Reis Robotics: Software Meets Robotics
Interview with Volker Buchbauer, Managing Director of Reis Robotics GmbH & Co. KG
From the inventor of the deburring press in the 1950s to the developer of its own six-axis robots in the 1980s – Reis Robotics has a dynamic history. After the spin-off from the KUKA Group in July 2023, the company is now facing its next major transformation: Under the leadership of the new CEO Volker Buchbauer, the automation specialist with 320 employees aims to develop into a complete solution provider driven by software.
Wirtschaftsforum: Mr. Buchbauer, you have been the CEO at Reis Robotics since September 2024. How is the company positioned today?
Volker Buchbauer: We have two locations in Germany – our headquarters in Obernburg and a plant in Würselen near Aachen – as well as branches in Chicago and Mexico, giving us an international presence. Our team consists of 320 employees, 50% of whom are academics, and we generate an annual turnover of between 50 and 60 million EUR. We are particularly proud of our innovative strength – after all, our ROBOTstar VII robot control was awarded the Innovation Prize at EuroBLECH.
Wirtschaftsforum: What markets do you primarily serve today?
Volker Buchbauer: Historically, we are deeply rooted in the casting sector. Another market is the handling sector, especially in logistics – here we see great growth potential in the coming years. We are also specialized in welding and trimming technologies for metal applications.
An absolute future market in which we want to engage more strongly is Smart Automation. Given the demographic changes and the shortage of skilled workers, many industries will have to increase their degree of automation. Here we can offer real added value with our know-how and our solutions.
Wirtschaftsforum: Artificial intelligence is everywhere. What role does it play at Reis Robotics?
Volker Buchbauer: We focus on a practical approach. For us, artificial intelligence primarily means machine learning and data-based optimization. Internally, we launched several AI projects last fall to better utilize the knowledge of our employees and the data on our servers. Moreover, we are working on AI-supported functions for our robot control ROBOTstar VII.
Wirtschaftsforum: How do you attract highly qualified employees?
Volker Buchbauer: We work closely with universities and supervise joint research projects. As a result, we gain many dual-study students who often stay with us long-term.
What sets us apart is our corporate culture, which is based on four pillars: Passion for our work, teamwork, the pursuit of excellence, and the courage to explore new paths. In addition, our wide market spectrum allows us to offer a variety of tasks, enabling our employees to develop in the long term. I have colleagues who have been with Reis for decades – some even for 45 years.
Wirtschaftsforum: What role does marketing play in a technology-driven company like Reis Robotics?
Volker Buchbauer: Personal contact is our top priority. As a solutions provider, we need to build trust – and that is best achieved through direct conversation. You need to be able to look each other in the eye and say: Yes, we can do this together! Additionally, we use LinkedIn to keep our customers informed and report on events. Trade fairs remain important but are losing some of their significance.
Wirtschaftsforum: What are your expectations of the political landscape in Germany and the USA?
Volker Buchbauer: For Germany, I hope it becomes an attractive business location for companies again. This includes less bureaucracy, competitive energy prices, and stronger support for innovation.
As for the USA, we have to wait and see how things develop – especially in terms of possible new tariffs. We will have to adjust our strategy for North and Central America accordingly.
Wirtschaftsforum: Where do you see Reis Robotics in five years?
Volker Buchbauer: Our goal is to be a leading solutions provider for automation – independent of specific machine types. With our software, we want to offer our customers tangible added value. My vision is for Reis Robotics to be recognized as an innovative partner for automation solutions in the market. For this, we are heavily investing in research and development – this has already proven successful in the past.
Wirtschaftsforum: What personally drives you in this task?
Volker Buchbauer: Two things: On one hand, I want to develop the company further and make it strong for the future. On the other hand, I like working with young talents – I learn from them and at the same time pass on my experience. Reis was founded in the 1950s and thus has a long history – I want to contribute to the next generation continuing this story successfully.