KUKA, a global robotics and factory automation company based in Germany, has closed down its Austin R&D office at the Domain, the company confirmed to Austin Inno.
But, unlike many other recent layoffs, the move was not related to the coronavirus pandemic.
The closure, which affected 43 Austin-based employees, was part of a long-term strategic move by the company to consolidate R&D activities and resources, Wolfgang Meisen, head of corporate communications, told Inno in an email.
"KUKA continues investing in R&D, with planned spendings of 500 million EUR over the next three years. Other global R&D locations will remain," Meisen wrote. "All activities in Austin will be transferred to other KUKA locations by mid-year."
KUKA Robotics opened its Austin office in March 2017. The space at the north end of the Domain development was focused on cloud technologies and next-generation robotics software.
Outside of Austin, the company, headquartered in Augsburg, Germany, has dozens of global offices.
Though the Austin office closure wasn't related to the pandemic or recent financial issues, the company's Q1 report noted that it is being impacted by the pandemic.
"The reluctance of customers to place orders was clearly evident in both the automotive sector and general industry," the company's Q1 report said. "Investment decisions worldwide were influenced by the continuing uncertainties and the unforeseeable effects of the coronavirus pandemic."
