA #CEMark #SurgicalTraining #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #Robotics Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

Episode 14 of The Robotics Business examines how surgical robotics is moving from elite academic centers to community hospitals. Lucas walks through the specific business case: the da Vinci system costs roughly $2 million per unit, plus $2,000 per procedure in consumables, which has historically limited adoption. But new competitors like Vicarious Surgical and CMR Surgical are engineering smaller, cheaper systems with subscription pricing that could change the math. Luna asks whether patient outcomes justify the cost, and Lucas points to a 2023 study in JAMA showing robotic-assisted knee replacements had 40% fewer complications than manual surgery. The episode lands on a concrete question: will the next wave of surgical robots reduce healthcare costs or inflate them? #SurgicalRobots #DaVinci #IntuitiveSurgical #VicariousSurgical #CMRSurgical #MedTech #RoboticSurgery #HospitalEconomics #JAMAStudy #KneeReplacement #MinimallyInvasive #RaaS #HealthcareCosts #BusinessPodcast #FexingoBusiness #Technology #Automation #Robotics Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

Episode 13 of The Robotics Business with Fexingo looks at the hidden robotics boom inside recycling facilities. Lucas and Luna explore how AMP Robotics, ZenRobotics, and AI-powered sorting arms are transforming waste processing — and why the economics of recycling finally make automation irresistible. They break down the 'killer app' for computer vision in garbage, the surprising cost-per-pick math, and what it means for municipalities and investors. If you think recycling is just trucks and bins, this episode changes the picture. #AMPRobotics #ZenRobotics #RecyclingRobotics #WasteManagement #ComputerVision #AI #RoboticSorting #CircularEconomy #Automation #IndustrialRobots #Business #Technology #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #RoboticsBusiness #PodcastEpisode #Episode13 #SupplyChain Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

Episode 12 of The Robotics Business goes inside the 'dark factory' — a manufacturing facility that runs 24/7 with zero human operators. Lucas and Luna examine FANUC's fully automated plant in Oshino, Japan, where robots build robots for weeks at a time under only remote monitoring. They unpack the economics: the facility operates at 80 percent utilization versus 40 percent for a conventional factory, with a payback period under 18 months on the capital investment. But they also explore the fragility — what happens when one robot's vision system drifts at 3 AM on a Saturday? The episode also touches on why most manufacturers are not ready for full darkness and where the 'lights-out' model makes sense today: high-volume, low-mix production of precision components. A grounded look at the frontier of industrial automation, not a sci-fi vision. #DarkFactory #LightsOutManufacturing #FANUC #IndustrialRobots #Automation #Manufacturing #Robotics #UnmannedFactory #JapaneseManufacturing #RobotEconomics #FactoryAutomation #Industry40 #PredictiveMaintenance #CNCMachining #RoboticVision #Business #Technology #FexingoBusiness Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

Robot arms are getting cheaper, but the bigger shift is in how they're sold. Lucas and Luna explore the rise of 'Robots as a Service' (RaaS) — a subscription model that lowers the barrier for small and mid-size manufacturers. They dig into a case study: Formic Technologies, a startup that leases autonomous mobile robots and robotic arms for a monthly fee of around $8 per hour of operation, no upfront capital required. Formic has signed on over 50 manufacturers in the U.S., including a Texas-based metal fabricator that automated its welding line for $6.50 an hour — less than the cost of a human operator. The hosts discuss why this model works for low-margin shops, how it changes the risk calculus for automation, and why traditional robot vendors like FANUC and ABB are starting to offer their own as-a-service plans. They also touch on the potential downsides: lock-in, software dependency, and the question of who owns the data the robot generates. A practical look at a quiet revolution in industrial finance. #RobotsAsAService #RaaS #FormicTechnologies #IndustrialAutomation #ManufacturingTech #RobotLeasing #AutomationFinance #Cobot #RoboticArm #WeldingAutomation #FANUC #ABB #Business #Technology #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #HardwareStartups #SubscriptionModel Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the surprising renaissance in automated welding. While many assume welding robots are old news, a new generation of systems combining vision sensors, machine learning, and force feedback is cracking the hardest jobs: low-volume, high-mix fabrication. We look at how one mid-sized manufacturer — a family-run trailer maker in Indiana — cut rework by 40 percent using a $85,000 collaborative welding cell from a startup called Path Robotics. We discuss why welding has been automation's last frontier, how advances in seam tracking and real-time adjustment make it possible, and what this means for the skilled trades shortage. Plus, we consider the economics: when does a welding robot pay for itself? And why some fabricators are still skeptical. This is a deep dive into the technology and business case behind the quiet transformation of metal joining. #WeldingRobots #PathRobotics #CollaborativeRobots #Cobots #IndustrialAutomation #Manufacturing #SkilledTrades #MachineLearning #VisionSensors #ForceFeedback #SeamTracking #Fabrication #IndianaManufacturing #BusinessPodcast #TechnologyPodcast #FexingoBusiness #TheRoboticsBusiness #Automation Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

