Los Angeles-based Graze Inc. has been robot-mowing its way closer to North Texas for some time, and now it’s made it official—the developer of autonomous commercial lawn mowers announced Friday that it’s relocating its U.S. headquarters and R&D center to Plano.
The announcement follows multiple DFW-related moves by Graze. Last July, Graze named Logan Fahey as its new CEO. Fahey is the former CEO—and current board chairman—of McKinney-based Robin Autopilot, a provider of robotic mowing and landscaping technology. Graze cited its “synergistic partner” relationship with Robin Autopilot when it hired Fahey.
That same month, Graze and Robin began an initiative to test both companies’ eco-friendly solutions for DFW Airport, the second-busiest airport on earth.
Graze CEO Logan Fahey (second from right) and his team. [Photo: Graze]
Now the two companies will just be a short drive away from each other, with Graze moving its U.S. HQ to Plano’s Legacy business park. Graze, which was founded in 2017, said it plans to open its new Plano facility in April 2024.
“The city of Plano and its surrounding area will provide the perfect base for Graze to develop additional innovative solutions for the landscaping industry and grow our position in the marketplace,” Graze CEO Fahey said in a statement. “Since July 2023, Graze’s autonomous electric mowers have been used in a pilot landscaping maintenance program at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, and we look forward to expanding our business as we provide eco-friendly landscaping solutions for customers throughout Texas and beyond.”
Gearing up to launch its commercial-grade robotic lawn mower—with a Jan. 17 demo
Graze’s commercial-grade robotic lawn mower [Photo: Graze]
The announcement comes as Graze is gearing up to launch its commercial-grade robotic lawn mower. The company said it’s partnering with the city of Plano to host a demonstration of its robotic lawn mower on January 17 at 1:00 p.m. at Plano’s High Point Park.
The G3 electric robotic mower has a five-foot-wide mowing deck and is able to mow 1.6 acres an hour, Graze said, adding that its “extensive battery life” delivers a full 8 hours of runtime. The company said it prioritizes safety for the mower with a “360-degree optical suite and computer vision technology to detect and avoid obstacles.” The mower comes with an intuitive app for real-time monitoring, adjustments, and software updates.
Plano Mayor John B. Muns lauded Graze’s choice of Plano for its new HQ home.
“Plano’s robust infrastructure, thriving tech community, and strategic location provides Graze with an ideal environment to accelerate its vision of creating smarter, more efficient outdoor maintenance solutions,” Muns said in a statement. “The city’s commitment to innovation and accessibility makes it a fitting choice for a company dedicated to pushing the boundaries of robotics and automation.”
Follows October relocation of California’s QuickFee to Plano
Graze is just the latest California-based tech firm to relocate to Plano. In October, fintech firm QuickFee moved its North American headquarters from Santa Monica to Plano.
Graze called its decision to move to Plano “a strategic move to enhance collaboration with other industry leaders, research institutions, and tech enthusiasts in the region.”
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