Innovative robots need support to scale. Dexterity Inc. and Beckhoff USA last week entered into a key supplier agreement for the design and development of the Mech “superhumanoid” robots.
Beckhoff plans to provide Dexterity with technologies to enable advanced automation and kinematics in systems such as the dual-armed Mech mobile manipulator. Dexterity said this will support its rapid business growth.
“Our hardware and software stack enables Dexterity to scale with ease – whether creating new technology categories with the most advanced robotic solutions out there, or with more entry-level solutions that still need to deliver on the promise of reliability and performance at a reasonable cost,” stated Doug Schuchart, global intralogistics industry manager at Beckhoff.
Beckhoff said its engineers build advanced controls, communication, Internet of Things (IoT), and motion technologies. With its U.S. headquarters in Minneapolis, the company has created the EtherCAT fieldbus and Safety over EtherCAT (FSoE).
Dexterity looks for help to scale
“Integrating safety and communication on one system was important to us,” Michael Patrick Perry, vice president of marketing at Dexterity, told Automated Warehouse. “Beckhoff’s ability then to scale made this partnership a no-brainer.”
Redwood City, Calif.-based Dexterity said it has used physical AI to enable complex robotic manipulation. The company said it has automated repetitive tasks in logistics, warehousing, and supply chain operations, allowing employees to focus on higher-level, cognitive work.
Dexterity has collaborated with FedEx and Sagawa Express to deploy truck loading and unloading robots. The company, which was a 2024 RBR50 Robotics Innovation Award honoree, noted that it currently has a $1.65 billion valuation. It has been cited as being on the fast track to an initial public offering.
To continue this business development, Dexterity said it must ensure that its robots “offer breakthrough performance, unmatched reliability, and above all, total safety in bustling warehouses and distribution centers.”
“This is where Beckhoff comes in,” said Avinash Verma, vice president of new product introduction, manufacturing, and supply chain at Dexterity. “Beckhoff has consistently supported Dexterity as a trusted provider of best-in-class automation and controls components and helps us innovate and differentiate.”
In May, the company partnered with Sanmina Corp. to accelerate commercialization and to scale production of Mech.
Save the date for the 2026 Robotics SummitBeckhoff provides controls and support
Dexterity needed robot control and communications encompassing hardware, software, and networking. Beckhoff said its control hardware is compact for tight spaces such as those inside mobile robots and shuttles.
Beckhoff asserted that many of the world’s largest retail and parcel companies rely on its technology. In addition, it provides support with its its U.S. Special Projects Team (SPT) to ensure the success of mission-critical projects.
The company said its experienced SPT worked closely with Dexterity’s engineers as they jointly implemented Beckhoff systems for kinematics, PLCs, machine safety, and more.
“Beckhoff will provide ongoing support for the Mech robots, transitioning from the initial SPT development work to their globally-scaled production and support infrastructure for EtherCAT and other products,” explained Perry. “Local support will be handled by the local sales engineer and application engineering team, and Dexterity engineers will also have access to resources like free phone support and online training throughout the Mech’s lifecycle.”
“Beckhoff will also continue to support the adoption of new innovations in their TwinCAT control software and EtherCAT hardware,” he noted.
The first Beckhoff-powered Mech will go live at a customer site in Q1 2026, said Perry.
