What thyssenkrupp Automation Engineering does

Krause Automation SE (formerly thyssenkrupp Automation Engineering) is an industrial automation engineering business headquartered in Essen, Germany, now operating as a subsidiary of Agile Robots SE following the April 2026 acquisition of the thyssenkrupp Group division's European and North American assets. The company designs and delivers intelligent automation and production solutions for major manufacturers across automotive, new energy, consumer electronics, medical technology, and logistics sectors, with an eight-solution portfolio spanning hydrogen fuel cell and electrolyzer components, powertrain assembly, battery systems manufacturing, transport and intralogistics automation, high-speed laser processing, pulse-phase thermography for non-destructive testing, advanced data management, and digital transformation solutions.

The business combines 75+ years of traditional industrial engineering heritage with the AI-powered robotics capabilities of parent company Agile Robots, positioning itself around "Physical AI" — integrating digital AI and robotics into physical manufacturing processes to enable autonomous industrial automation. Technically, the offering is project-based rather than productized: automation lines, tooling, and process technologies are engineered to customer specifications and deployed into client production environments, with non-destructive testing and data management providing the digital layer across operations.

Commercially, the company operates an enterprise B2B field sales model, engaging directly with large manufacturing customers on multi-million-euro automation system design, integration, and implementation projects. Revenue derives from hardware sales (automation systems and components) and professional services (engineering, integration, and implementation). Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is quoted per project scope. The company serves a concentrated set of enterprise clients in capital-intensive manufacturing verticals, with automotive and new energy identified as the primary segment. Approximately 650 engineering experts and 10 office locations across Europe and North America were transferred into Agile Robots Group as part of the April 2026 transaction.

Name

thyssenkrupp Automation Engineering

Legal name

Krause Automation SE

Website

https://thyssenkrupp-automation-engineering.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Krause Automation SE (formerly thyssenkrupp Automation Engineering) is an Essen-based industrial automation engineering firm, now part of Agile Robots Group, that designs and delivers intelligent production solutions — including hydrogen, powertrain, battery, and digital systems — for enterprise manufacturers in automotive, new energy, consumer electronics, medical technology, and logistics.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Automation Engineering

NAICS

Industrial Machinery Manufacturing (3332), Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables (334513)

SIC

Electrical Industrial Apparatus (3620), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)

akta.pro primary industry

Factory Automation Cells & Integrated Systems (Assembly, Welding, Painting Lines) (IMAHAHAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Process & Batch Control Software (Recipe Management, ISA-88) (IMAGABAH), End-of-Line Integration & Packaging Line Systems (IMAHAOAN)

Keywords

• Industrial automation solutions
• Manufacturing engineering services
• Automotive production systems
• Robotic assembly solutions
• Battery manufacturing automation

Headquarters

HQ city

Essen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Automation Systems and Solutions: The company generates revenue through the design, engineering, and delivery of intelligent automation and production solutions for manufacturing clients. As part of Agile Robots Group operating as Krause Automation, the business serves automotive, new energy, consumer electronics, medical technology, and logistics sectors.
2. Engineering Services: Engineering expertise and customer relationships contribute to revenue through project-based automation system design, integration, and implementation services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Krause Automation (formerly thyssenkrupp Automation Engineering) designs and delivers intelligent automation and production solutions for manufacturers across automotive, new energy, consumer electronics, medical technology, and logistics sectors. Its offering comprises eight specialized solution areas: hydrogen fuel cell and electrolyzer components, powertrain assembly automation, battery system manufacturing, transport and intralogistics systems, high-speed laser processing, pulse-phase thermography inspection, advanced data management, and digital transformation solutions.

