Blab Tech
ANYbotics Expands Global Footprint with New Engineering Hub in Barcelona
ANYbotics AG, the Swiss‑based maker of autonomous inspection robots, opened a new engineering and AI hub on 16 June 2026 at the DFactory Barcelona campus. The move makes the company’s third global office, following Zurich and San Francisco, and is designed to support the rising demand for its ANYmal robots in the oil & gas, chemicals, utilities, and materials sectors.
The announcement comes after a rapid rollout of ANYmal units. In many of the target industries, customers have moved from pilot projects to full‑scale deployments, creating pressure on ANYbotics’ engineering teams. The Barcelona hub will concentrate on core disciplines—computer vision, machine learning, backend and frontend software engineering, mechatronics, and DevOps—before adding supply‑chain and commercial functions.
“We are building a global company to match a global opportunity,” said Dr. Péter Fankhauser, co‑founder and CEO. “Barcelona gives us access to exceptional engineering talent in a city that is quickly becoming a key for robotics and industrial engineering talent.” Fankhauser highlighted the city’s growing robotics ecosystem as a strategic advantage.
CTO Andrea Corda added that the new team will focus on “computer vision, machine learning, and core software systems that directly shape what our robots can do.” He noted that the DFactory campus places ANYbotics “at the heart of an Industry 4.0 ecosystem, giving us access to the kind of people, research groups, and companies who are solving these challenges.”
ANYmal is a four‑legged autonomous platform built for inspection and maintenance in harsh industrial environments. The robot can navigate complex terrain, climb stairs, and capture real‑time sensor data—including thermal, acoustic, and visual feeds. Since its launch, ANYmal has been deployed worldwide at gas, oil, utilities, and mining sites, performing routine inspections and predictive‑maintenance tasks that are too dangerous for human workers.
The expansion is backed by a funding round that raised over $150 million from European and Silicon Valley investors. With more than 200 experts across its three offices, ANYbotics has been developing industrial automation solutions since 2016.
The Barcelona lab will feature dedicated infrastructure for prototyping, hardware development, testing, and cross‑disciplinary engineering work. The facility is expected to accelerate the development of computer‑vision algorithms and machine‑learning models that improve the robot’s autonomy and data‑collection capabilities.
ANYbotics’ growth reflects a broader trend in the industrial‑automation market, where asset‑intensive sectors increasingly turn to autonomous robots to address labor shortages and enhance worker safety. By establishing a presence in Barcelona, the company positions itself closer to a talent pool that includes universities, research institutes, and other robotics firms.
As the engineering footprint expands, ANYbotics plans to integrate commercial functions such as supply‑chain management to support large‑scale deployments. This integration will help streamline production and support the company’s goal of scaling its autonomous inspection solutions globally.
In summary, ANYbotics has opened a new engineering and AI hub in Barcelona to support the rapid deployment of its ANYmal robots across key industrial sectors. The expansion is backed by significant funding, a growing team, and a strategic partnership with the DFactory Barcelona ecosystem. The company’s next steps include strengthening the hub with commercial operations and continuing to develop advanced software and hardware that enhance the robots’ autonomous capabilities.
The announcement comes after a rapid rollout of ANYmal units. In many of the target industries, customers have moved from pilot projects to full‑scale deployments, creating pressure on ANYbotics’ engineering teams. The Barcelona hub will concentrate on core disciplines—computer vision, machine learning, backend and frontend software engineering, mechatronics, and DevOps—before adding supply‑chain and commercial functions.
“We are building a global company to match a global opportunity,” said Dr. Péter Fankhauser, co‑founder and CEO. “Barcelona gives us access to exceptional engineering talent in a city that is quickly becoming a key for robotics and industrial engineering talent.” Fankhauser highlighted the city’s growing robotics ecosystem as a strategic advantage.
CTO Andrea Corda added that the new team will focus on “computer vision, machine learning, and core software systems that directly shape what our robots can do.” He noted that the DFactory campus places ANYbotics “at the heart of an Industry 4.0 ecosystem, giving us access to the kind of people, research groups, and companies who are solving these challenges.”
ANYmal is a four‑legged autonomous platform built for inspection and maintenance in harsh industrial environments. The robot can navigate complex terrain, climb stairs, and capture real‑time sensor data—including thermal, acoustic, and visual feeds. Since its launch, ANYmal has been deployed worldwide at gas, oil, utilities, and mining sites, performing routine inspections and predictive‑maintenance tasks that are too dangerous for human workers.
The expansion is backed by a funding round that raised over $150 million from European and Silicon Valley investors. With more than 200 experts across its three offices, ANYbotics has been developing industrial automation solutions since 2016.
The Barcelona lab will feature dedicated infrastructure for prototyping, hardware development, testing, and cross‑disciplinary engineering work. The facility is expected to accelerate the development of computer‑vision algorithms and machine‑learning models that improve the robot’s autonomy and data‑collection capabilities.
ANYbotics’ growth reflects a broader trend in the industrial‑automation market, where asset‑intensive sectors increasingly turn to autonomous robots to address labor shortages and enhance worker safety. By establishing a presence in Barcelona, the company positions itself closer to a talent pool that includes universities, research institutes, and other robotics firms.
As the engineering footprint expands, ANYbotics plans to integrate commercial functions such as supply‑chain management to support large‑scale deployments. This integration will help streamline production and support the company’s goal of scaling its autonomous inspection solutions globally.
In summary, ANYbotics has opened a new engineering and AI hub in Barcelona to support the rapid deployment of its ANYmal robots across key industrial sectors. The expansion is backed by significant funding, a growing team, and a strategic partnership with the DFactory Barcelona ecosystem. The company’s next steps include strengthening the hub with commercial operations and continuing to develop advanced software and hardware that enhance the robots’ autonomous capabilities.
