Company Directory › Robotics › End Effectors & Dexterous Hands › Italy
End effectors & dexterous hands companies in Italy
Italy is home to 3 end effectors & dexterous hands companies listed in the GlobleMatch directory. The three profiles split evenly across end-of-arm tooling, soft-robotics hands and flexible feeding, with Gimatic founded in 1985 in Roncadelle, qbrobotics working on variable-stiffness actuators in Cascina, and ARS Automation known for its patented FlexiBowl system. The best-known names include Gimatic, qbrobotics, ARS Automation. Every profile below is compiled from public sources and human-reviewed, and each company can claim and update its profile free of charge.
Key facts
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Category | End effectors & dexterous hands |
| Country | Italy |
| Companies listed | 3 |
| Subcategory focus (top 3 by count) | End-of-arm tooling (EOAT), robotic grippers and industrial automation components (1), soft-robotics hands, grippers and variable-stiffness actuators (1), End Effectors & Dexterous Hands; flexible feeding systems (FlexiBowl) (1) |
| Data verified | 13 November 2026 |
Market data: Italy
Industrial robot installations, 2025: about 7,800 installations. The total places Italy among the larger European installation markets in this data. Source: IFR World Robotics 2026, press release 2026-09-24.
All 3 companies
| Company | City | What they make or do | Website | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gimatic | Roncadelle | Gimatic is an Italian maker of end-of-arm tooling and automation components, part of Barnes Group, whose grippers and handling modules equip industrial robots and automated machines across a wide | gimatic.com | View profile |
| qbrobotics | Cascina | qbrobotics is an Italian soft-robotics company that designs and manufactures robotic hands, grippers and variable-stiffness actuators based on the principle of soft synergies | qbrobotics.com | View profile |
| ARS Automation | — | Makes FlexiBowl, a patented flexible feeding system that orients bulk components for robotic assembly lines, and supports integrators with assembly-line design | arsautomation.com | View profile |
Company notes
- Gimatic — Founded in 1985 and headquartered in Roncadelle, Gimatic makes end-of-arm tooling and automation components and was acquired by Barnes Group Inc. in October 2018. Its sales and service network covers Europe, North America and Asia.
- qbrobotics — Founded in 2011 as a spin-off of the University of Pisa and the Italian Institute of Technology, qbrobotics is based in Cascina and builds soft-robotics hands, grippers and variable-stiffness actuators. It reports about 25 employees (company-stated).
- ARS Automation — ARS Automation makes FlexiBowl, a patented flexible feeding system that orients bulk components for robotic assembly lines. It also supports integrators with assembly-line design.
How to source end effectors & dexterous hands from Italy
The Italian listings are evenly divided, with one company in each of the three focus areas counted for this page: end-of-arm tooling, robotic grippers and industrial automation components; soft-robotics hands, grippers and variable-stiffness actuators; and flexible feeding systems built around FlexiBowl. That even split means a buyer is not looking at three copies of the same offer, but at three distinct layers of a handling problem, and the right starting point depends on where parts are failing in an existing cell. Gimatic, in Roncadelle, covers the conventional tooling layer, supplying grippers and handling modules for industrial robots and automated machines, with markets that run from automotive and plastics to healthcare, food and beverage, electronics and pharmaceuticals. In Cascina, near Pisa, qbrobotics takes a different route, using underactuated, tendon-driven soft synergies so a hand adapts its shape to the object it grasps, an approach aimed at both research users and industrial customers. ARS Automation addresses the step before gripping, because its FlexiBowl system orients bulk components so a robot can pick them reliably on an assembly line. Reading the three profiles together helps a buyer separate tooling, grasping and feeding decisions instead of bundling them into one vague request. On GlobleMatch you can post a sourcing request free of charge, matching suppliers answer, and introductions are chosen by fit and never sold, so the shortlist reflects your stated handling task rather than a paid placement.
What to check before you contact
- Founding span on this page runs from Gimatic in 1985 to qbrobotics in 2011, so ask how long the specific product line you need has been in production.
- qbrobotics reports about 25 employees (company-stated), while Gimatic was reported at approximately 240 employees worldwide at the time of its 2018 acquisition, so confirm current support capacity directly.
- Gimatic states a sales and service network across Europe, North America and Asia, while qbrobotics lists distribution through the Universal Robots UR+ programme, so check which route serves your plant.
- Headquarters are split between Roncadelle and Cascina, with no city published for ARS Automation, so confirm the delivery and service location for your project.
Related matrix pages
Frequently asked questions
How many end effectors & dexterous hands companies are there in Italy?
The GlobleMatch directory lists 3 end effectors & dexterous hands companies based in Italy, verified 13 November 2026. The count changes as new profiles are reviewed and added.
Can I contact these companies directly?
Yes. Open any profile for the company website and contact route, or post a sourcing request and let matching suppliers answer you. For example, the profile of Gimatic links to its official website at gimatic.com.
Does it cost anything to be listed on this page?
No. Directory profiles are free, human-reviewed, and can be claimed by the company at any time. There is no pay-to-rank. All 3 profiles on this page are listed on the same basis.
What do end effectors & dexterous hands companies in Italy specialise in?
Based on listed profiles, the main focus areas are End-of-arm tooling (EOAT), robotic grippers and industrial automation components, soft-robotics hands, grippers and variable-stiffness actuators, and End Effectors & Dexterous Hands; flexible feeding systems (FlexiBowl). Each of the three focus areas accounts for one of the three listed companies.
Run a company in this category? Claim your free profile.
Every company on this page is listed in the GlobleMatch directory with a verified official website as of 13 November 2026. Profiles are compiled from public sources and human-reviewed before they appear; a company can claim its profile free of charge and correct or remove its details at any time.