Ambitious growth to pursue AI centred innovation – Doosan Robotics

In order to lead the upcoming Physical AI era, Doosan Robotics is intensifying its transition into a global provider of intelligent robot solutions. This is being accomplished through a comprehensive growth plan that includes expert recruiting, overseas acquisitions, and organisational realignment.

Earlier in April

Doosan Robotics has declared 2025 as a pivotal year for transformation, unveiling its strategy to pursue AI-centred innovation in a meeting at its headquarters in Bundang in April this year [2025]. It was attended by all employees, including CEO Kevin Kim. During the session, Kim announced the company’s transition from a hardware-centric business model to one focused on “intelligent robot solutions,” whilst also investing in the development of humanoid technologies.

CEO Kevin Kim shares the company’s direction and vision

New Investment

The board of directors of Doosan Robotics authorised the purchase of an 89.59% share in ONExia, a Pennsylvania-based automation engineering company and robotics system integrator, on July 28 [2025]. Participation in a capital increase and a stock purchase agreement (SPA) cemented the sale, which was valued at about USD 25.9 million (KRW 35.6 billion).

ONExia was established in 1984 and provides comprehensive automation services, encompassing system design, production, and installation. By providing solutions that increase productivity and lower operating costs, the organisation has made a significant impact in sectors like manufacturing, shipping, and packaging. Palletising, box assembly, and packing are examples of end-of-line (EOL) procedures that are in high demand throughout North America, and ONExia has concentrated on creating its own collaborative robotic systems specifically for these processes in recent years. Consequently, the business has consistently seen average annual sales growth of about 30%.

Doosan Robotics sees the acquisition as a crucial step in raising its level of worldwide competitiveness in the market for intelligent robotics. The action marks a strategic change away from a business strategy that is primarily focused on hardware and toward a more integrated platform that is focused on robotics solutions that are based on AI and software.

ONExia contributes 25 years of gathered automation data and project execution expertise in addition to its sophisticated engineering skills and experience in creating robots systems tailored to a particular industry. Doosan Robotics’ AI capabilities and solution creation should be immediately improved by these assets, especially in fields where data-driven intelligence is essential.

Doosan Robotics is increasing its internal research and development expenditures concurrently with this acquisition. The business is nearing the end of its hiring process for specialist personnel in the areas of software development, quality assurance, AI, robotics research and development, and corporate strategy. Its R&D division is likewise going through a structural reform, with a stronger emphasis on software, AI, and humanoid technology. In addition, a brand-new R&D Innovation Centre is expected to be finished by the third quarter of this year. It is intended to offer the best possible development environment.

Doosan palletising Doosan welding Doosan machine tending

Kevin (Minpyo) Kim CEO

Kevin (Minpyo) Kim, CEO of Doosan Robotics said “This acquisition marks an important milestone as we take tangible steps to strengthen our global presence, internalise AI technologies, and develop future-ready solutions. ONExia’s expertise and established position in the U.S. market will create powerful synergies. To position ourselves as a global leader in intelligent robotics and drive the future of Physical AI, we remain committed to investing in R&D, strategic M&A, and talent,” he added.

Supporting Vision & Growth

To support this vision, the company is proactively developing several key technologies:

Multi-arm simultaneous control technology for executing complex, delicate tasks with multiple robotic arms
Collision avoidance technology using sensors and algorithms for safe operation in diverse environments
Long-horizon task technology enabling robots to autonomously plan and execute multi-step complex tasks

To support the ambitious growth, Doosan Robotics is also utlising a Blitzscaling strategy. This is designed to break organisational inertia and rapidly achieve market dominance through dramatic execution speed. Under this framework, the company will focus on:

Concentrating resources on core technologies and businesses
Eliminating resistance to change and building a performance-driven culture
Strengthening fast and innovative execution capabilities