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OTTO by Rockwell Automation was founded in 2009 by four university friends, including now-CEO Matt Rendall, building robots in a basement. The company was first started during The Great Recession because of Matt and his classmates’ unique—and ultimately correct—belief at the time that self-driving technology would change the world. With $200 in their pockets, a passion for mobile robotics, and an unwillingness to accept “no” as an answer, Matt co-founded one of North America’s first autonomous mobile robot (AMR) companies dedicated to improving material handling efficiency in manufacturing facilities worldwide.
[REDACTED FOR PUBLICATION] OTTO was acquired by Fortune 500 company Rockwell Automation. With 120 years of experience, Rockwell is a global leader in industrial automation and digital transformation, employing approximately 28,000 problem solvers dedicated to their customers in more than 100 countries. This was a major milestone for the company and an incredible achievement for Matt, who had worked toward such an initiative since founding the company. Alongside Rockwell, Matt will supercharge his vision for OTTO and provide the company with a long-term home where the company will hold a meaningful role in shaping the future of the manufacturing industry.
In April 2024, Rockwell Automation received a Robotics Innovation award for their acquisition of OTTO. The award reinforces Rockwell's commitment to innovation and enables manufacturers to achieve a fully connected factory that maximizes end-to-end efficiency, flexibility, and visibility.
This acquisition achievement would not have been possible without Matt’s many other initiatives from the past two years. In March 2022, Matt introduced OTTO Lifter, the world’s smartest autonomous forklift, to the manufacturing industry—making OTTO the first AMR company to offer both flatbed and forked AMRs. According to the Institute of Physics’ IOP Publishing, material handling consumes about 25% of the workforce, 55% of the room and 87% of the time of production in a factory. Additionally, manual forklifts can also be unsafe. According to OSHA, there's a 90% chance of a serious accident occurring during the 8-year average lifespan of a forklift. Furthermore, 1 in 6 workplace deaths involve a forklift, attributing to an astounding 85 deaths per year. Built to address these material handling challenges of today and tomorrow, OTTO Lifter was recognized as the winner of a Gold Stevie® Award in the Manufacturing Solution category in The 20th Annual International Business Awards®.
Matt’s commitment to solving these challenges did not stop with the introduction of OTTO Lifter. In 2023, Matt led OTTO to launch two new AMRs, OTTO 600 and OTTO 1200, unlocking the most comprehensive autonomous material handling fleet on the market. These two new AMRs—alongside two software updates—help customers optimize their floor space by transporting heavier payloads in the narrowest environments. In April, Matt took OTTO’s industry-leading AMRs and software across the world with their formal expansion into the European market, and in May, unveiled the OTTO Certified Dealer Network to provide high-quality service and support locally throughout North America. The program introduces over 215 regional offices and 2,000 technicians to the rapidly-growing AMR industry.
In March 2023, under Matt’s leadership, OTTO was named to Fast Company’s 2023 list of Most Innovative Companies as a top 10 global robotics company. This highly prestigious award recognizes organizations that are moving the world forward, transforming robotics and shaping societies through both innovation and impact. Throughout 2023, OTTO’s autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) won many awards as well, including Material Handling Solution of the Year by Supplytech Breakthrough, Readers’ Choice Product of the Year by Material Handling 24/7 and an Innovation Award by New Equipment Digest. In June 2023, Matt was named a Finalist for Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year, an award celebrating entrepreneurs whose unbounded ambitions deliver innovation, growth and prosperity that transform our world, and in March 2024, Matt was named a manufacturing “Pros to Know” by Supply and Demand Chain Executive.
Nomination Title: Matt Rendall
