Effecto, formerly known as Applied Robotics, celebrates newly renovated facility and state-of-the-art applications lab

Glenville, N.Y. – Effecto, formerly known as Applied Robotics, has unveiled its completely renovated 18,000-square-foot facility, featuring a new, state-of-the-art applications lab and a training room to support the company’s growth. Company executives from the Capital Region and from its parent company in Italy and office in Germany welcomed local business leaders and elected officials to join them for a ribbon-cutting ceremony and tours of the facility, which has been the business’ home for the past 30 years.

Effecto has had a rich history as a leader in developing high-quality end-of-arm tooling and workholding products for more than 60 years. The company’s achievements include the design and launch of the first robotic tool changer, which has helped Effecto earn respect as a leader in the industry. A fixture in the Capital Region business community for 40-plus years, Applied Robotics, now Effecto, works with customers in various automation-based industries, including aerospace, automotive, medical, life science, machine tools, robotics, and the food industry.

Renovation of the building and the creation of the applications lab began in October 2023, only months after Effecto USA CEO Cissi Schaffer began her tenure with the company. In addition to the major renovation, Schaffer has overseen Effecto’s growth by hiring 10 new employees. The company has plans to hire an additional eight to 10  in the next 12 months to meet the growth and ever-changing needs of the automation sector as a manufacturer of end-of-arm tooling and workholding systems.

In recent years, Effecto has undergone a significant transformation to become a unified global force with offices and manufacturing facilities in North America, Italy, and Germany and a large network of sales representatives and distributors worldwide. While the North American branch joined the Effecto Group in 2017, the rebranding initiative of the Effecto Group under one name reinforces Effecto's commitment to fostering a cohesive global team, focusing on innovative solutions to meet industry needs.

“Under Cissi’s leadership, Effecto USA has embarked on a new phase of growth,” said Flavio Giacomini, owner and CEO of the Effecto Group. “Her extensive experience and strategic vision ignite a new chapter for Effecto USA and the wider Effecto Group, and has resulted in strategic partnerships with several industry leaders in key markets to expand our market share with an emphasis on further growth in this area.”

Prior to joining Applied Robotics, Schaffer worked as director of PVA Med at Precision Valve and Automation, a global robotics and factory automation company located in Halfmoon, N.Y., where she led the planning, execution, and growth of the medical device division and collaborated with company leadership on overall strategy. In that role she increased sales by 100% per year for two years before she departed for Applied Robotics. She also previously served as CEO of Create Orthotics & Prosthetics, a provider of 3D-printed medical devices, where she facilitated the acquisition among Create O&P, PVA, investors, the co-founder, and employees.

“My background is a good fit with this company and its mission. I joined a company with a long history, a great product line, superior quality, and a great team, bringing a different perspective and a focus on marketing and rebranding to reposition the company for continued success,” said Schaffer. “The Capital Region is a terrific place to grow our company, and I know we have a long future here.”

Schaffer expects that Effecto USA’s sales in 2024 will be 50% higher than 2023 sales, with the largest overall growth from general industry in a variety of applications such as material handling, assembly, welding, and machining. Industry experts estimate that 2023 global industrial automation sales reached $209 billion; it is expected to grow to $395 billion by 2029.