Hahn Plastics Automation Opens Connecticut HQ, Unveils Plan to Revitalize Rethink Robotics' Sawyer Cobots

Hahn Plastics Automation, Inc., the U.S. arm of the German Hahn Group, has officially opened its headquarters in Avon, Connecticut. The new location marks a strategic expansion of the company’s global footprint and its commitment to providing advanced robotics and plastics automation solutions across North America.

Hahn Plastics Automation represents three leading suppliers: Waldorf Technik and Geku from Germany, and Wemo from Sweden. The U.S. company will manufacture Geku and Waldorf Technik equipment in-house, while importing, stocking and integrating Cartesian robots supplied by Wemo. The firm is led by Markus Klaus, former injection‑molding division manager at Wittmann Battenfeld Inc. Klaus confirmed that the company will continue its partnership with Robotic Automation Systems (RAS) of Waunakee, Wisconsin, which distributes Wemo robots in the United States.

In a December “Starting Up” feature, Hahn Group announced its entry into the collaborative‑robot (cobot) market through the acquisition of the trademarks, software, patents, drawings and tooling for the Sawyer line of cobots from the now‑defunct Rethink Robotics. In an exclusive interview with Plastics Technology, Philipp Unterhalt, newly appointed Managing Director of Hahn Group and interim CEO of Rethink, outlined the company’s roadmap for the cobot business.

Unterhalt highlighted that Hahn Group—worth €200 million, with 1,200 employees spread across 12 countries—has already been the largest distributor for Rethink Robotics. “We believe in the technology, including Rethink’s world‑class software and user interface,” Unterhalt said. “We see an opportunity to enhance the reliability and versatility of the hardware.”

Hahn’s cobot strategy is organized into three phases. The first, already underway, focuses on servicing the 2,400 one‑armed Sawyer units currently in the market. The company has no plans to service or manufacture Rethink’s original two‑armed Baxter cobot, of which only 24 units were ever produced.

The second phase will develop a next‑generation “Sawyer 2.0” that promises higher speed, quieter operation and improved accuracy. A timeline for this upgrade has not yet been set.

In the final phase, Hahn aims to expand its cobot lineup to include larger models with greater payload capacity and reach. Parallel initiatives will introduce new software features for existing cobots and launch a lighter, lower‑cost version that offers essential functionality without unnecessary complexity.

These developments position Hahn Plastics Automation as a forward‑thinking partner for manufacturers seeking reliable, versatile, and cost‑effective robotics solutions.