Serbot
SERBOT AG (founded 2009) is a Swiss robotics company that designs and sells remote-controlled cleaning robots for photovoltaic solar panels and glass building facades, using caterpillar-track and patented vacuum suction-cup technologies. It sells directly to solar plant owners and cleaning service companies across Europe and emerging markets.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersBuochs, Switzerland
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Serbot does
SERBOT AG, founded in 2009 and headquartered in Cham, Switzerland, is a privately held robotics company that designs, manufactures, and sells intelligent remote-controlled cleaning robots for photovoltaic (PV) solar panels and large glass building facades. The company operates two distinct technology platforms: a caterpillar-track motion system (the pvClean and pvEco families) for low-to-moderate slope installations, and a patented vacuum-suction-cup climbing system (the GEKKO family) capable of operating on panel inclines up to 45 degrees without additional safety devices. Cleaning is delivered via rotating brushes with demineralised water; robots are manually operated via radio remote control (300 m range) rather than autonomously.
The product portfolio spans seven models priced from approximately €16,872 (pvEco STANDARD, entry-level single-brush) to €93,114 (GEKKO Solar PREMIUM, dual-width brush), with cleaning throughput up to 1,440 m²/h — claimed to be roughly 6x faster than manual cleaning — and a stated payback period of less than one year against a 20% soiling-related PV output loss. Revenue is generated predominantly through one-time hardware sales to two primary buyer segments: PV plant owners and cleaning service companies, with secondary applications in building-facade maintenance (notably the Musée du Louvre Grande Pyramide via the GEKKO SURFACE PYRAMID unit). Optional warranty extensions and the CoSerBot after-sales program provide a secondary services revenue layer.
SERBOT's go-to-market is sales-led and direct, with in-house sales/support reached by phone and email Monday–Friday, supported by a trilingual website (English, German, Spanish), Google AdWords lead generation, customer-experience videos, and Swissolar association membership. The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Heppenstall Technology Group — a diversified Swiss-German industrial group with 120+ years of history in heavy-duty steel-industry material handling — and operates an EU affiliate (WOKO Magnet- und Anlagenbau GmbH, Duisburg) for GDPR representation and electrical-engineering capability. Geographic reach is anchored in Europe and is extending into Latin America, Africa, India, the Middle East, Oceania, and Asia.
Serbot firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Serbot
- Legal name
- SERBOT AG
- Website
- https://serbot.ch
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- SERBOT AG (founded 2009) is a Swiss robotics company that designs and sells remote-controlled cleaning robots for photovoltaic solar panels and glass building facades, using caterpillar-track and patented vacuum suction-cup technologies. It sells directly to solar plant owners and cleaning service companies across Europe and emerging markets.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Serbot industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Cleaning Robots
- NAICS
- Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing (333310)
- SIC
- Special Industry Machinery, Nec (3559)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Solar Panel Cleaning (HSAEAJAL)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Window & Surface Cleaning Robots (CRACARAD)
Keywords
Where Serbot is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Buochs
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Serbot business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Robot Hardware Sales: Serbot generates revenue through the sale of cleaning robots including pvClean MASTER, pvClean PLUS+, pvClean STANDARD, pvEco STANDARD, and GEKKO Solar product lines. Robots are sold as one-time purchases with prices ranging from €16,872 to €93,114 depending on model and capabilities.
- Customer Support Services: Customer service and technical support provided Monday to Friday for warranty inquiries, spare parts, and maintenance guidance. Warranty extension options available for purchase.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | pvEco STANDARD - Economic entry-level robot for low-slope solar installations |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | pvClean STANDARD - Low-cost robot for low-slope solar plants |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | pvClean PLUS+ - Compact robot for moderate-slope installations |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | pvClean MASTER - High performance robot for utility-scale PV plants |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | GEKKO Solar BASIC - Basic Hightec robot for roof-top installations |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | GEKKO Solar DOUBLE BRUSH - Double brush Hightec robot |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | GEKKO Solar PREMIUM - Premium Hightec robot with all options inclusive |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Serbot product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SERBOT AG designs, develops and manufactures intelligent cleaning robots for photovoltaic solar panels and building glass facades, organised in two product lines: the caterpillar-track pvClean/pvEco series for low-slope installations and the GEKKO Solar series using patented vacuum suction cup mobility for steep inclinations up to 45°. Robots clean surfaces using rotating brushes with demineralised water at up to 1,440 m²/h and are sold as one-time hardware purchases to solar plant owners and professional cleaning service companies.