Lucas and Luna explore how robots are quietly moving from factory assembly lines to restaurant kitchens. They dig into the story of Moley Robotics, a London-based startup that built a robotic arm capable of cooking thousands of recipes from scratch. They break down the unit economics: the robot costs roughly $250,000, replacing about three full-time chefs at $50,000 per year each, with a payback period under two years. They also discuss the technical challenges — gripping slippery ingredients, adapting to different kitchen layouts, and the software stack required. The episode raises a deeper question: will automation change the taste of food? They touch on why early adoption is happening in fast-casual chains and ghost kitchens, not fine dining. A specific case study: a Moley-equipped test kitchen in Dubai that now serves 200 covers a day with one human supervisor. The conversation closes with what this means for culinary jobs and the future of eating out. #Robotics #RestaurantTech #MoleyRobotics #KitchenAutomation #Cobots #GhostKitchens #FastCasual #UnitEconomics #ROI #LaborShortage #Dubai #CulinaryTech #Startup #Business #Technology #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #Automation Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how sensor fusion is transforming industrial robotics. They focus on one specific case: Fanuc's iRVision system, which combines 3D cameras with force-torque sensors to let robots adapt to unpredictable parts in real time. Lucas breaks down why traditional 'blind' robots can't handle variance above 0.1 millimeters, and how sensor-packed arms are now used in automotive assembly for tasks like inserting pistons without jamming. They discuss the cost decline of lidar and depth cameras, the role of synthetic data in training, and why startups like Covariant and Veo Robotics are racing to build 'robotic seeing' stacks. The episode also touches on the bottleneck in edge compute for real-time processing, and whether sensor fusion actually lowers the barrier for small manufacturers. A fresh angle on the robotics-as-a-service debate from the sensor side. #SensorFusion #IndustrialRobotics #Fanuc #iRVision #Covariant #VeoRobotics #ForceTorque #3Dcameras #Lidar #SyntheticData #RobotVision #EdgeCompute #AutomotiveAssembly #ManufacturingTech #Automation #RoboticsStartups #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

Lucas and Luna dig into the current slowdown in warehouse robotics investment. After a boom from 2020 to 2023, early-stage funding for logistics automation dropped nearly 40% last year. They discuss why VCs are pulling back, using the specific case of a once-hot startup, 'Pick-It Robotics,' which raised $150 million but recently shut down. Lucas explains the disconnect between impressive technology and real-world unit economics, including the hidden costs of integration and maintenance that inflated deployment timelines. Luna pushes back on whether the slowdown is cyclical or structural, and they explore why some categories like autonomous forklifts are still seeing traction. They close on whether the next wave will come from public companies or a leaner generation of startups. #LogisticsAutomation #WarehouseRobotics #RobotStartups #VentureCapital #PickItRobotics #AutonomousForklifts #UnitEconomics #RoboticsFunding #SupplyChainTech #BusinessPodcast #Technology #Robotics #HardwareStartups #FexingoBusiness #BusinessAndTechnology #AutomationSlowdown #MarketCorrection #IndustrialRobots Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

Collaborative robots — cobots — are the fastest-growing segment in industrial automation, but they're not just smaller, cheaper robot arms. In this episode, Lucas and Luna break down the specific market forces driving cobot adoption: safety standards that eliminate cages, programming interfaces that don't require a PhD, and price points that have fallen below $20,000. They examine Universal Robots' early dominance, Fanuc's and ABB's countermoves, and the risk that cobots simply cannibalize traditional industrial robot sales rather than expand the market. A concrete look at a technology that is quietly redefining who can afford to automate. #Cobots #CollaborativeRobots #UniversalRobots #Fanuc #ABB #IndustrialAutomation #RobotSafety #Manufacturing #AutomationTrends #RobotProgramming #FactoryOfTheFuture #SMEs #LaborShortage #ROI #Business #Technology #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

Episode 5 of The Robotics Business zooms in on one of the hardest problems in robotics: fabric manipulation. Lucas and Luna unpack the breakthrough at MIT's CSAIL lab where a robot named 'Mario' used a novel deep reinforcement learning approach to fold towels, shirts, and even fitted sheets with 95% reliability — a task that stumped industrial arms for years. They trace how the same underlying technique is now migrating into warehouse robotics (a major SoftBank-backed startup quietly acquired the IP in late 2025) and what this means for the next generation of household service robots. Along the way, they discuss why fabric deformation is a 'holy grail' for roboticists, why most current automation avoids soft materials entirely, and why the $20 billion home service robot market hinges on solving this one problem. Specific numbers, a real research paper, and a concrete acquisition make this a tight 10-minute deep dive into an under-covered corner of the robotics business. #Robotics #MIT #CSALL #FabricManipulation #DeepReinforcementLearning #SoftBank #ServiceRobots #WarehouseAutomation #LaundryRobot #MarioRobot #BusinessPodcast #FexingoBusiness #Automation #RoboticsBusiness #Technology #Startups #ReinforcementLearning #HomeServiceRobots Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

