What Xpanner does

Xpanner is a South Korean construction automation company founded in 2020 that retrofits existing heavy construction equipment with Physical AI-driven software to automate labor-intensive tasks such as pile driving, grading, trenching, backfilling, compaction, and panel lifting. Its technical stack combines the Mango RTOS-based automation controller, the M2 Physical AI module, a sensor-fusion pipeline integrating LiDAR, vision, GNSS, and IMU data, and the Xpanner Connect cloud platform, delivered primarily as the X1 Kit that converts customer-owned equipment into brand-agnostic Software-Defined Machinery (SDM). The company serves enterprise EPC contractors in utility-scale solar, BESS, data-center power infrastructure, and civil construction, with a customer base that includes 19 of the top 20 U.S. solar farm EPCs (Mortenson, Qcells, Black & Veatch, Bouygues) and Korean majors such as Samsung E&A, GS E&C, DL E&C, and Obayashi Corporation.

Name

Xpanner

Legal name

주식회사 스패너 (Xpanner Inc.)

Website

https://xpanner.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Xpanner is a South Korean construction automation company that retrofits existing heavy equipment (pile drivers, excavators, tiltrotators) with Physical AI software — the X1 Kit, Mango controller, and Xpanner Connect cloud — sold primarily as an Automation-as-a-Service subscription to U.S. solar, BESS, and civil EPC contractors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Seoul

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Automation-as-a-Service (AaaS) Subscription: Recurring subscription model — pay-as-you-go / task-specific licenses — under which Xpanner deploys and maintains its X1 Kit hardware on customer-owned equipment and charges ongoing fees. Underpins the primary U.S. revenue motion and the strategic shift away from equipment sales toward a software/data subscription.
2. Automation-Ready Equipment Packages (Sale / Rental / RPO): Sale, rental, or rent-to-own (RPO) of automation-ready machines (e.g., Orteco pile drivers, Develon excavators) pre-configured with Xpanner's X1 technology and Xpanner Connect. Combines upfront integration with subscription over project lifecycle.
3. One-Time Software/Hardware Integration (Mango, Mangosteen, X1 Kit): Direct sale of Mango automation controllers, Mangosteen communication modules, and X1 retrofit kits that retrofits existing customer equipment; can be paired with subsequent software license subscriptions.
4. Professional Services: Forward-Deployed Engineering, Installation & Training: Xpanner Field Operations (XFO) team provides on-site installation, calibration, design-to-3D conversion, operator training, and proactive field support bundled with deployments — included in AaaS and project engagements.
5. Equipment Rental / Marketplace Commission (Partners Operator Network): Operating-company network (Partners Operator Leaders Club, ~300 rental firms in Korea) that connects customers with Xpanner-equipped owner-operators on a transaction basis, generating commissions / placement revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels5 records

Core offering

Xpanner retrofits existing heavy construction equipment (pile drivers, excavators, tiltrotators) with its X1 Kit to turn them into Software-Defined Machinery. The X1 Kit combines the Mango RTOS-based automation controller, the M2 Physical AI module, and a sensor fusion stack (LiDAR, vision, GNSS) to enable autonomous, task-specific operation on jobsites. Above the equipment, the Xpanner Connect cloud platform delivers real-time production data, plan-vs-as-built verification, and AI-powered performance insights across multi-brand fleets. The offering is delivered primarily as an Automation-as-a-Service (AaaS) subscription.

