Danish robotics company 4XRobots is expanding its presence in the United States as it looks to scale automation in commercial greenhouse operations across North America.
The company has appointed Nick Chambers as head of global market development and insight to lead the expansion and has joined the Association for Advancing Automation (A3), a move aimed at building partnerships with North American robotics integrators, suppliers and technology partners.
4XRobots develops collaborative Delta robots designed specifically for controlled-environment agriculture, including greenhouses, where space is limited and layouts are difficult to redesign.
Targeting labor shortages in horticulture
Chambers said the company sees growing demand for automation in horticulture as labor shortages, rising costs and operational pressure intensify across the sector.
Chambers said: “This is all about relevance and the timing is right. The North American horticulture industry is facing the same structural challenges we see globally: labor shortages, rising costs, and increasing pressure on agricultural producers.
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Billedet er taget den 04/12/2025. Foto: Robert Wengler
“What’s different now is that robotics has reached a point where it can be deployed flexibly, safely and at scale with great benefits for the industry.”
The company’s collaborative Delta robot is designed to operate alongside human workers without safety fencing, making it suitable for greenhouses where space constraints often limit the use of traditional industrial robots.
Designed to fit existing greenhouse operations
Developed and manufactured in Odense, Denmark, the robot is intended to integrate directly into existing greenhouse workflows without requiring major facility changes.
According to the company, it can be deployed for tasks such as transplanting, handling and packaging – areas where growers increasingly struggle to recruit and retain workers.
“This is not hard automation that forces growers to rebuild their facilities and is only accessible to the elite and large greenhouse operators,” Chambers said.
“Our robot both fits into the space humans already work in and easily replaces that dull, dirty and dangerous work with a robot in a matter of days. It’s collaborative, modular, and designed for real-world operations.
“And the best part is you can turn your seasonal workers into full time robot operators and tenders. This is the right robot at the right time to handle the perfect storm of conditions driving business outcomes in the horticultural space.”
Building partnerships through A3
Joining A3 is part of 4XRobots’ strategy to work with established robotics integrators that already serve manufacturing, packaging or logistics customers and are looking to expand into agricultural applications.
“Building market success for robotics isn’t something you do alone. It requires partners who understand robotics deeply and want to expand into new application areas like horticulture and controlled-environment agriculture,” Chambers said.
He added that the company sees significant potential for greenhouse automation in North America.
“The technology is ready, the demand is real, and the scale potential is significant. That’s why we’re focused on expanding our North American presence now – we want to be a part of securing stable agricultural production in this region.”
Chambers is scheduled to meet with integrators and industry stakeholders at the A3 Business Forum in January to discuss how collaborative Delta robots could be applied more widely in greenhouse and horticultural operations.
“This is about connecting insight with execution,” he said. “We’re not just bringing a robot to this market – we’re building partnerships that can help define how robotics is applied in greenhouses and horticulture over the next decade and beyond.”
