07 July 2026 | Interaction | By Editor Robotics Business NEWS <editor@rbnpress.com>
As heavy industries accelerate digital transformation, thyssenkrupp AG is integrating Physical AI, autonomous robotics, and advanced data infrastructure to improve productivity, safety, and sustainability. In this exclusive Robotics Business News interview, Leif Erichsen, Head of External Communications and Governmental Affairs at thyssenkrupp AG, discusses the company's collaboration with GlobalLogic, its AI roadmap, and how intelligent automation is reshaping engineering, maintenance, and industrial operations worldwide.
What strategic goals led thyssenkrupp to partner with GlobalLogic?
At its core, the goal is to recalibrate the operational core of heavy industry. thyssenkrupp is in the midst of the most significant transformation in its history and aims to secure access to world-leading digital expertise in the process. The company views the alliance with Hitachi and GlobalLogic as a central building block of its strategy to transition the industry toward a sustainable, data-driven future.
How is the “Lab-to-Scale” pipeline intended to help customers move more quickly from pilot projects to scaling?
The pipeline integrates three areas of expertise: fundamental research findings from Hitachi America R&D, digital strategy and design work from Method, and professional software development from GlobalLogic. This creates a seamless connection between data directly from operations and AI-driven autonomous control – thereby eliminating bottlenecks in technical implementation while simultaneously increasing operational safety.
How do autonomous robotics and Physical AI simultaneously address productivity, safety, and sustainability?
Specifically, autonomous inspection systems and drones are to be deployed in hazardous production environments at thyssenkrupp to perform high-risk inspections and precision measurements – thereby preventing workplace accidents. At the same time, these systems provide the workforce with higher-quality data for controlling complex processes, rather than replacing them. On the efficiency front, a shared data infrastructure is designed to link production data with business process data, which in turn enables real-time decision-making and the smooth operation of the autonomous systems.
What advantages does the ecosystem comprising GlobalLogic, Method, and Hitachi America R&D offer over traditional technology partnerships?
Our four-way alliance intended to serve as a global model for the mutual exchange of cutting-edge expertise. Each partner contributes a different component – research, design, and software development – which, according to Timothy Morey of Method, brings together “brilliant minds” from all participating organizations to minimize risks in complex industrial transformation projects.
How do you envision AI-powered robotics transforming engineering workflows, maintenance operations, and frontline worker safety across thyssenkrupp's global businesses over the next five years?
At thyssenkrupp, we see AI-powered robotics – infused with our engineering expertise – revolutionizing our engineering workflows and maintenance operations across global businesses in the next five years. By bringing our renowned engineering competence into the “physical AI” layer of robotics, we will deliver even higher-quality products and services to our customers. Equally, our roadmap of robotics use cases focuses on automating heavy, physically demanding tasks, which will boost efficiency and safeguard frontline workers’ health and safety.
Many manufacturers struggle to scale AI initiatives beyond proof-of-concept. What lessons has thyssenkrupp learned about successfully operationalizing AI in complex industrial environments?
We have learned that scaling AI beyond pilots means treating it as a holistic digital ecosystem rather than implementing isolated projects. Our AI Cosmos strategy ties together all our different department data as a foundation, with automation and operational resilience as two further pillars of our AI ecosystem. By embedding Physical AI (robotics) into real operations, we connect this ecosystem to the factory floor for maximum impact. Equally important is a cultural transformation across the company – engaging customers and employees so that our AI solutions are driven by their feedback and real business needs – not by IT.
How important are strategic partnerships for accelerating intelligent automation in heavy industry?
Miguel López sums it up: The decarbonization of heavy industry is a race against time. Only the use of advanced AI makes it possible to overcome the enormous technical and administrative complexity of the energy transition – at a pace that was simply unattainable before. Srini Shankar also emphasizes that the future belongs to those companies that can seamlessly combine AI, edge computing, and data infrastructure with deep industry expertise.
Looking ahead, what key milestones should customers, partners, and investors watch as thyssenkrupp advances its Physical AI and industrial transformation strategy?
Our AI journey is already delivering first results – for example, we offer an AI-driven plant optimization solution in our Decarbon Technologies segment. Looking ahead, our clear roadmap over the next years will see us progressively automating more of our service offerings and internal processes like our financial processes, further expanding our AI-enhanced portfolio internally and externally. Customers, partners, and investors should watch for a steady rollout of these new AI-driven offerings and their proven reliability – key milestones of our ongoing industrial transformation – whilst staying true to our engineering competence.
