[Click eStock] "T-Robotics Breaks into U.S. ESS Market... Expanding Smart Factory with Humanoids"

T-Robotics is accelerating its transformation into a smart factory solutions company by establishing a reference in the U.S. energy storage system (ESS) market. Expectations are also rising for the company’s entry into the future robotics market, driven by its self-developed industrial humanoid, TR-WORKS.

On June 25, independent research firm GL Research analyzed that T-Robotics stands to benefit from the expansion of the U.S. artificial intelligence (AI) data center ESS market, having secured a reference for supplying autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) to Ford Energy.

Changyoon Park, a researcher at GL Research, explained, “T-Robotics is expanding its product portfolio centered on next-generation robots such as AMRs and humanoids, and is entering the factory automation market. Based on cost competitiveness, North American market references, and proprietary technological capabilities, the company recently signed an additional supply contract for AMRs (AGVs) with Ford Energy in the U.S.”

He added, “T-Robotics is also actively collaborating with domestic and global robotics companies such as FANUC and THK, raising expectations for a turnaround in performance and the growth potential of its smart factory solutions business.”

T-Robotics’ partnership with Ford Energy is seen as significant, coinciding with the expansion of the U.S. ESS market. Ford Energy, Ford’s battery subsidiary, is responding to growing demand for ESS for North American AI data centers by building smart factories and improving production facility efficiency.

Researcher Park stated, “Even as Chinese companies expand their influence in the market, it is positive that T-Robotics has secured an additional supply contract based on its proprietary technology. This will serve as a catalyst to expand its customer base and market presence in the U.S. data center ESS sector.”

T-Robotics has also succeeded in developing South Korea’s first glass substrate transfer robot, based on its vacuum robot technology for transporting organic light-emitting diode (OLED) and liquid crystal display (LCD) panels used in display manufacturing processes.

As the AI semiconductor and high-bandwidth memory (HBM) markets grow, the application of glass substrates in semiconductor packaging is expected to expand, fueling rapid growth in related markets. Recently, TSMC has entered the verification stage for the commercialization of glass substrates, and Intel has unveiled prototype glass substrates for co-packaged optics (CPO), signaling quicker adoption within the industry.

The company has completed patent registrations for its glass substrate transfer robots in South Korea and Japan, and is pursuing patent applications in the U.S., Taiwan, China, and other countries. It is currently conducting sample testing with customers and building mass production lines.

This robot can be applied to all stages of glass substrate manufacturing, from loading the original plate to stacking and shipping. It features omni-directional handling technology and a high-purity vacuum design, enabling highly precise transfer and stable process execution.

Growth potential is also emerging in the humanoid robot field. Researcher Park noted, “Hyundai Motor Group plans to mass-produce the industrial humanoid ‘Atlas’ from 2028, based on AI technologies from NVIDIA and Google DeepMind. Tesla has also announced plans to mass-produce ‘Optimus’ between 2026 and 2027. As a result, smart factories have become a core trend across the industry.”

He added, “T-Robotics has completed the development of the industrial humanoid TR-WORKS, which combines robot arm and robot hand technologies with AMR, achieving a level suitable for actual factory deployment and process support.”

T-Robotics is also participating in ‘KAIROS,’ a dark factory demonstration testbed project led by KAIST. The project, valued at approximately 1 trillion won, is a government-led initiative aimed at establishing a fully automated manufacturing environment.

Researcher Park predicted, “Considering the government’s plan to establish a 9 trillion won physical AI outpost in Saemangeum with Hyundai Motor Group, there is a high potential for T-Robotics to expand its humanoid technology references.”

T-Robotics is expected to further solidify its position in the smart factory market, leveraging its U.S. ESS market references, glass substrate transfer robots, and industrial humanoid technologies.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.