A state-of-the-art office and production complex with around 2,700 m² of usable space and its own photovoltaic system is being built in close proximity to the TU Ilmenau. With the new building, MetraLabs is creating space for further growth. The investment amount is around 5 million euros, of which approximately 850,000 euros come from the GRW funding program of the Free State of Thuringia.
In addition to Ilmenau's Mayor Dr. Daniel Schultheiß, numerous partners, employees, and long-time companions came to the ceremony. In his speech, Schultheiß emphasized the importance of the new building for Ilmenau as a location for science and business. The management of MetraLabs – Dr. Andreas Bley, Dr.-Ing. Christian Martin, and Dr.-Ing. Johannes Trabert – symbolically laid the first stone and a time capsule together with the construction company T&E Bau GmbH Gehren. Founded in 2001, the company specializes in the development and production of mobile service robots for use in retail, industry, culture, and research. In 2007, MetraLabs launched the world's first interactive shopping robot. The current focus is on robotic solutions for inventory and transport tasks as well as interaction and advertising.
