OnRobot Made Its Technical Documentation Ready for International Launch
About OnRobot
OnRobot is a Danish robotics company known for its Plug & Play grippers for robot arms. These devices function as adaptable “hands” that increase the versatility of industrial robots, enabling them to carry out a wider range of tasks. Installation is simple and requires only basic programming, which removes the need for an engineer for configuration.
The company has grown quickly and is expanding into new international markets. Demand for their grippers is rising, and the ambition behind the brand is matched by its global potential.
The brief
To support its expansion, OnRobot needed all technical documentation translated into the languages spoken in its new markets. This included installation manuals, operating instructions, safety information, and product specifications.
The content sits at the intersection of robotics, engineering, and automation. The translations needed to:
- be technically precise
- reflect the specialist terminology used in robotics
- meet the expectations of engineers, integrators, and industrial users
- maintain clarity for readers with varied technical backgrounds
- scale with OnRobot’s rapid growth
Because technical documentation plays a central role in product safety and compliance, accuracy was essential.
Our approach
OnRobot selected AdHoc Translations for a combination of industry knowledge, specialist linguists, and workflow clarity.
Project setup
To match OnRobot’s requirements, we created a setup based on three pillars:
- a fixed team of translators specialising in robotics and industrial automation
- a structured term base covering tool types, functions, components, and motion principles
- a translation memory designed to maintain consistency and reduce costs as documentation grew
Our experience with similar robotics companies meant that the translators were already familiar with core concepts such as gripping force, payload, stroke control, communication protocols, and safety parameters.
Translation workflow
The workflow was designed to support technical accuracy and long-term scalability:
- File preparation
The documentation was analysed for terminology, structure, and recurring content to build a reliable foundation. - Technical translation
Translators with robotics expertise produced accurate, concise translations aligned with industry terminology - Review and terminology alignment
Each language underwent a second review to ensure consistency across manuals, diagrams, and safety notes. - Quality control and version checks
Because OnRobot updates its documentation regularly, version control and alignment across product families were essential. The translation memory helped keep these updates efficient.
Quality and efficiency gains
The structured workflow delivered several advantages:
- consistent terminology across all manuals and product lines
- shorter turnaround times as the translation memory expanded
- reduced internal review effort for OnRobot
- a scalable setup that could support increasing volumes
- a predictable process that fit the company’s fast development cycle
OnRobot recognised early that supporting global growth required investment in documentation. As Cezara Belciu noted:
“Translating our technical documentation is definitely an expenditure that we cannot afford to do without if we want to reach our ambitious goals.”
The outcome
With accurate, market-ready documentation in place, OnRobot is well positioned to support customers and partners worldwide. The collaboration gave the company confidence in the quality of its translated materials and the service behind them.
Cezara Belciu highlighted two aspects in particular:
“We have no doubt that we are in good hands, and that makes us feel very comfortable.”