Product overview

Xpanner offers a Physical AI- and robotics-based construction automation portfolio delivered under an Automation-as-a-Service (AaaS) subscription model. Its architecture is a platform-plus-modules offering: the X1 Kit is the flagship retrofit automation kit that wraps around existing construction equipment (Vermeer PD10, Orteco pile drivers, Develon/Volvo excavators), while the Automation-Ready Package extends this into pre-configured equipment bundles. On the equipment, the Mango automation controller and the M2 Physical AI module work together with LiDAR/vision/GNSS/IMU sensor fusion to deliver autonomous machine operation. Above the equipment, Xpanner Connect provides the cloud-based real-time control, monitoring, and AI-powered performance insight platform that ties the fleet, design data, and project stakeholders together. Specialized vertical solutions — the Solar Farm Piling Automation Solution and the Earthwork Automation Solution — apply this stack to specific task workflows. The Xpanner XBoost Partnership Program, Xpanner Store mobile app, and machine guidance distribution portfolio (Leica, MOBA, Steelwrist, JK Attachment, engcon) complement the core automation technology stack.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• X1 Kit: Flagship retrofit Physical AI-based automation kit that transforms existing construction equipment (pile drivers, excavators) into autonomous-ready Software-Defined Machinery (SDM). Includes Mango controller, M2 Physical AI module, sensor fusion, and proprietary software.
• Mango
• Mangosteen
• Xpanner Connect
• Xpanner Store
• XBoost

Products and services

• X1 Kit Flagship retrofit Physical AI-based automation kit that transforms existing construction equipment (e.g., Vermeer PD10 pile drivers, Orteco pile drivers) into Software-Defined Machinery (SDM). Integrates Mango, M2, sensor fusion (LiDAR, vision, GNSS), and cloud software for autonomous pile driving, automated drive and align, and one-touch task-specific automation on construction sites.
• Automation-Ready Package Pre-configured construction equipment (Orteco pile drivers, Develon excavators) powered by X1 technology, pre-equipped for immediate deployment on real job sites. Includes the Everstar package for longer/varied pile driving, available for rental, purchase, or rent-to-own (RPO).
• Xpanner Connect Real-time cloud-based integrated control and management platform that visualizes jobsite production data, plan-vs-as-built comparisons, and AI-powered performance insights. Connects equipment, design data, surveys, and project stakeholders into one real-time dashboard across multi-brand fleets and sites.
• Mango Automation Controller On-machine RTOS-based hardware controller that performs real-time decision-making and precision control across hydraulic, electric, and mechanical systems. Functions as the standalone controller for tiltrotators and as the core control module of the X1 Kit.
• Solar Farm Piling Automation Solution Vertical solution for solar farm construction that combines Mango, Mangosteen, GNSS/IMU sensing, and Xpanner Connect into a turnkey pile-driving automation offering, reducing process steps from 6 to 1 and headcount from 5 to 1, with claimed ~50% cost reduction versus traditional methods.
• Earthwork Automation Solution (토공 자동화 솔루션) Earthwork/site preparation automation offering that combines Mango-enabled machine control, machine guidance, tiltrotator automation, and the Xpanner Connect integrated control system for tasks such as trenching, grading, backfilling, and compaction; distributed in the Korean market via subscription, with claimed construction time reductions of up to 57%.
• Xpanner Store Mobile app service (launched on Android Play Store) that allows customers to browse and purchase smart construction products online, including machine guidance systems, attachments, and parts.

Quantifiable outcome

• Pile installation labor reduced from 6 to 1 person and operation time cut ~50%
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration13 records

