Universal Robots and Mobile Industrial Robots Break Ground on Joint Headquarters
When finished in 2024, the Odense, Denmark-based facility will be the world’s largest cobot and autonomous mobile robot hub.
Posted: May 10, 2022
Construction has begun on a state-of-the-art joint headquarters for Universal Robots and Mobile Industrial Robots (MiR) in Odense, Denmark. The building will accommodate up to 600 employees and will be the world’s largest cobot and autonomous mobile robot (AMR) Hub.
Groundbreaking was expected to take place on 20 April with completion expected at the start of 2024. The background for building a new joint headquarters is the explosive growth of both MiR and Universal Robots. In 2021, both companies grew by more than 40 percent, and ambitions are high. Between them, Universal Robots and MiR expect to hire more than 200 new employees in 2022 alone, driving the need for larger premises.
The perfect setting for innovation
However, the new headquarters is not just about the need for more space, explains Kim Povlsen, President of Universal Robots.
“It is not just about extra square meters. This is also about creating the optimum setting for our employees. We continuously work to innovate and move the limits of what is possible for cobots and automation, and with the new headquarters we will create a unique and inspiring work environment, where we will also benefit from increased cooperation with MiR and superb synergy between us. The building is designed with focus on the well-being of our employees and on increasing opportunities for informal collaboration during the working day.”
The new building will be constructed using natural building materials to reflect and integrate into the surroundings.
Odense is a robot capital
President of MiR, Søren E. Nielsen is also looking forward to moving into the new Cobot & AMR Hub, which he sees as a huge gain, not only to MiR and Universal Robots, but also to Odense as a robot city. “The market for both autonomous mobile robots and cobots continues to grow, and we are looking forward to being able to present our current and future employees with an attractive and inspiring setting for their work. Odense has a strong pool of talent and has succeeded in positioning itself in the world as a leading-edge robot city. We are excited therefore that, together with Universal Robots, we can make a long-term investment in the exceptional robot environment on [the island of] Funen, which we have helped to establish. The building will be a visible testimony that Odense is a robot capital.”
Facts
- The new headquarters for Universal Robots and Mobile Industrial Robots will be located at Energivej in Odense S – a few hundred meters from the current headquarters of Universal Robots.
- The new building will be approximately 20,000 m2 and will accommodate up to 600 employees. Production of robots will continue to take place at the existing premises of Universal Robots and MiR.
- The construction price is 325 million Danish kroner. The general contractor of the construction is NCC. The building plans are created by 3XN/GXN with MOE and Henrik Jørgensen Landskab.
- The construction is expected to be completed by January 2024.
- Universal Robots and MiR are both owned by the American company Teradyne and will continue to function as two independent companies.
- The plan for a joint head office was published in 2020, and after a delay due to the Corona pandemic, groundbreaking of the construction will take place on 20 April.
www.mobile-industrial-robots.com