Episode 4 of The Robotics Business dives into the surprising economics behind falling industrial robot prices. Lucas and Luna examine a specific case: how a mid-size Chinese manufacturer, Midea-owned KUKA, dropped the price of its KR 4 AGILUS arm by nearly 40 percent over three years without sacrificing margin. They trace the drivers — cheaper servo motors from mass production in EV factories, standardized controllers from the open-source ROS 2 ecosystem, and a shift from bespoke integration to modular, app-like programming. Along the way they discuss the historical parallel with PC commoditization in the 1990s, the role of Chinese government subsidies for automation adoption, and what this means for small and midsize manufacturers considering their first robot purchase. The conversation is grounded in specific numbers: a $22,000 price point in 2023 falling to roughly $13,500 by early 2026, and the breakeven calculation for a shop paying $18 per hour per worker. A brief listener-support interlude appears mid-episode. #IndustrialRobots #RobotEconomics #KUKA #Midea #AutomationCosts #RobotArmPrices #ROS2 #ServoMotors #EVFactories #ManufacturingTech #SmallManufacturers #AutomationROI #RobotProgramming #ChineseManufacturing #HardwareStartups #Business #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

Episode 3 of The Robotics Business podcast dives into the less visible but critical fight over robot operating system standards. Lucas and Luna explore why the industry is split between proprietary platforms like ABB's RobotStudio and open-source frameworks like ROS 2. They discuss how this fragmentation creates hidden costs for manufacturers, slows adoption among small and midsize businesses, and impacts the $75 billion industrial robotics market. The episode zeroes in on a concrete case: a Michigan auto parts supplier that spent 18 months and $2 million integrating three different robot brands because each used a different software layer. Listeners will come away understanding why the robot software stack matters more than the hardware arm, and why the next big robotics startup might not build a robot at all. #RobotSoftware #ROS2 #IndustrialRobotics #ABB #Fanuc #Kuka #Automation #Manufacturing #SMB #Interoperability #TechStandards #OpenSource #ProprietarySoftware #BusinessPodcast #FexingoBusiness #TechStrategy #RoboticsBusiness #HardwareVsSoftware Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

This episode of The Robotics Business with Fexingo examines how collaborative robots, or cobots, are finding a home in small and medium-sized manufacturers. Lucas and Luna discuss the case of a Minnesota-based metal fabricator that deployed four cobots from Universal Robots to handle repetitive welding tasks. The company cut production time by 40% and reduced defects, all with a payback period under 18 months. They also explore why cobots haven't yet saturated the market: integration costs, safety standards, and the shortage of skilled technicians remain barriers. With the global cobot market projected to grow at over 20% compound annual growth rate through 2030, small manufacturers face a strategic decision on when to adopt. Lucas and Luna debate whether the next wave will be driven by easier-to-program AI interfaces or by falling hardware prices. A grounded look at where automation actually meets the shop floor in 2026. #Cobots #UniversalRobots #Automation #SmallManufacturing #IndustrialRobots #CollaborativeRobots #Robotics #Manufacturing #WeldingAutomation #ROI #LaborShortage #AIinManufacturing #ProductionEfficiency #BusinessStrategy #Business #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #RoboticsBusiness Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

In this debut episode of The Robotics Business, Lucas and Luna drill into a single number: 1.3 million industrial robots shipped in 2025 according to the International Federation of Robotics. They trace that statistic back to a specific factory floor in Greenville, South Carolina, where BMW uses a 480-kilogram, six-axis arm from Fanuc to weld a chassis every 57 seconds. Lucas explains why the automotive sector still drives 30 percent of global robot installations, while Luna pushes back on the hype around 'cobots' — collaborative robots that work alongside humans. They examine the unit economics of a mid-range industrial arm (around $85,000, plus $12,000 a year in software and maintenance), and ask why most factory automation projects still fail to hit their promised return on investment. The conversation ends with a forward-looking note on the most interesting robotics startup that isn't making a humanoid. Expect concrete cases, honest numbers, and the occasional challenging question — no breathless futurism, just the business reality of machines that move. #IndustrialRobots #Fanuc #BMW #Cobots #Automation #RoboticsBusiness #Manufacturing #InternationalFederationOfRobotics #Greenville #UnitEconomics #ROI #Startups #SixAxisArm #Hardware #Business #Technology #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo