Rethink Robotics Expands with New Bochum HQ and Production Facility

Last summer, Rethink Robotics GmbH—a subsidiary of Germany’s Hahn Group—relocated to a state‑of‑the‑art headquarters and production plant in Bochum. The new site sits adjacent to the “learning factory” of the Chair for Production Systems at Ruhr University, fostering close collaboration between academia and industry.

Founded in the United States as a pioneer in collaborative robot (cobot) technology, Rethink was acquired by the Hahn Group in 2018. Today, the company’s portfolio is showcased alongside other Hahn robotics and automation brands, such as Hahn Plastics Automation in Windsor, Connecticut.

With a staff of 30, the new facility is a cornerstone of the Hahn Group Technology Center. In a strategic partnership, Siemens Technology Accelerator acquired a minority stake in Rethink, while Siemens Corporate Technology has entered a joint‑development program. The collaboration focuses on aligning Siemens’ control hardware with Rethink’s Intera software, accelerating the launch of a next‑generation robot series. “Leveraging Siemens technology brings us closer to a new series of robots, and we expect to unveil a prototype in spring 2021,” CEO Daniel Bunse said.

At K2019, Hahn showcased the upgraded Sawyer Black cobot, featuring enhanced hardware, quieter operation, and an increased payload capacity—an evolution highlighted in our December 2019 “Starting Up” feature.