U.S. robotics manufacturing is starting to pick up. Rockwell Automation Inc. this week announced that the first autonomous mobile robots, or AMRs, have officially rolled off the production line at its global headquarters in Milwaukee. The marked a significant milestone for OTTO by Rockwell Automation, claimed the industrial automation and digital transformation company.
The new 25,000 sq. ft. (2,322.5 sq. m) OTTO production space at the Milwaukee campus is now assembling the OTTO 600 and OTTO 1200 AMRs. OTTO designed these robots to move heavy materials safely and efficiently across busy factory floors and in tight spaces.
By reducing reliance on manual forklifts, the AMRs can help manufacturers increase safety, improve transition times, minimize damage to goods, and create more resilient and sustainable operations, said the company.
“The expansion strengthens our portfolio of advanced material handling solutions and underscores Rockwell’s leadership as the largest industrial automation company building AMRs in the U.S.,” stated Robert Buttermore, senior vice president and chief supply chain officer at Rockwell Automation. “It’s also a showcase for our customers, demonstrating how seamlessly and safely these technologies can transform their operations.”
Rockwell in late 2023 acquired Clearpath Robotics and subsidiary OTTO Motors for nearly $600 million. Clearpath develops robots for research and development purposes, while OTTO Motors builds AMRs for manufacturing and logistics applications.
Rockwell works to enhance manufacturing resilience
Expanding OTTO production to Milwaukee is part of Rockwell’s broader strategy to enhance manufacturing resilience. Clearpath and OTTO will continue producing AMRs at their facilities in Ontario, Canada, while the Milwaukee operation adds capacity and proximity to U.S. customers.
Rockwell said OTTO’s AMRs stand out for these unique features:
- Laser scanners scan the room more than 30 times per second, building a virtual map in their memory of the room around them.
- Through shared communication, each robot is aware of the other robots in the room and their locations, even around corners.
- Every OTTO AMR completes over 15 mi. (24.1 km) of driving before being considered ready to ship to the customer.
This move follows Rockwell’s recent announcement of a $2 billion investment in plants, digital infrastructure, and talent to grow share, build resilience, and expand margins.
The new production space at Milwaukee headquarters is opening on schedule, just ahead of November’s Automation Fair in Chicago. OTTO plans to start customer tours of its Milwaukee space in early 2026.
