Unchained Robotics
Unchained Robotics builds LUNA OS, a brand-agnostic no-code automation platform, and the modular MalocherBot palletizer family for small and mid-sized European manufacturers and logistics operators seeking rapid deployment without specialized robotics expertise.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersPaderborn, Germany
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Unchained Robotics does
Unchained Robotics is a German industrial automation company headquartered in Paderborn that builds a brand-agnostic platform for deploying robotic systems in small and mid-sized manufacturers and logistics operators across Europe and increasingly the United States. Its core offering is the LUNA OS automation operating system, a proprietary no-code software layer that orchestrates robot hardware, and the MalocherBot product family — modular turnkey palletizing solutions available in three sizes (S, M, L) — which are compatible with cobots and industrial robots from more than 16 partner brands including NACHI, FANUC, ABB, KUKA, Universal Robots, Kawasaki, Epson, Neura Robotics, Yaskawa, and Rainbow Robotics, paired with gripper systems from Schunk and Schmalz and material-feeding equipment from Rhein-Nadel Automation.
The company monetizes through hardware sales of these turnkey and modular robotic systems, software licensing of LUNA OS embedded in deployed units, professional services for identification, configuration, and integration, and recurring service and maintenance contracts including remote diagnostics and predictive maintenance. Pricing is positioned for SME adoption via unit pricing, monthly rental from €2,100–€4,444, and flexible leasing that frames the MalocherBot as an operating expense. Distribution combines a self-service e-commerce storefront, a direct enterprise field-sales team covering German regions and international markets, and a strategic channel partnership with logistics provider Arvato, which in March 2026 acquired a minority equity stake and committed to deploy a three-digit number of robots across its European and US logistics and fulfillment sites.
The company serves more than 300 customers as of mid-2025, with published case studies spanning chemicals (Clariant), telecommunications testing (COMPRION), CNC machining (ELHA, BAUM), laser etching (GFT-Fritze), food and beverage (Seeberger, Meyer & Horn), home appliances (Vorwerk), automotive logistics (DEUTZ AG), and pharmaceuticals (InfectoPharm). It is led by co-managing directors Mladen Milicevic and Kevin Freise, has raised approximately €17 million across four institutional rounds between 2020 and 2025, and is positioning LUNA OS as a neutral integration and orchestration layer in a fragmented industrial-robotics market where most SME buyers lack the in-house automation expertise to deploy traditional robotic systems.
Unchained Robotics firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Unchained Robotics
- Legal name
- Unchained Robotics GmbH
- Website
- https://unchainedrobotics.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Unchained Robotics builds LUNA OS, a brand-agnostic no-code automation platform, and the modular MalocherBot palletizer family for small and mid-sized European manufacturers and logistics operators seeking rapid deployment without specialized robotics expertise.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Unchained Robotics industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Automation Robotics
- NAICS
- Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing (33331)
- SIC
- Special Industry Machinery (No Metalworking Machinery) (3550)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Industrial & Warehouse Robotics (HDAAAIAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Industrial Robotics & Cobots (IMAIAMAB), Robot Software, Autonomy Stacks & Simulation (ROS, digital twins) (HDAAAIAK)
Keywords
Where Unchained Robotics is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Paderborn
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Unchained Robotics business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Hardware Sales: Sale of robotic systems including MalocherBot palletizers, cobots, industrial robots, and components such as grippers, vision systems, and material feeding equipment from partner brands.
- Software Licensing: LUNA OS software integrated into hardware solutions, enabling the company's proprietary easy-to-use automation platform across all deployed systems.
- Consulting and Integration Services: Identification, configuration, and integration services to help customers select and deploy the right robotics solutions, with three core services: identification, configuration, and integration.
