French robotics company Wandercraft plans to deploy 350 humanoid robots at Renault as early as 2027, as it expands production of its Calvin-40 system for industrial applications.
The company said it had signed 12 major industrial customers in less than a year. It is targeting production of one robot per hour at its new Paris headquarters, with a longer-term ambition to manufacture one million units annually.
Opened in October, the 4,300sq m facility brings together research and development, manufacturing and maintenance. Wandercraft has allocated 800sq m to robot assembly, storage and servicing as it prepares to scale up production.
Calvin-40 is designed to handle heavy, repetitive tasks in manufacturing and logistics, particularly in roles that are difficult to fill. The autonomous robot can lift loads of up to 40kg, with a future version intended to increase capacity to 50kg.
It uses 3D vision, autonomous navigation and adaptive control to move cartons and crates, handle heavy loads and transport materials between workstations. Wandercraft says the robot can operate without a teleoperator and work in existing facilities without changes to their infrastructure.
The system is built on the company’s proprietary physical AI platform, drawing on 12 years of experience developing robotic exoskeletons. A partnership with Renault Group is intended to accelerate industrialisation and large-scale production.
“We are scaling up to become the global leader in humanoid robotics, with 12 blue-chip clients signed in less than 12 months and 350 humanoid robots deployed next year,” said Matthieu Masselin, Chief Executive and Co-Founder of Wandercraft.
The company’s target of one million robots a year represents a significant expansion beyond its stated initial production capacity. Wandercraft said it was pursuing a largely European manufacturing base, but did not provide a timetable for reaching that annual output.
The industrial push follows Wandercraft’s acquisition of Ekso Bionics, which expands its presence in the US and strengthens its medical exoskeleton business.
Its Atalante X and EksoNR rehabilitation systems are used in more than 700 rehabilitation centres worldwide, according to the company. Wandercraft also makes Eve, a personal exoskeleton designed to help wheelchair users move around their homes while standing upright.
