AGCO signs deal to pilot Agility Robotics' Digit humanoid in Kansas plant
AGCO and Agility Robotics have signed a commercial agreement for a pilot of the Digit humanoid robot at AGCO's Hesston, Kansas, production facility. According to the companies, the U.S. pilot is expected to begin in 2027.
- AGCO and Agility Robotics signed a commercial agreement for a Digit humanoid robot pilot.
- The pilot is expected to begin in 2027 at AGCO's Hesston, Kansas, facility.
- Digit will first handle parts sorting and stacking, and tote placement for storage.
- AGCO joins Toyota, GXO and Schaeffler among companies deploying Agility's robots.
- Agility's business combination with Churchill Capital Corp XI is expected to close in Q4 2026.
What the pilot covers
The agreement was announced on October 20, 2026 by AGCO (NYSE: AGCO), a maker of agricultural machinery, and Agility Robotics, which describes itself as a leading humanoid robotics and physical AI company. The pilot is meant to support AGCO's efforts to build more flexible, intelligent factories and will start in Hesston, Kansas.
Digit will initially support key assembly and production operations. The tasks named in the announcement are parts sorting and stacking, and the intelligent placement of totes for storage. According to the companies, automating repetitive and physically demanding work will improve ergonomic safety and operational efficiency, and let employees focus on higher-value, skill-driven work.
What the companies say
Thomas Enghof, AGCO's Director of Manufacturing Technology, said the relationship views humanoid robotics and AI as essential "teammates" in building flexible, intelligent factories. He said such robots "unlock automation in complex, human-centric workflows" by absorbing repetitive, strenuous or hazardous tasks, and pointed to "strict safety governance" alongside robotic engineering.
Daniel Diez, Chief Business Officer of Agility Robotics, said the company is looking forward to working with AGCO and sees an opportunity to strengthen manufacturing processes and support employees in demanding tasks.
AGCO joins other companies deploying Agility's humanoid robots, including Toyota, GXO and Schaeffler, according to the announcement.
Digit, Agility Arc and the company's listing plans
Agility says Digit is powered by advanced artificial intelligence and continuously learns and adapts to evolving workflows. Paired with Agility Arc, the company's cloud-based platform for deploying and managing robot fleets, companies can, according to Agility, integrate automation into essential operations without extensive infrastructure changes or costly facility upgrades.
The company describes Digit as a general-purpose humanoid robot that is commercially deployed today, with more than 65,000 hours of real-world operation.
Agility is also preparing to go public through its previously announced business combination with Churchill Capital Corp XI (Nasdaq: CCXI). The deal is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2026. The combined company would operate as Agility Robotics and is expected to trade on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol "AGLT". The SEC declared the related registration statement effective on October 13, 2026.
What it means
For AGCO, the project is a test of humanoid robots in a working production environment, starting with material handling tasks rather than complex assembly. The pilot is not expected to begin until 2027, and the announcement gives no figures on the number of robots or the scale of any later rollout. For Agility, the agreement adds an agricultural machinery manufacturer to its customer list as it approaches a public listing.
