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Funditec Intelligence, Funditec’s technological unit specialized in artificial intelligence for physical autonomous systems, and Fagor Arrasate, a cooperative belonging to the Mondragon Corporation and one of the world leaders in the customized design and manufacturing of industrial equipment and automation systems, have reached a strategic agreement to create Primus Robotics. This new company will be dedicated to the design, development, and manufacturing of industrial humanoid robots capable of operating in highly demanding environments with strict requirements for precision, safety, and availability.
The new joint venture, equally owned (50/50) by both organizations, is born with the objective of becoming the first to offer industrial AI‑driven robotic solutions of European origin. To achieve this, it combines Funditec’s expertise in applied artificial intelligence with Fagor Arrasate’s engineering, industrial automation, robotics, and advanced manufacturing capabilities.
In this context, the Basque Country is emerging as one of Europe’s best-positioned industrial regions to lead the development and production of this new generation of humanoid robots designed to operate in complex environments, integrating safely and efficiently with advanced machinery, production systems, and logistics processes.
As a tribute to our renowned navigator Juan Sebastián Elcano and the motto on his coat of arms — “Primus circumdedisti me” (“You were the first to circle me”) — the name chosen for both the joint venture and its products is precisely Primus.
From left to right, Antonio Navarro, Executive Chairman of Funditec, and Unai López, Managing Director of Fagor Arrasate, following the signing of the incorporation documents for Primus Robotics.
Intelligent Robots for Industrial Processes
The company’s first product will be Primus P1, a humanoid robot conceived to perform manipulation tasks, operational support, maintenance, and assistance in production processes. Thanks to its proprietary edge-AI operating system, Primus OS, these systems will enable the expansion of automation into environments originally designed for human interaction, facilitating seamless collaboration between robots, operators, and industrial machinery.
The project foresees an initial industrialization phase with a production capacity of around 200 robots per year, with plans to progressively scale up to more than 3,000 units annually. This phase will take place in a 2,500 m² facility prepared at Fagor’s plant in Mondragon. The first functional prototype of Primus P1 is expected by late 2027. After Primus P1, new versions will follow with expanded capabilities for additional sectors.
Juan Etxebarria, Business Development Director at Fagor Arrasate, stated: “Manufacturing humanoid robots in our Arrasate plant is the most ambitious bet we have made in recent years. We are a technology‑driven company with decades of experience integrating automation, robotics and precision engineering to automate our clients’ production lines. Now we are taking a further step: together with Funditec, we are creating a technological platform that combines artificial intelligence, advanced control and precision manufacturing to produce the robot that will operate within those lines, freeing workers from heavy, repetitive and dangerous tasks.”
For his part, Alejandro Echeverría, General Director of Funditec Intelligence, added: “The creation of Primus Robotics represents a strategic milestone in the development of applied artificial intelligence for mission‑critical systems. This agreement allows us to accelerate the transition toward real production environments and to strengthen Europe’s capability to develop what we call physical AI — artificial intelligence oriented toward autonomous physical systems.”
The creation of Primus Robotics comes at a time when European industry is accelerating the integration of humanoid robots into processes originally designed for human intervention. Automotive companies have already launched pilot projects in European plants, confirming that humanoid robots are no longer experimental but have become a new category of industrial systems.