French construction machinery maker Manitou Group has acquired the entire robotics division of French specialist engineering company Sitia, saying it wants to establish robotics as “a salient pillar of innovation”.
A team of seven, including doctoral candidates and engineers, will integrate into Manitou Group’s research and development operation.
The team had earlier created an autonomous farm tractor called “Trektor”.
The intellectual property of Sitia’s robotics division is now Manitou’s.
Manitou said it’s putting robotics “at the nucleus” of its forthcoming developments and will establish a new “Manitou Group Robotics” division this year.
“Sitia has been a partner with whom we have collaborated for nearly a decade, and which has embarked on its transformation towards cutting-edge robotic activity,” said Julien Waechter, Manitou’s vice president of R&D.
“Through this acquisition, we shall enrich our capabilities with a team of recognized experts, benefit from proven technological building blocks, coupled with Manitou Group’s established know-how.”
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