German appliance manufacturer Miele has increased its stake in Korean robotics specialist Yujin.
Miele has announced it is investing a further €40 million (£35.3m) into Yujin to open up “new applications in the field of robotics”, it said.
Yujin has developed the Scout robovac for Miele since 2012, and 2018 will see the launch of the Miele Scout RX2, which will feature three times the suction power and finer-tuned navigation on its predecessor, as well as the transmission of live images to a smartphone or tablet.
Miele said the increased stake in the company expresses both parties’ intention to sustainably intensify and expand their cooperation.
“Both with a view to the product range and automation of production as in smart manufacturing, robotics is steadily increasing in significance at Miele,” said Dr Stefan Breit, Miele Group board member responsible for technology. “That’s why we are so pleased at having found such a first-class partner in Yujin with whom to shape our joint future.”
Dr Kyung Chul Shin, chief executive of Yujin, commented: “By pooling expertise and resources we are able to exploit huge opportunities in the development of new products and technologies and tap into new markets.”