Product overview

Krause Automation (formerly thyssenkrupp Automation Engineering) operates as a provider of intelligent automation and production solutions for the automotive and industrial sectors. The company offers a portfolio of eight specialized solution areas: Hydrogen solutions, Powertrain solutions, Battery systems, Transport systems, High speed laser, Pulse-phase thermography, Advanced data management, and Digital solutions. These solutions span from hydrogen fuel cell components to battery systems, powertrain manufacturing, and digital transformation services. The portfolio is designed to help manufacturers optimize production across multiple sectors including automotive, new energy, consumer electronics, medical technology, and logistics. Following the April 2026 acquisition by Agile Robots SE, the company now combines its 75+ years of engineering expertise with AI-powered automation capabilities under the Agile Robots Group.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hydrogen Solutions Comprehensive manufacturing solutions for hydrogen fuel cell and electrolyzer components, including flow plate production processes and related manufacturing systems, offered to hydrogen economy manufacturers and partners such as Cell Impact.
• Powertrain Solutions Automation and assembly solutions for automotive and industrial powertrain manufacturing, including systems for ICE and electric powertrain component assembly, targeted at automotive OEMs and tier suppliers.
• Battery Systems Manufacturing Solutions Intelligent manufacturing solutions for battery system production, supporting cell, module, and pack assembly automation for the new energy sector and EV manufacturers.
• Transport Systems Automation and production solutions for transport system manufacturing and intralogistics operations, including automated material handling and warehouse automation for logistics providers.
• High Speed Laser Processing Advanced laser processing technology for high-speed manufacturing applications including welding, cutting, and surface treatment in industrial production environments.
• Pulse-Phase Thermography Non-destructive testing and inspection technology using thermal imaging for quality control, defect detection, and process verification in manufacturing applications.
• Advanced Data Management Data management solutions for optimizing manufacturing operations and process efficiency, enabling analytics-driven decisions across production lines.
• Digital Solutions Comprehensive digital transformation solutions for smart manufacturing environments, integrating digital tools with physical automation to streamline complex production processes.

Quantifiable outcome

• Doubling of revenue annually achieved by Agile Robots to around 200 million euros in 2024

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered strategic and core.

• Google DeepMindstrategicTechnology or Integration · 10 April 2026Agile Robots has partnered with Google DeepMind to develop adaptable industrial robots. This partnership enhances the AI capabilities of the combined entity including Krause Automation's physical AI solutions.
• Cell ImpactcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 March 2026Strategic cooperation between Cell Impact and thyssenkrupp Automation Engineering to develop and commercialize hydrogen fuel cell and electrolyzer components, focusing on flow plates and manufacturing processes. The collaboration involves joint marketing and technical development efforts, building on a prior letter of intent.
• Cell ImpactcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 November 2025Strategic cooperation agreement to develop and commercialize hydrogen fuel cell and electrolyzer components, with focus on flow plates and manufacturing processes. Collaboration involves joint technical development and marketing efforts.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Dürr AG: German mechanical and plant engineering specialist serving automotive paint shops, final assembly, and battery cell production; closest competitor on automotive environmental and battery automation.
• Stäubli Robotics: Swiss manufacturer of industrial robots and automation solutions serving automotive, medical, and electronics manufacturing; comparable offering scope and customer overlap with Krause Automation.
• KUKA: German-headquartered robotics and automation integrator with deep automotive OEM exposure and integrated production line solutions; directly comparable on customer base, geography, and full-line factory automation offering.
• Comau: Italian automotive-focused industrial automation and robotics systems integrator owned by Stellantis; directly comparable on automotive powertrain, body-in-white, and EV battery manufacturing solutions.

Emerging players

• Universal Robots: Cobot leader now under Teradyne; comparable through its Agile Robots-sister positioning in collaborative robotics for electronics, medical, and logistics manufacturing customers that Krause also targets.
• Manz AG: German equipment supplier focused on battery cell manufacturing, electronics, and energy storage production lines; comparable on battery systems automation and the German Mittelstand heritage base.

Broad incumbents

• ABB: Swiss-Swedish multinational with broad industrial automation, robotics, and motion offering; competes with Krause on automotive line integration and powertrain manufacturing solutions.
• Fanuc: Japanese supplier of industrial robots, CNCs, and factory automation; comparable as a robotics-led automation provider serving automotive and electronics manufacturers globally.
• Siemens AG (Digital Industries): Global industrial automation incumbent offering PLCs, SCADA, motion control, and integrated factory automation; overlaps with Krause's automation systems and digital solutions portfolio from a much larger installed base.
• Yaskawa Electric: Japanese industrial robotics, motion control, and drives manufacturer with significant automotive and EV battery exposure; overlaps with Krause's powertrain and battery automation solutions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 thyssenkrupp Automation Engineering