Robot maker deepens European presence

What followed was the beginning of a long-term partnership that would evolve alongside the company's global expansion.

"I would say we were among Unitree's very first customers," Kottlarz said. "We still have one robot with a three-digit serial number. From what I understand, we may have been the first overseas partner to sell Unitree robots."

Today, Kottlarz's company operates not only as a distributor but also as a robotics integration hub.

"MyBotShop is more than a retailer," he said. "We develop software applications, proof-of-concept projects, and complete robotics software stacks. Our goal is to build a full robotics ecosystem."

He added that this system-level approach has been key to Unitree's success in Europe, as its customer base in Europe has undergone a significant transformation in recent years.

"Initially, most customers were universities and research institutes," Kottlarz said. "They were using the robots as research platforms."

To support them, his company developed software tools and technical resources by building its own robot operating system and software development kit, providing documentation, and helping customers get started quickly.

However, demand patterns have shifted rapidly.

"Since late last year, demand has increasingly shifted toward industrial customers," Kottlarz said. "These include automotive suppliers, logistics companies, and manufacturers. They are trying to automate manual tasks such as material handling, assembly, and warehouse operations."

According to Kottlarz, humanoid robots are particularly well suited to European industrial environments.

"Most workplaces today are designed for humans, so humanoid robots are a natural solution for many of these applications," he said, emphasizing that the long-term goal is autonomy rather than remote operation.

"Our goal is not simply remote-controlled robots, but fully autonomous systems."