[Edaily Reporter Kim Hyung-il ] AJ Networks Co.,Ltd.(095570)announced on the 23rd that it is partnering with NovaTech, a company specializing in AI-based robotic automation, to expand its robot rental business.

This collaboration was established to reduce the initial investment burden for corporate customers and to target the automation market. Its core focus is for AJ Networks Co.,Ltd. to develop on-site, customized “Robot as a Service” (RaaS) products based on NovaTech’s robotic automation technology and standardized solutions. The signing ceremony was attended by Song Dong-seok, CEO of NovaTech, and Choi Ji-young, Vice President and Head of the B&T Division at AJ Networks Co.,Ltd.

RaaS is a service model in which users pay a usage fee for a set period instead of purchasing robots outright. It is gaining attention as an alternative for companies considering automation because it reduces the burden of initial capital expenditures (CAPEX). As robot automation requires not only equipment design and system integration tailored to on-site conditions but also post-deployment operation and maintenance, the role of rental-based services is growing.

AJ Networks Co.,Ltd. is cultivating its robotics business as a new growth engine, leveraging the operational experience, customer relationships, and rental service capabilities it has accumulated through its business-to-business (B2B) rental operations. The company is expanding its business scope by going beyond simply renting equipment to offer customized product packages tailored to clients’ implementation environments and operational conditions, designing financial and rental structures, and providing post-sales support services.

NovaTech is a company that provides AI-based robot control and automation solutions for manufacturing and logistics. Through its robotic logistics automation platform “PiPER,” it integrates various types of logistics robots and control systems to support automated operations in manufacturing facilities and logistics centers. A key feature of the company is that it goes beyond supplying individual pieces of equipment to provide site-level automation solutions that integrate the control and operation of diverse robots.

The two companies plan to structure AJ Networks Co.,Ltd.’s RaaS offerings based on the eight standard packages proposed by NovaTech. The goal is to enable client companies to select the automation solution best suited to their specific work environments and processes.

The eight standard packages consist of: △ in-line parts supply △ pallet transfer and loading △ box and tote picking (GTP) △ heavy-load transfer △ packaging and palletizing △ high-density automated warehouses △ integrated control of existing equipment △ and automated loading and unloading for incoming and outgoing goods.

Lineside parts supply focuses on the process of supplying parts required for production lines, while pallet transfer and loading focuses on automating logistics movement and loading operations at the pallet level. Box and tote picking can be applied to the sorting of goods based on orders or work instructions, and heavy-load transfer supports the movement of relatively heavy materials or goods.

The Packaging and Palletizing package automates the processes of packaging finished products and loading pallets. The high-density automated warehouse solution is designed for storage and material handling environments that require efficient use of limited space. Integrated control of existing equipment can be used to centrally manage operational data from on-site equipment such as automated guided vehicles (AGVs), conveyors, and programmable logic controllers (PLCs). Automation of loading and unloading supports the automation of logistics processes such as unloading, inspection, and dock transfers.

By utilizing the standard package, customers can reduce the burden of individually evaluating all automation equipment from scratch and instead focus on implementing solutions based on the specific functions required for their site. The two companies plan to enhance the convenience of implementation for customers by jointly proposing not only the integration of robots and control systems but also the design, operational support, and maintenance systems necessary for on-site application.

An AJ Networks Co.,Ltd. representative “This partnership is significant because it standardizes robotic automation solutions and combines them with a rental service, allowing customers to explore automation while reducing the burden of initial investment and the complexity of implementation,” adding, “AJ Networks Co.,Ltd. expects to leverage its rental business capabilities to increase access to robotic automation services, while NovaTech anticipates expanding its robot control and logistics automation technologies to various industrial sites.”

Meanwhile, the two companies will jointly participate in the Industrial AI Expo held at KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province. At the exhibition, they plan to introduce robotic automation technology and RaaS services, showcase standard package-based automation solutions, and highlight the potential for application in industrial settings as well as the synergies of their collaboration.