Agility Robotics Signs Deal to Pilot Digit at AGCO Factory

SALEM, Ore. -- Agility Robotics has signed a commercial agreement with agricultural equipment manufacturer AGCO to introduce its Digit humanoid robots at a factory in Hesston, Kansas, beginning in 2027.

The two companies announced the agreement Oct. 20, outlining plans for a pilot focused on repetitive and physically demanding manufacturing tasks.

Digit will start with handling storage totes at the facility, which manufactures agricultural machinery. The companies expect the robots to reduce strenuous manual work while allowing employees to concentrate on other production activities. They did not disclose the number of robots to be involved, the contract's financial terms or how long the pilot would run.

AGCO manufactures agricultural equipment under brands including Fendt, Massey Ferguson and Valtra. Its Hesston facility will provide Agility with another industrial setting in which to evaluate Digit's ability to work within existing production processes.

The two-legged robot is designed to handle materials in spaces built for human workers. Agility also offers Agility Arc, a cloud-based platform for managing robot fleets and monitoring operations.

Agility identifies Toyota, GXO and Schaeffler among companies working with its humanoid robots, although their arrangements differ in scope and operating status. The Oregon-based developer is also pursuing a public listing through a merger with Churchill Capital Corp XI expected to close this quarter.

For the AGCO project, the companies have not released performance targets, expected productivity gains or criteria for expanding the pilot into regular factory operations.