- Service and Maintenance: Maintenance and service packages including remote diagnostics, predictive maintenance, spare parts delivery, emergency hotline, and ongoing support.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Monthly | MalocherBot S - Small palletizing system |
| Unit Pricing | Monthly | MalocherBot M - Medium palletizing system |
| Unit Pricing | Monthly | MalocherBot L - Large palletizing system |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Leasing Option |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Unchained Robotics product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Unchained Robotics sells the MalocherBot, a turnkey, modular palletizing robot system available in three sizes (S, M, L), powered by its proprietary LUNA OS automation operating system that enables no-code configuration and one-day setup. The company also distributes a brand-agnostic mix of cobots, industrial robots, grippers, vision systems, control systems, and material feeding equipment from 16+ partner brands through an online platform, supported by consulting, integration, and maintenance services for SME manufacturers and logistics customers across Europe and the U.S.
Product overview
Unchained Robotics offers a modular turnkey robotics platform anchored by the MalocherBot ecosystem and powered by the proprietary LUNA OS automation operating system. The core offering is the MalocherBot Palletizer — a turnkey palletizing solution available in three sizes (S, M, L), configurable with cobots and industrial robots from multiple partner brands. The platform is brand-agnostic, supporting robot manufacturers including NACHI, Kawasaki Robotics, Neura Robotics, Epson, FANUC, ABB, Universal Robots, ROKAE, DOBOT, Doosan Robotics, Yaskawa, KUKA, and Rainbow Robotics, as well as gripper manufacturers Schunk and Schmalz. LUNA OS provides no-code configuration, KPI tracking, and remote support. Setup time is under 1 day with no programming knowledge required. The broader product portfolio includes vision systems, teaching kits, control systems, and material feeding equipment.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- MalocherBot: Modular, turnkey, affordable automation system for palletizing and other manufacturing processes. Powered by LUNA OS automation operating system. Available in multiple sizes (S, M, L) with various cobot and industrial robot options.
Products and services
- MalocherBot Palletizer Turnkey modular palletizing solution available in three sizes (S, M, L), compatible with various cobots and industrial robots from partner brands. Powered by LUNA OS; no coding required; setup in under 1 day. Throughput up to 12 cartons per minute with stacking heights up to 2.2 meters and payload up to 30 kg including gripper.
- LUNA OS Automation Operating System Proprietary automation operating system that powers MalocherBot and enables no-code configuration of robot operations, pallet patterns, and box dimensions via an intuitive user interface. Includes KPI tracking, remote support, and predictive maintenance capabilities. Enables setup in under one day without programming knowledge.
Quantifiable outcome
- Setup time reduced from weeks to under 1 day
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Unchained Robotics
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Unchained Robotics technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
AI capability1 record
Feature3 records
Unchained Robotics partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- ArvatocoreArvato has formed a strategic partnership with Unchained Robotics and acquired a minority stake in the robotics firm to accelerate warehouse automation across its global logistics operations. The partnership plans to deploy a three-digit number of robots across multiple logistics and fulfillment sites over the coming years, supporting expansion beyond Europe particularly into the United States. The collaboration combines Arvato's operational logistics expertise with Unchained Robotics' modular robotics platform.
- NACHIcoreNACHI develops and produces industrial robots including 6-axis articulated robots, SCARA and collaborative robots for factory automation. Their products including controllers and robot hardware are integrated into Unchained Robotics solutions.
- Neura RoboticscoreNeura Robotics develops cognitive industrial robots including collaborative robot arms and humanoid platforms with AI-based perception and safety sensors for manufacturing and intralogistics automation.
- EPSONcoreEPSON develops industrial robots including SCARA and 6-axis robots for factory automation.
- Kawasaki RoboticscoreKawasaki Robotics develops and produces industrial robots including cobots for factory automation with robot controllers and additional robotics hardware.
- FANUCcoreFANUC is a Japanese manufacturer of industrial robots and cobots, additionally utilizing IoT/AI software and services for monitoring and optimizing automated production technology.
- ABBcoreABB is a technology company with activities in electrification and industrial automation, including digital technologies for industrial applications. Their robotics offerings include industrial and collaborative robots, autonomous mobile robots, and machine automation solutions.
- Universal RobotscoreUniversal Robots develops and produces collaborative robot arms (cobots) for flexible industrial automation. Their cobot platforms combine integrated safety features with a user-friendly programming concept for various applications.