AI capability10 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• JK Attachment (JK어태치먼트)flagshipTechnology or Integration · 1 August 2025Korea's leading tiltrotator maker; Mango is the controller for JK's new MAXIMUM 2 tiltrotator (launched May 2025). Joint 'MangoTilt Showcase' at Xpanner's Asan workshop in August 2025 unveiled new automation features including the 'Copilot' auto-tilt and '인양자세제어' lift-position control.
• Obayashi Corporation (大林組)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2025Japanese Big-5 general contractor. Joint automation demo at Xpanner's Busan site in July 2025 on Software-Defined Machinery across Volvo, Develon, and Vermeer platforms; Obayashi visited Xpanner's Arizona automated project in March 2026; ongoing discussions for joint R&D and expanded pilot projects.
• Dana IncorporatedcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 February 2025Partnership agreement signed late February 2025 makes Xpanner's Asan workshop an official Dana axle service center — the only one of its kind in Korea — extending service reach beyond Seoul metro area for construction-equipment axles.
• NoBull EnergyflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2025First official partner of the XBoost Partnership Program announced January 2025. Joint PoC on a U.S. solar farm in sub-zero weather demonstrated autonomous pile-driving; partnership supports Xpanner's U.S. sales pipeline and co-branded market expansion.
• Dohwa Engineering (도화엔지니어링)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2024Signed MOU in March 2024 with Xpanner and five other smart-construction startups to jointly advance into overseas advanced markets leveraging Dohwa's overseas engineering track record.
• VermeercoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerX1 Kit is designed for seamless integration with Vermeer PD10 pile drivers, the leading U.S. solar-foundation pile-driver model; Xpanner's X1 is deployed on Vermeer pile drivers at solar sites across Texas, Arizona, and Louisiana.
• OrtecocoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerAutomation-Ready Package offerings include pre-configured Orteco pile drivers with Xpanner's X1 technology and Xpanner Connect; available for rental, purchase, or RPO. Mortenson and Qcells both run X1 on Orteco pile drivers.
• Develon (HD Hyundai Infracore)coreTechnology or IntegrationDevelon excavators integrated with Xpanner's Mango controller; demonstrated at 2025 GDOT ROADEO (DX140W with Steelwrist X18) and at the Obayashi SDM demo (Develon 14-ton with JK tiltrotator).
• PIRTEKminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnered with Xpanner for North American hydraulic-service / equipment-related distribution.
• MOBA (Moba)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMoba 3D machine guidance is part of Xpanner's distributed product line in Korea; Xpanner serves as Moba's North American business partner.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Built Robotics: U.S.-based developer of autonomous construction equipment retrofits (excavators, dozers, skid steers). Closest direct competitor to Xpanner's X1 Kit and Mango controller stack, operating in the same solar/EPC and earthwork automation categories.
• SafeAI: Autonomous heavy-equipment startup retrofitting skid steers, articulated dump trucks, and dozers for mining, construction, and energy projects. Competes directly with Xpanner's equipment-agnostic autonomy thesis in similar end markets.
• Bonsai Robotics: AI-powered autonomous machines for agriculture and adjacent off-road verticals, leveraging computer-vision autonomy stacks. Highly comparable to Xpanner's vision/sensor-fusion Physical AI approach applied to unstructured outdoor environments.

Broad incumbents

• Trimble: Global construction-technology incumbent spanning machine guidance, BIM, and connected-jobsite platforms. Competes broadly with Xpanner Connect in the multi-brand machine-control and plan-vs-as-built workflow.
• Hexagon (Leica Geosystems): Owner of Leica Geosystems machine-guidance portfolio, a leading 2D/3D machine-control offering that competes with Xpanner's Mango-based guidance and tiltrotator automation packages globally.
• Topcon Positioning: Major machine-control and positioning-systems incumbent for construction and agriculture. Overlaps with Xpanner's earthwork automation and 3D machine-guidance distribution portfolio, especially in Korea.
• Caterpillar: Largest construction-equipment OEM with autonomous mining trucks, Cat® Command remote control, and a growing connected-jobsite offering. Featured alongside Xpanner in Forbes' CONEXPO 2026 coverage as a peer automation player.
• Komatsu: OEM with the Smart Construction initiative covering autonomous dozers/excavators and integrated jobsite data platforms. Competes in the same category as Xpanner per BuiltWorlds' Automated Heavy Equipment classification.
• Volvo Construction Equipment: OEM whose Active Control semi-autonomous excavator system directly overlaps with Xpanner's Volvo 30-ton integration; also co-founder David Shin's prior employer and a key integration partner that could become a competitor.

Others

• Infrakit: Finnish cloud-based collaboration platform aggregating multi-brand machine guidance and design data — listed as a North American partner of Xpanner and functionally complementary/competing with Xpanner Connect in the same jobsite-data layer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@파는형님
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/xpanner
• Facebookfacebook.com/xpanner.usa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds6 records

Investors6 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Xpanner