fruitcore robotics

What fruitcore robotics does

fruitcore robotics GmbH is a Konstanz-based industrial robotics and AI automation company founded in 2017. It designs and manufactures the HORST family of 6-axis industrial robots (HORST600 G2 through HORST1500 G2) and is preparing to launch PLEXA One, an industrial humanoid platform, in May 2026. Its core technology stack centers on horstOS, a proprietary operating system that connects and orchestrates all robotics and automation components and is accessible to both human operators (via no-code graphical programming and AI Copilot) and AI agents. On top of horstOS, the PLEXA Core 2.0 intelligence layer introduces autonomous AI agents that understand and optimize production processes.

The company sells integrated automation solutions to European mid-market and enterprise manufacturers across automotive supply, medical technology, metalworking, electronics, and machine tools, and white-labels solutions into OEMs such as Sodick. Hardware ASPs start around €17,250 (HORST1400 promotional pricing) and extend through the G2 portfolio, with add-on software (PLEXA Core), accessories (grippers, sensors from SCHUNK, SICK, OnRobot, Schmalz, KEYENCE, Gimatic, Asyril), training (fruitcore Academy), service packages, and a Robot as a Service rental option forming the recurring stack. With 1,300+ systems deployed and ~5 billion completed production cycles, the platform emphasizes rapid deployment (commissioning in ~4 hours, weeks-not-months integration, sub-6-month payback).

Commercially, fruitcore operates a hybrid go-to-market combining direct enterprise field sales with a 70+ certified European partner network and OEM co-selling, supported by trade fair presence (automatica, Motek, EMO) and content marketing. The company has raised approximately €40 million across a 2021 Series A led by CNB Capital, Matterwave Ventures, and UVC Partners, and a December 2022 follow-on round led by Capricorn Partners, KOMPAS VC, and XAI technologies. It is led by co-founder and Managing Director Patrick Heimburger, with Jens Riegger as legal representative and newly appointed CSO Fabian Kienzler and COO Johannes Füßl joining in April 2025.

Name

fruitcore robotics

Legal name

fruitcore robotics GmbH

Website

https://fruitcore-robotics.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

fruitcore robotics GmbH is a German industrial robotics company that builds 6-axis HORST robots, horstOS software, and the PLEXA Core AI intelligence layer to deliver no-code, rapidly deployable automation for European mid-market and enterprise manufacturers across automotive, medical, metalworking, and machine-tool sectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Robotics

NAICS

Industrial Machinery Manufacturing (33324)

SIC

General Industrial Machinery & Equipment, Nec (3569), General Industrial Machinery & Equipment (3560)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial Robots (Articulated, SCARA, Delta, Cartesian) (IMAHAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Industrial Robotics & Cobots (IMAIAMAB), Humanoid & General-Purpose Robots (HDAAAIAJ), Industrial & Warehouse Robotics (HDAAAIAA), Motion & Machine Control (CNC, Robotics Controllers, Servo/Motion Controllers) (IMAGABAG)

Keywords

• Industrial robotics
• 6-axis industrial robots
• Automation software
• Robotic automation
• Plug and produce solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Konstanz

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Industrial Robot Hardware Sales: Sale of 6-axis industrial robots (HORST series from HORST600 G2 to HORST1500 G2) and PLEXA One industrial humanoid. One-time hardware purchase with pricing starting from entry-level models.
2. Software and AI Platform: Sales of horstOS operating system and PLEXA Core 2.0 intelligence layer. Software licensing bundled with hardware or as separate modules.
3. Robot as a Service (RaaS): Rental model allowing customers to rent robots for flexible automation without large upfront investment. Enables fast project implementation.
4. Service Packages and Training: Academy training programs, service packages, spare parts, and maintenance services through fruitcore Academy e-learning platform.
5. Turnkey Robotic Solutions: Complete plug-and-produce automation solutions including hardware, software, and integration services for specific applications like machine tending and part separation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

fruitcore robotics manufactures and sells 6-axis industrial robots under the HORST brand (HORST600 G2 to HORST1500 G2) and the PLEXA One industrial humanoid platform, sold with the proprietary horstOS operating system and PLEXA Core 2.0 AI intelligence layer. It also offers pre-configured Plug & Produce automation solutions, an accessories ecosystem, the horstCOSMOS IIoT platform, training via the fruitcore Academy, and Robot as a Service rentals targeting European manufacturing customers.

Product overview

fruitcore robotics offers a comprehensive industrial robotics and AI automation platform. The core product portfolio includes the HORST Series of 6-axis industrial robots (HORST600 G2 through HORST1500 G2) and the PLEXA One industrial humanoid platform. These robots are supported by horstOS, the central operating system that connects all robotics and automation components, enhanced by PLEXA Core 2.0 intelligence layer featuring AI agents for autonomous optimization. The company provides pre-configured Robotic Solutions (Plug & Produce) for applications including machine tending, pick & place, and part separation, complemented by an ecosystem of accessories including grippers and sensors. Additional offerings include the horstCOSMOS IIoT platform for system monitoring, horstFX simulation software, the fruitcore Academy for training, and Robot as a Service rental options. The platform emphasizes no-code programming, standardized interfaces for OPC UA connectivity, and integration with enterprise systems like LIMS and ERP.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HORST: 6-axis industrial robot series from HORST600 G2 to HORST1500 G2 - the core product line of the company
• horstOS
• PLEXA Core
• PLEXA One
• horstCOSMOS
• horstFX

