# Inside ABB’s acquisition of ASTI Mobile Robotics

- Show: [The Robot Report Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast)
- Published: 2021-07-27
- Length: 51m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2021-07-27-inside-abbs-acquisition-of-asti-mobile-robotics
- Listen: https://soundcloud.com/robot-report-podcast/inside-abbs-acquisition-of-asti-mobile-robotics

## Summary

Sami Atiya, president of ABB Robotics, and Verónica Pascual, CEO of ASTI Mobile Robotics, discuss ABB’s acquisition of the Spanish mobile robotics company ASTI, which establishes a global development center in Spain and expands ASTI’s reach to 50+ countries. Ash Sharma of Interact Analysis provides market context, noting that large industrial vendors like ABB and Zebra are acquiring mobile robotics firms to offer complete automation suites, with ASTI targeting $50 million in revenue. The conversation highlights the strategic fit between ABB’s fixed robotics and ASTI’s autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), particularly in automotive and logistics, and predicts further consolidation in the sector as companies like Fetch Robotics and Locust face similar scaling pressures.

## Chapters

- [0:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2021-07-27-inside-abbs-acquisition-of-asti-mobile-robotics#t=7) Introduction: Podcast hosts and guest Ash Sharma
- [2:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2021-07-27-inside-abbs-acquisition-of-asti-mobile-robotics#t=123) Market Analysis: ABB's entry into mobile robotics
- [9:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2021-07-27-inside-abbs-acquisition-of-asti-mobile-robotics#t=594) Valuation: Estimating the cost of the ASTI acquisition
- [19:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2021-07-27-inside-abbs-acquisition-of-asti-mobile-robotics#t=1197) Interview: Sami Atiya and Verónica Pascual on the deal
- [37:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2021-07-27-inside-abbs-acquisition-of-asti-mobile-robotics#t=2231) Timing: Why ABB waited 25 years to enter the space
- [44:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2021-07-27-inside-abbs-acquisition-of-asti-mobile-robotics#t=2658) Future M&A: Potential targets like Vecna and Seegrid
- [48:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2021-07-27-inside-abbs-acquisition-of-asti-mobile-robotics#t=2907) Locust IPO speculation and market growth

## Topics

- [Growth, exits & acquisitions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/growth-exits-and-acquisitions)
- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)

## Most relevant to

large enterprises

## Mentioned

- ABB (company)
- ASTI Mobile Robotics (company)
- Interact Analysis (company)
- Fetch Robotics (company)
- Zebra (company)
- Locust (company)
- Vecna (company)
- Seegrid (company)
- AutoGuide (company)
- Pterodyne (company)
- Heartland Automation (company)
- Dematic (company)
- Omron (company)
- KUKA (company)
- Fanuc (company)
- Yaskawa (company)
- AGV (product)
- AMR (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [BONUS: Leaders in Machine Vision and Robotics: Live from Boston, Pt. 2 of 2 (brought to you by A3)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2022-12-23-bonus-leaders-in-machine-vision-and-robotics-live-from-boston-pt-2-of-2-brought) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [BONUS: Leaders in Robotics, AMRs, and Logistics, Pt. 2 of 2 (brought to you by A3)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2021-11-26-bonus-leaders-in-robotics-amrs-and-logistics-pt-2-of-2-brought-to-you-by-a3) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [Episode 72: Smart mobile robots for industry - Rafael Lopez](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2024-02-09-episode-72-smart-mobile-robots-for-industry-rafael-lopez) (Robot Talk)
- [Sustainability in the Robotics-as-a-Service Industry](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2021-10-26-sustainability-in-the-robotics-as-a-service-industry) (Over the Air)
- [Ep 4- The Hardware Story of Ati Motors | Autonomous Robots for Material movement in Factories](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-story/2025-06-02-ep-4-the-hardware-story-of-ati-motors-autonomous-robots-for-material-movement-in) (The Hardware Story)

## Citing this page

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