Soft Robotics (Oxipital AI) Company Profile: Name Change, Schmalz Sale and Strategy
Updated: Oct 15
Soft Robotics Inc., the American company known for its soft, flexible robot grippers, changed its name to Oxipital AI in August 2024 and sold the gripper business to Schmalz. This profile sets out what changed, who owns what, and what the company does now.
Soft Robotics and Oxipital AI at a Glance
Fact | Detail |
Former name | Soft Robotics Inc. |
Current name | Oxipital AI, since August 2024 |
Base | Boston area, Massachusetts, USA |
Original business | Soft gripping, 3D vision and AI for industrial automation |
Gripper business sold to | The Schmalz Group, Germany |
Current focus | AI-enabled vision systems for the food industry |
President and CEO | Mark Chiappetta |
What Happened in 2024
In August 2024 the company announced two linked moves. It sold its soft gripping business to the Schmalz Group, the German vacuum technology company based in Glatten, which thereby gained sole ownership of the soft, modular gripper line that Soft Robotics had designed and made. The price was not disclosed. At the same time it relaunched under the name Oxipital AI with a narrower strategy.
Before | After |
Soft grippers, 3D vision and AI | AI vision only |
Sold complete picking solutions | Supplies vision systems that machine builders pair with any end-of-arm tool |
Soft Robotics Inc. | Oxipital AI |
The two companies said they would continue to work together on applications that combine soft grasping and AI.
Oxipital AI Today
Oxipital AI concentrates on vision systems for inspection, bin picking and sorting in food production. It says the systems are easy to integrate and can be run by staff with little machine learning experience.
For Buyers of Soft Robotics Grippers
The soft gripper range is now a Schmalz product line. Schmalz, whose main business is vacuum automation and ergonomic handling, described the food industry as a growth market when it made the purchase.
Strengths and Challenges
Strengths
A clearer focus on one technology and one industry.
A continuing partnership with Schmalz.
Challenges
A smaller business after the sale of its best-known product.
A new brand to establish.
Soft Robotics FAQ
Does Soft Robotics Inc. still exist?
The company continues under the name Oxipital AI, which it adopted in August 2024.
Who makes Soft Robotics grippers now?
The Schmalz Group, which bought the soft gripping business in 2024.
What does Oxipital AI do?
It makes AI-enabled vision systems for inspection, bin picking and sorting in the food industry.
Who is the CEO of Oxipital AI?
Mark Chiappetta.
How much did Schmalz pay for the gripper business?
The price was not disclosed.
