Salt Lake City-based Sarcos Technology and Robotics Corp. acquired Lawrenceville-based RE2 Inc., one of the region’s best-known robotics firms, on April 25 for $100 million. Sarcos retained nearly all of RE2’s more than 100 employees after the deal’s close, and RE2’s CEO Jorgen Pedersen took on the role of Sarcos’ COO. RE2 developed autonomous and tele-operated mobile robotic systems. Its signature product, the Sapien Sea Class robotic system, performs inspection and maintenance tasks in shallow and deepwater environments and is now part of Sarcos’ product line of robotics-based technologies.
What opportunities proved beneficial to have an exit in the past year?
Prior to and since the acquisition, RE2 and Sarcos have had a shared vision of improving worker safety and productivity through robotics. Additionally, both companies were targeting similar opportunities such as aviation, construction and defense, but each company also brought additional opportunities, expanding the breadth of our impact. By combining the companies, we expanded our customer base and technology offerings, allowing us to move faster and more effectively.
How has the exit benefited the company since?
In addition to the expanded customer base, we have more than doubled our engineering team, which has created an exponential effect in terms of development speed and increased innovation by bringing together different perspectives from two world-class teams. Also, our expanded product portfolio has allowed us to more effectively and quickly address customer needs to ensure that we are providing the optimal solution.
Is the company currently hiring, and, if so, for which roles?
Sarcos continues to hire in all departments. Engineering represents our most pressing hiring need across all disciplines, including software, systems, controls, AI, ML, electrical and mechanical engineering.
— Jorgen Pedersen, founder and CEO, RE2 Inc., currently COO of Sarcos Technology and Robotics
