SSI Schaefer is thus expanding the minority stake it has held since 2018 in order to take account of the growing importance of autonomous and mobile robotics and the AGV business in intralogistics. The full acquisition of shares will take effect on March 1, 2023 and is subject to approval by the Federal Competition Authority in Austria.

The parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price of the shares. The management team led by Managing Directors Manfred Hummenberger and Wolfgang Hillinger will remain on board. DS Automotion will continue to operate independently with its established brand.

Steffen Bersch, CEO of the SSI Schaefer Group: "The partnership with DS Automotion has been significantly intensified over the last two years, and the business with self-driving vehicles in intralogistics is growing rapidly. We are therefore very pleased that the company, as one of the leading players in the international market, will now become a full member of the SSI Schaefer Group. Together, we will continue our growth course in the field of robotics."

As part of the general realignment of the robotics business, one of the most important joint initiatives is the further development of autonomous mobile robots (AMR). This product segment, which is characterized by simple commissioning and flexible application options, is becoming increasingly important and offers high growth opportunities. In this product segment, DS Automotion has developed standards such as Planned Autonomy and Cooperative Navigation, which help to combine the advantages of flexibility with the reliability and availability of industrial systems. The basis for this transformation is DS Automotion's high level of in-house technological expertise, which builds on 40 years of navigation and control know-how.

Manfred Hummenberger, CEO DS Automotion: "We have grown strongly and continuously as DS Automotion in recent years and have significantly increased the quality and performance of the company through an increased focus on technology and product standardization. In order to keep pace with the rapid developments in this industry, now is the right time to take the cooperation with SSI Schaefer to a new level and thus participate in the global growth opportunities in the field of robotics with combined forces."

The complete takeover of shares in DS Automotion represents an important milestone in the expansion of the SSI Schaefer Group's technology leadership and strengthens its competitiveness and innovative power in the future-oriented areas of robotics and automation for intralogistics.

At the same time, DS Automotion will remain in the familiar application areas such as production and hospital logistics as well as assembly systems. These areas will continue to be expanded with the usual innovative power and existing customer relationships will be strengthened.