Member Article

UK's longest running robotics company is setting up Madrid base

The Shadow Robotics Company has announced it is to open a new Madrid office, its first overseas base, as it looks to capitalise on the growing demand for robotics technology.

Headed up by founder Rich Walker, the London-based company has said it is opening its new office on the continent in response to significant growth in the last two years, which has seen the firm grow its headcount and establish a second UK base in Bristol’s Future Space in 2016.

Shadow was established back in 1987 and is the UK’s longest running robotics company, in which time it has developed as one of the forerunners in the robotics industry for robotic hands and graspers.

With its head office and core research and development team still based in London, Shadow will outsource the bulk of its production to Spain in a move that Walker said would help to ‘strengthen’ the firm’s position worldwide.

He commented: “The support that the UK government have given to the robotics and technology sector has been incredible. It’s brought consistent growth to our company and has enabled us to have a stronger reach globally; therefore it’s become a necessity for us to open an international office.

“Although it doesn’t matter how many offices we have around the world, we’ll always be working to advance the UK Robotics Agenda. We see this new office as cementing our status as a growing company; it’s a breakthrough moment for us.”

The new office will be headed up by Shadow’s Head of Production Juan LaForga in the heart of Madrid on the Carrera de San Jeronimo.