Products and services

• HORST Series Industrial Robots 6-axis industrial robot family spanning HORST600 G2 through HORST1500 G2, manufactured in Germany and designed for machine tending, pick & place, part separation, quality inspection, assembly, and gluing/dispensing. Built on planetary gearboxes with 50,000+ hour service life, ±0.05 mm repeatability, and TCP speeds up to 4.3 m/s, with reach and payload variants to cover a broad range of industrial applications.
• PLEXA One Industrial Humanoid Platform Modular industrial humanoid platform launched in 2026 for flexible automation in real production environments, built in Germany on proven HORST robotics technology and engineered for 24/7 operation, precision, robustness, and cost-effectiveness. Complemented by PLEXA Core 2.0 AI agents for autonomous operation.
• horstOS Automation Operating System Central operating system that connects and controls all robotics and automation components, designed to be accessible to both users and AI. Enables no-code graphical programming, configuration, and integration without PLC expertise, and includes an integrated AI Copilot for real-time assistance and proactive problem detection.
• PLEXA Core 2.0 Intelligence Layer AI intelligence layer built on horstOS that brings AI agents into the system to understand processes, optimize autonomously, and automate across processes. Enables flexible, adaptive, cross-process automation through specialized agents and supports multimodal interaction including text, voice, and visual recognition.
• Plug & Produce Robotic Solutions Pre-configured, CE-certified turnkey automation packages for machine tending (Machine Tending I and II), pick & place, and part separation. Designed for rapid deployment without months of integration work, leveraging standardized hardware and software modules built around the HORST robot platform.
• Robot Ecosystem (Accessories) Ecosystem of grippers, sensors, and software from technology partners (SCHUNK, OnRobot, SICK, Schmalz, Gimatic, Asyril, Keyence) integrated with HORST robots for successful deployment. Includes solution kits such as the 2D-Grasping-Kit for bin-picking part separation in collaboration with SCHUNK.
• horstCOSMOS IIoT Platform Industrial Internet of Things platform for connecting HORST robots, monitoring performance, managing automation systems, and providing data logging and dashboard visualization. Integrates with LIMS and ERP systems for sample data exchange and broader factory IT connectivity.
• fruitcore Academy Training Platform E-learning platform offering training courses and video tutorials for robotics and HORST operations, including Academy Plus full access covering horstFX simulation training. Targets customers, partners, and educational institutions building robotics competence.
• Robot as a Service (RaaS) Rental model that allows customers to access HORST robots on a flexible monthly basis without large upfront capital expenditure, enabling fast project implementation. Part of a broader financing suite that also includes leasing and installment plans.
• Service Packages and Support Post-sale service packages, spare parts, and maintenance services supporting deployed HORST robots, delivered alongside the fruitcore Academy e-learning platform and partner-led support across Europe.
• horstFX Simulation and Operation Software Robot operation and simulation software enabling intuitive programming of simple and complex processes via a realistic 3D model of the robot. Allows setup and programming without robotics expertise and is included in Academy Plus training.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,300+ systems deployed in production with ~5 billion cycles completed
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability8 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Sodick GermanycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 August 2025Strategic partnership for automation of precision EDM machines. fruitcore robotics provides modular robotic solutions (AD35L with SDG.HR50 and ALC600G with SDG.ProOne) that integrate with Sodick machines. Solutions offer fast setup, intuitive operation via horstOS software, and flexible adaptation to existing production processes. First inquiry to series production took only a few months.
• Boost Automation GmbHminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCertified system partner in Austria providing local sales, integration, and support for fruitcore robotics products.
• Dreisbach Jungmann GmbH Co. KGminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCertified system partner in Germany (Lüdenscheid) providing local sales and integration services.
• BASOTEC GmbHminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCertified system partner in Germany (Schorndorf) providing automation integration services.
• NOMAD ROBOTICSminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCertified system partner in France (Rennes) providing local sales and support.
• WENZEL UK Ltd.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCertified system partner in United Kingdom providing local sales and support.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Techman Robot: Taiwan-based collaborative robot maker with integrated vision, competing head-to-head with HORST in SME-focused pick & place, assembly, and machine tending applications.
• Universal Robots: Danish collaborative robot pioneer and the closest direct competitor to HORST, targeting SMEs with easy-to-program 6-axis cobots for machine tending, pick & place, and assembly applications.
• Doosan Robotics: Korean cobot manufacturer targeting similar SME and light-industrial use cases as HORST, with a focus on ease of use and quick deployment.

Broad incumbents

• KUKA: German-headquartered global leader in industrial robotics and automation, offering a much broader portfolio of articulated robots, controllers, and turnkey cells across manufacturing verticals.
• ABB Robotics: Swiss-Swedish incumbent with one of the largest industrial robot portfolios globally, competing with HORST in machine tending, assembly, and discrete manufacturing applications.
• Yaskawa: Japanese industrial robot and motion control specialist with a strong European presence, competing across articulated robots, cobots (through partners), and integrated automation cells.
• FANUC: Japanese industrial robot giant with extensive install base in manufacturing, offering articulated robots and integrated CNC/robotic solutions that overlap with HORST's machine tending and metalworking use cases.

Emerging players

• Neura Robotics: German robotics startup combining collaborative robots with cognitive AI and humanoid platforms, the closest European peer in the industrial humanoid + cobot space.
• Franka Robotics: German maker of sensitive 7-axis robotic arms and an open robotics platform, comparable to fruitcore's approach of combining accessible hardware with a software/developer ecosystem.
• Agile Robots: German-Chinese robotics company developing intelligent robots and automation solutions for industrial and medical applications, with overlapping machine tending and AI-driven automation capabilities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@fruitcorerobotics?cbrd=1
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fruitcore-gmbh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors10 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 fruitcore robotics