Oversonic Robotics, Italian humanoid robots focus on healthcare and manufacturing

(Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor) - Oversonic Robotics is betting on cognitive humanoid robots to compete with international mechanical giants, ("from little Italia to the USA"), and innovate the world of manufacturing and healthcare. Born in 2020 from the meeting between the astrophysicist and entrepreneur, Fabio Puglia, and the former CEO of Thun, Paolo Denti, the start-up based in Carate Brianza designs and builds human-shaped machines. The best known is RoBee, the only humanoid robot currently certified for the industrial and medical sectors. Today, Oversonic Robotics is the only company "in Europe and America with a concrete official offer of products of this type" aimed primarily at the "chips and automotive", as Paolo Denti, the company's CEO, explains in an interview with Radiocor. However, 'by the end of the year' it aims to market its machines also in the healthcare sector, where, 'when they have obtained higher level certifications', they will be able to work alongside healthcare workers in the most strenuous tasks.

Looking at the current picture, the 2025 budget closed with an estimated turnover of between EUR 4.5 and 5 million and negative EBITDA of between EUR 5.5 and 6 million. Numbers that 'reflect the period of heavy investment' at Oversonic that lay the foundation for future growth. Already in 2026, the start-up is aiming for 'double digit growth of between 200% and 300%'. For 2030 then, the plans are even more ambitious and envisage, says Denti, 'a scale with significant multiples, reaching well into triple figures', also in light of the estimated development of the sector. In fact, humanoid robotics currently has a turnover of just under $3 billion, but, according to research by Barclays, within the next ten years it should reach $40 billion thanks to the boost of generative AI. Unlike traditional machines, those with a human form, explains Paolo Denti, have the advantage of being 'easily introduced into spaces designed for workers'. In a few years' time, they will therefore be able to replace them 'in the most tiring, exhausting' and repetitive tasks in various sectors.

Driving innovation in this direction are mainly Chinese companies, but Oversonic Robotics, with orders 'from Germany, France and the USA', is well positioned to benefit from the sector's growth. In addition, thanks to partnerships signed with giants in the tech sector, such as St and Intel, and negotiations begun 'with Japanese groups', it is preparing to compete with the large traditional robotics groups abroad as well. To date, in fact, Italia has weighed in at 95% of the company's turnover, but 'already this year,' says Denti, 'we should go towards 50% and 50%'. The outlook for 2027 is then to arrive with 'sales in Italia representing 25/30%, compared to a very important America and Europe'. In particular, the company aims to strengthen in the United States, where it has opened two offices in Cincinnati and Los Angeles. Asia remains in its sights, as the heart of the semiconductor and automotive industries, although China 'is perhaps the last real market of interest, as it is now overpopulated with alternatives'.

Internationalisation is one of Oversonic's objectives also from the point of view of the shareholder structure, which at the moment is 'still totally Italian'. Although the founding shareholders still hold a majority share (around 70%), in recent years the corporate structure has seen the entry of 'important players'. Among others, Fintel - a financial company owned by the Bulgarelli family (itself linked to the Sabaf group) -, Giancarlo Locatelli, CEO of the Cosma household appliance and automotive group, and Datalogic - a company listed in Milan on the Star segment and specialised in industrial automation -, which, according to the company's announcement, 'has a minority shareholding'. "We are now further opening up Oversonic's capital to international groups with a high level of interest," explains Denti. In this sense, "a stock market listing remains one of themost plausible routes to follow" in the medium to long term for the company. 'First, however,' explains the CEO, 'we want to consolidate our market position and continue on the path of growth'.