- SchunkcoreSchunk provides gripper solutions and end-of-arm tooling integrated into Unchained Robotics MalocherBot palletizing systems.
- SchmalzcoreSchmalz provides vacuum gripper solutions and end-of-arm tooling for robotic palletizing applications.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Unchained Robotics competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Formic: US-based RaaS startup deploying industrial robotic systems (especially palletizing and welding) to manufacturers on a subscription basis. Same target segment (SME factories) and same deployment model as Unchained.
- Rapid Robotics: US-based robotics-as-a-service provider focused on automating simple manufacturing tasks (machine tending, palletizing) for SMEs. Closely comparable business model, customer segment, and value proposition to Unchained Robotics.
- Ready Robotics: US-based company offering a hardware-agnostic operating system and turnkey industrial automation solutions for manufacturers, with a strong focus on simplifying robot deployment — overlapping with LUNA OS on the software/IP layer.
- Wandelbots: German-based company building a no-code robot programming platform (similar in concept to LUNA OS) that lets users teach and operate industrial robots from multiple OEMs without coding. Most direct European software-platform competitor.
- RoboJob: Belgian-based provider of standardised automation cells (including machine tending and palletizing) aimed at SME metalworking manufacturers. Comparable turnkey SME-focused automation offering.
Emerging players
- Drag&Bot: German robotics software company offering a graphical, no-code programming interface for industrial robots from multiple brands. Comparable in technology approach (graphical/brand-agnostic robot programming) and geography.
- OnRobot: Danish manufacturer of end-of-arm tooling (grippers, vision, sensors) for collaborative robots. Comparable as a brand-agnostic, plug-and-play component and software provider for cobot deployments, partially overlapping with Unchained's gripper and vision categories.
Broad incumbents
- ABB Robotics: Global industrial robot and automation incumbent whose products are sold through the Unchained platform; their OmniCore controllers and Wizard programming tools are an alternative no-code path that competes for the same automation budget.
- KUKA: German-headquartered industrial robot and automation systems manufacturer whose robots Unchained distributes and integrates; represents both a partner and a competing vertically integrated automation solution.
- Universal Robots (cobot platform layer): Largest cobot manufacturer and a partner of Unchained; its Polyscope platform is the closest incumbent no-code offering. Represents both a partner relationship and a competing integrated solution that could compress Unchained's software value capture.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Unchained Robotics financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Unchained Robotics leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Unchained Robotics funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors10 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Unchained Robotics M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Unchained Robotics
What does Unchained Robotics do?
Unchained Robotics sells the MalocherBot, a turnkey, modular palletizing robot system available in three sizes (S, M, L), powered by its proprietary LUNA OS automation operating system that enables no-code configuration and one-day setup. The company also distributes a brand-agnostic mix of cobots, industrial robots, grippers, vision systems, control systems, and material feeding equipment from 16+ partner brands through an online platform, supported by consulting, integration, and maintenance services for SME manufacturers and logistics customers across Europe and the U.S.
Is Unchained Robotics a public or private company?
Unchained Robotics is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Unchained Robotics founded?
Unchained Robotics was founded in 2019. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Unchained Robotics based?
Unchained Robotics is headquartered in Paderborn, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Unchained Robotics make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Hardware Sales are the primary driver. The others are software Licensing, consulting and Integration Services and service and Maintenance.
Who are Unchained Robotics's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Formic, Rapid Robotics, Ready Robotics, Wandelbots and RoboJob. Emerging players are Drag&Bot and OnRobot. Broad incumbents are ABB Robotics, KUKA and Universal Robots (cobot platform layer).
Does Unchained Robotics have an API?
No public API is recorded for Unchained Robotics.
What industry is Unchained Robotics in?
Unchained Robotics's product category is Industrial Automation Robotics. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAAAIAA, Industrial & Warehouse Robotics, with a secondary code of IMAIAMAB, Industrial Robotics & Cobots. Its NAICS code is 33331 and its SIC code is 3550.