"We're making the transition smoother"

Labor shortages are an increasing challenge in horticulture. As more growers struggle to recruit staff, automation is becoming a practical and timely solution. One company involved in this movement is Danish robotics manufacturer 4XROBOTS. To help expand their technology beyond Denmark, the company has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with HAWE Cultivation Systems BV.

The agreement was revealed on the first day of the GreenTech exhibition, where the deal was marked with an official signing ceremony at the 4XROBOTS stand. The event drew strong interest from visitors and industry professionals curious to see how this new partnership could shape the future of horticultural automation.

"It shows that their technology has real potential to help growers internationally. We're excited to be part of the solution," says Jelmer Huizing from HAWE and elaborates: "We believe automation and robotics will play a big part in the future of horticulture. Being the architects of smart cultivation, we integrate robotics, and we are always on the lookout for the best solution for our customers, matching their needs. In that regard, closing this deal with 4XROBOTS is a step forward."

Ready to apply
"This Memorandum allows us to combine our robotics with HAWE's trusted infrastructure. It means growers can adopt automation without major changes to their setup," explains Michael Mortensen, CSO of 4XROBOTS.

"It's a strong signal of what's next for us and for the industry. Our technology is ready to be applied in greenhouses around the globe."

Mortensen adds that the agreement is a significant milestone for 4XROBOTS in reaching more growers in key markets. By leveraging HAWE's network and industry knowledge, the goal is to accelerate the adoption of automation across the sector.

"HAWE's deep experience with cultivation systems and strong grower relationships make them an ideal partner for distributing our technology throughout the US," he says.

© 4XROBOTS

Freeing up human resources
HAWE, known for its horticultural infrastructure, brings decades of experience and a deep understanding of growers' needs to the table. By integrating 4XROBOTS' cutting-edge platforms with HAWE's systems, the partnership aims to deliver seamless, future-ready solutions for a changing industry.

4XROBOTS develops robots that automate repetitive tasks like plant transport and material handling, freeing up human workers for more skilled roles. Their robots are designed to operate safely alongside people and are easy to implement in both new and existing greenhouses.

Mortensen believes the timing couldn't be better for practical innovation.

"With labor shortages continuing to challenge growers across the US, the demand for smart, easy-to-integrate automation is growing fast. Through our collaboration with HAWE, we're making that transition smoother—thanks to a partner growers already trust."

And Jelmer Huizing agrees in this perspective.

"It is our vision to separate plant handling from growing and when workers are doing repetitive tasks in handling plants, growers might lose valuable human resources. It might be worth exploring to make robots solve these tasks."

Next stop: Cultivate'25
After Amsterdam, the next opportunity to meet both 4XROBOTS and HAWE will be at Cultivate'25 in Columbus, Ohio—just two weeks away. The companies will once again be showcasing how collaborative robotics and cultivation systems can work hand in hand to support the future of horticulture.