Product overview
SERBOT AG offers a comprehensive product portfolio of intelligent solar panel cleaning robots organized in two technology lines: Caterpillar Robots (pvClean series) and High-Tech Robots (GEKKO Solar series). The pvClean product line includes pvClean MASTER (high performance, 20°-25°), pvClean PLUS+ (compact, 10°-15°), pvClean STANDARD (low-cost, 8°-10°), and pvEco STANDARD (economic). The GEKKO Solar high-tech line uses patented suction cup technology for steeper inclinations up to 45°, including PREMIUM, DOUBLE BRUSH, and BASIC variants. All robots use rotating brushes with demineralised water for cleaning and are operated via remote control with joystick.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- pvClean: Caterpillar-track-based solar cleaning robot product line, including pvClean MASTER, pvClean PLUS+, and pvClean STANDARD models.
- pvEco
- GEKKO Solar
- GEKKO Surface
- CoSerBot
Products and services
- pvClean MASTER Robot High-performance caterpillar-track solar cleaning robot designed for utility-scale PV plants with panel inclinations of 20°-25°. Features dual rotating brushes (1050mm width) using demineralised water for dry/wet cleaning, achieving a maximum cleaning capacity of 1,440 m²/h. Sold to solar plant owners and cleaning service providers as a one-time hardware purchase (€38,724).
- pvClean PLUS+ Robot Compact caterpillar-track solar cleaning robot designed for PV installations with installation angles of 10°-15°. Features dual brushes and a modular, portable design suitable for pv plant owners or cleaning companies offering services. Maximum cleaning capacity of 1,440 m²/h. Priced as a one-time purchase at €34,475.
- pvClean STANDARD Robot Low-cost, versatile caterpillar-track solar cleaning robot for low-slope solar plants with installation angles up to 10° (or up to 25° with an additional safety device). Features joystick and radio control operation and supports both dry and wet cleaning. Maximum cleaning capacity of 1,440 m²/h with two 1050mm brushes. Priced as a one-time purchase at €30,805.
- pvEco STANDARD Robot Economic and compact caterpillar-track solar cleaning robot for installations with up to 15° inclination (or 25° with additional safety device). Features a single 650mm brush for wet cleaning and a maximum cleaning capacity of 550 m²/h. Priced as a one-time purchase at €16,872.
- GEKKO Solar PREMIUM Robot Premium Hightec solar cleaning robot using patented vacuum suction cup mobility technology that operates on steep panel inclinations up to 45° without additional safety devices. Features a changeable brush width up to 1800mm (with 1300mm alternative) and a maximum cleaning capacity of 1,040 m²/h. Includes all additional options and Swiss engineering quality. Priced as a one-time purchase at €93,114.
- GEKKO Solar DOUBLE BRUSH Robot Hightec solar cleaning robot using patented vacuum suction cup mobility for steep roof-top installations up to 45° inclination without additional safety devices. Features dual 1300mm rotating brushes delivering maximum 850 m²/h cleaning capacity. Priced as a one-time purchase at €87,721.
- GEKKO Solar BASIC Robot Hightec solar cleaning robot using patented vacuum suction cup mobility technology for roof-top PV installations and solar farms on steep inclinations up to 45° without additional safety devices. Features a 1300mm rotating brush and maximum cleaning capacity of 750 m²/h. Priced as a one-time purchase at €79,913.
- GEKKO SURFACE Cleaning Robot Hightec cleaning robot using patented vacuum suction cup mobility technology for cleaning sophisticated glass facades on commercial and residential buildings, including vertical and overhanging surfaces. Used by PGES France at the Musée du Louvre Grande Pyramide.
- CoSerBot® Customer Service & Support Program Customer service and technical support program for Serbot robot owners, including warranty handling, spare parts, maintenance guidance, and optional warranty extensions, delivered via phone and email Monday to Friday.
Quantifiable outcome
- Dirty solar panels reduce output by up to 20% after one year - automated cleaning prevents this efficiency loss
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Serbot
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Serbot technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Serbot partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- WOKO Magnet- und Anlagenbau GmbHcoreGerman affiliate company. WOKO handles EU representation and GDPR compliance for Serbot AG. Located in Duisburg, Germany. Also recruiting electrical engineers for the group through woko.de/jobs.
- Heppenstall Technology GroupcoreParent company relationship. Serbot AG, together with German affiliate WOKO, is part of the Heppenstall Technology group, which is worldwide known for heavy-duty material handling equipment in steel production and processing industry with 120+ years of history. Provides financial stability and industrial expertise.
