ABB and Kawasaki Heavy Industries, two global industrial automation and robot suppliers, will team up to share knowledge and promote the benefits of collaborative robots (cobots), in particular those with dual arm designs. The global cooperation will become effective immediately and is the world’s first to focus on ‘cobots’. Collaboration between people and robots, machines and processes is increasingly important as production in many industries has shifted from larger lots with little variation to low volumes with a high mix. Collaborative robots, especially those with two arms capable of human interactions, can greatly contribute to society and help the world cope with labor shortages and an aging workforce.