Gizelis Robotics has, for decades, succeeded in ‘squaring the circle’ — building world-class robotics technology entirely in Greece. Founded in 1992 as a spin-off of the Gizelis Group — a long-established Greek manufacturer of sheet metal processing machinery — the company is now accelerating its international expansion after more than three decades of innovation.
A Lifelong Passion for Technology
In an interview with newsit.gr, Evangelos Gizelis, Founder and CEO of Gizelis Robotics, traces his fascination with technology back to childhood — growing up inside his father’s traditional machine shop. In the 1990s, while attending international industrial exhibitions, he noticed Greece’s conspicuous absence from the global automation landscape — a stark contrast to countries like Germany or Japan. That gap became the catalyst for founding Gizelis Robotics.
‘In 1997, we presented our first robotic-arm-equipped machine at the Thessaloniki International Fair,’ he recalls. What followed was rapid growth: the company went on to deliver advanced automation solutions to major industrial clients both in Greece and abroad — from designing Greece’s first fully ‘smart factory’ to developing a custom robotic 3D printing system for the Museum of Egypt.
Automation Is a Tool — Not a Goal
Yet Gizelis stresses that full automation should never be an end in itself. Transitioning to a smart factory requires a comprehensive, forward-looking development plan — one that clearly defines where a company wants to be in the coming years. Crucially, he adds, such transformation must happen gradually: ‘step by step, year after year’, avoiding the need for massive upfront investments.
Robots Don’t Replace People — They Empower Them
So, will robotics replace human workers? Gizelis dismisses this as a myth. He cites a client that installed three automated production lines — and saw its workforce grow from 40 to 120 employees. Increased productivity, he explains, led directly to business expansion and new hiring.
Growth, Talent, and Global Challenges
This year, Gizelis Robotics is targeting 40% growth compared to 2025 — with plans to enter new markets, including the United States. To support that ambition, the company is preparing a new funding round, possibly within the year. It currently employs 140 highly skilled professionals and is actively recruiting top talent both in Greece and internationally.
On the global front, Gizelis notes how geopolitical tensions are affecting decision-making timelines and causing delays in orders worldwide. ‘War kills the decision-making process,’ he says bluntly.
The Secret to Success?
For Gizelis, it comes down to three things: vision, drive, and perseverance. ‘Success belongs to those who keep trying — and never give up.’