Tata Elxsi, DENSO, and AAtek inaugurate ‘Robotics and Automation Innovation Lab’ in Frankfurt

Tata Elxsi, in partnership with DENSO Robotics Europe, and AAtek, announced the inauguration of a ‘Robotics and Automation Innovation Lab’ at its Frankfurt office. This state-of-the-art facility aims to drive the future of robotics automation across sectors such as medical devices, pharmaceuticals, life sciences and food science. 

Equipped for both proof-of-concept (PoC) and full-scale development, the lab will serve as a R&D hub, focusing on modular automation, accelerating product development, and simplifying maintenance to meet global demand for automation solutions. This includes live demonstrations of high-precision and modular robotic implementations in cell/tissue culture, diagnostics, and sterilised environments.

The new facility will specialize in key areas, leveraging AI-driven analytics to support personalized medicine, automated handling of cell cultures in sterile environments, liquid handling and dispensing solutions, hospital lab automation, drug discovery, bioprocessing, and diagnostics. The centre will provide services including product design and engineering, application development, platform engineering, and regulatory compliance support. 

This unique combination of state-of-the-art technology and deep automation expertise provides customers with a platform to co-create, test, and deploy robotic solutions designed to meet the specific regulatory and operational challenges of the healthcare industry.

Designed to foster innovation in the region, the lab is also open to researchers and students from the Frankfurt Innovation Center (FIZ) and the startup ecosystem in the Hessen region. 

The launch event was inaugurated by key leaders from all three companies, including Manjunath Kulkarni, VP of Client Relationship at Tata Elxsi, Arun Damodaran, Founder and CEO of AAtek Group, Dirk Schöffler, Head of DENSO Robotics Europe, and Bhupendra Singh Nikhurpa – Consul Commerce, Consulate General of India – Frankfurt.

Raghav Yesodha, Director, Healthcare & Life Sciences, at Tata Elxsi, said: “This lab marks an important milestone in our efforts to bring together the best of Japanese innovation, German precision, and Tata Elxsi’s expertise in med-tech, regulatory compliance, and automation. Together with DENSO’s robotics leadership and AAtek’s integration capabilities, we are poised to accelerate innovation and product development in healthcare automation, enabling our customers to stay ahead of evolving market needs.”

Arun Damodaran, Founder and CEO of AAtek Group, emphasised the power of collaboration, saying: "While we are strong individually, together with Tata Elxsi and DENSO, we are even stronger. This partnership enables us to deliver comprehensive, end-to-end solutions as a one-stop shop for robotics, automation, and Industry 4.0, focusing on the life sciences, pharmaceutical, and healthcare sectors."

Dirk Schöffler, Head of DENSO Robotics Europe, stated: “DENSO, being a leader in robotics technology, and contributing towards the Robotics and Automation Innovation Lab, offers valuable opportunities to develop fresh perspectives and cutting-edge solutions through ‘Crafting the Core’, driving creativity and accelerating progress to meet current market demands beyond traditional boundaries.” 

With a roadmap for future expansion in USA and India, this lab is strategically positioned to become a key enabler in the global robotics and automation landscape, helping customers navigate the complex and rapidly evolving healthcare automation space.