- SwissolarminorSwiss photovoltaic industry association membership. Displayed as member logo on website, providing industry credibility and potential referral network within Switzerland.
- Jurchen TechnologyminorListed as partner on Serbot website. Jurchen Technology offers solar mounting and operation/maintenance solutions including solar cleaning solutions. Partnership page links to their product offerings.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Serbot competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- SolarCleano: Belgian manufacturer of autonomous solar panel cleaning robots. Named alongside Serbot as a key player in the same USD 321M solar cleaning robot market, competing head-to-head with pvClean and GEKKO product lines across European and global solar O&M customers.
- Pal-Clean (Beijing Pal-Clean): Chinese solar panel cleaning robot manufacturer serving large-scale PV plants in Asia. Directly competes with Serbot in the same market category, particularly relevant given Serbot's stated expansion ambitions into Asian markets.
- IFBOT: Manufacturer of automated solar panel cleaning robots serving utility-scale PV plants. Explicitly co-listed with Serbot as a key competitor in the global solar cleaning robot market report, targeting the same solar plant owner and cleaning service provider segments.
- Kite Robotics: European manufacturer of robotic cleaning systems for building facades and large glass surfaces. Competes with Serbot's GEKKO SURFACE robots in the architectural glass and facade maintenance segment, with similar climbing/suction-based mobility approaches.
- Skyline Robotics: Israel-based developer of autonomous window-cleaning robots for high-rise buildings. Directly comparable to Serbot's GEKKO SURFACE facade-cleaning line (validated at the Louvre Pyramid), addressing the same building maintenance and skyscraper cleaning market.
Broad incumbents
- iRobot: US-based incumbent in consumer and commercial cleaning robotics. While focused on indoor floor care rather than solar/facade cleaning, iRobot represents the broader commercial cleaning robotics category where Serbot's autonomous ambition could eventually compete.
- Ecovacs Robotics: China-based global leader in consumer cleaning robotics with expanding commercial offerings. Operates broadly across the cleaning robotics category and could enter solar/facade cleaning as the market matures, representing a large-scale competitive threat to niche players like Serbot.
Emerging players
- KÄFER Robotik: German industrial cleaning robotics specialist. Comparable to Serbot in its focus on automated industrial cleaning equipment, with overlap in European industrial customer base and shared emphasis on hazardous/safety-critical cleaning applications.
- Invert Robotics: New Zealand-based developer of climbing robots for industrial inspection and surface treatment. Uses comparable adhesion-based mobility technology to Serbot and addresses adjacent industrial use cases (tanks, ship hulls, complex structures) where Serbot's GEKKO platform also operates.
Regional players
- Sunbrush (Movalsol): Spanish manufacturer of solar panel cleaning equipment including robotic systems. Operates in the same niche as Serbot with overlapping European solar O&M customer base, though with a primarily Iberian regional footprint versus Serbot's pan-European ambitions.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Serbot financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Serbot leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Serbot subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Serbot funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Serbot 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 Serbot
What does Serbot do?
SERBOT AG designs, develops and manufactures intelligent cleaning robots for photovoltaic solar panels and building glass facades, organised in two product lines: the caterpillar-track pvClean/pvEco series for low-slope installations and the GEKKO Solar series using patented vacuum suction cup mobility for steep inclinations up to 45°. Robots clean surfaces using rotating brushes with demineralised water at up to 1,440 m²/h and are sold as one-time hardware purchases to solar plant owners and professional cleaning service companies.
Is Serbot a public or private company?
Serbot is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Serbot founded?
Serbot was founded in 2009. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Serbot based?
Serbot is headquartered in Buochs, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does Serbot make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Robot Hardware Sales are the primary driver. The others are customer Support Services.
Who are Serbot's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are SolarCleano, Pal-Clean (Beijing Pal-Clean), IFBOT, Kite Robotics and Skyline Robotics. Broad incumbents are iRobot and Ecovacs Robotics. Emerging players are KÄFER Robotik and Invert Robotics. Sunbrush (Movalsol) is listed as a regional player.
Does Serbot have an API?
No public API is recorded for Serbot.
What industry is Serbot in?
Serbot's product category is Industrial Cleaning Robots. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSAEAJAL, Solar Panel Cleaning, with a secondary code of CRACARAD, Window & Surface Cleaning Robots. Its NAICS code is 333310 and its SIC code is 3559.