The X1 Panel Lift kit is added to existing equipment for solar panel installation. Source: Xpanner
Xpanner Global yesterday released its X1 Panel Lift system, which is designed to address the skilled labor constraint facing the solar industry. The platform, which was previously deployed for solar pile-driving applications, has now been expanded to automated panel lifting and replacement with excavators.
Utility-scale solar projects depend on large crews to manually carry, position, and place heavy panels across thousands of module locations, said Xpanner. It said X1 Panel Lift can take on this repetitive material handling, freeing installation crews to spend their time on the higher-value work of aligning, fastening, and quality-checking each panel.
“Solar installation has long been held back by its dependence on large skilled crews and complex equipment setups,” stated Henri Lee, co-founder and CEO of Xpanner. “Our solution changes that equation entirely, and now handles not just solar piling, but panel lifting as well. One machine, one button, one workflow, any operator can run it from Day 1.”
Founded in 2020, Xpanner is a ConTech startup developing robotics and physical AI to automate construction. The company said it automates essential jobsite workflows and offers site-wide orchestration.
Xpanner is headquartered in Santa Fe Springs, Calif., and has an office in Seoul, South Korea. It raised $18 million in Series B briddge funding in May, bringing its total funding to $38 million.
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X1 Panel Lift uses the proprietary Mango controller for real-time decision making across hydraulic, electric, and mechanical systems. The system fuses data from lidar, vision, and GNSS sensors to build a live 3D model of the jobsite to provide situational awareness needed for consistent output across variable field conditions.
Because the platform’s automation software and sensing stack sit on top of a standard excavator, Xpanner said it plans to extend the same architecture to additional workflows through software updates rather than require new equipment purchases.
Xpanner offers the X1 Panel Lift under a single, all-inclusive subscription that covers hardware, the X1 kit and license, Xpanner Connect dashboard, and on-site field operations support (XFO).
Mango uses sensor fusion for situational awareness in variable conditions. Source: Xpanner
Xpanner CEO describes X1 Panel Lift deployment
Lee responded to the following questions from The Robot Report:
How many people are required to operate the X1 Panel Lift robot? Is the bolting of panels onto a frame done manually?
Lee: Only one operator is required to operate the X1 Panel Lift robot using the controller from outside the cabin. The system is designed for simple operation, requiring the operator to press just one button to execute the whole process.
Panel bolting to the frame will continue to be performed manually. Therefore, under ideal operating conditions, a three-person crew is recommended to maintain a complete and efficient workflow.
Since the X1 Panel Lift can support panel installation across two adjacent rows simultaneously, at least one worker should be assigned to bolting panels in each row. The operator, positioned between the two rows, can assist with releasing and removing panels from the suction device as needed.
Does Mango require prior mapping of the jobsite?
Lee: Mango, the automation controller behind the X1 Panel Lift, builds its understanding of the site based on the customer’s jobsite information — mapping the layout as part of setup.
Once installation work is complete, panel installation data is reflected back into the customer’s site information in real time. This means the physical work performed in the field is captured and represented as a digital twin, giving customers a live, data-driven record of installation progress rather than relying on manual tracking.
How much integration is required between X1 Panel Lift and existing excavators? Are there certain brands you work with?
Lee: The excavator brand itself doesn’t matter — the X1 Panel Lift is built as a retrofit kit. We integrate the Xpanner X1 Kit, Xpanner Suction Device, Xpanner Automation Tech Box, and Xpanner User Interface devices onto the base machine to configure the full Panel Lift system.
This retrofit approach means contractors can bring their existing excavator fleet rather than being locked into a specific brand or model.
How much training is required? Are there safety standards that you need to comply with?
Lee: Xpanner’s core product philosophy is built around automation that doesn’t require a highly skilled operator — the system is designed to be easy to learn and safe to operate from Day 1. Crews and operators who will work with the Panel Lift typically need about one to two hours of safety training and automation operation training to be fully capable of running the equipment.
Worker safety is our top priority, and as long as operators follow the user interface guidance that Xpanner has built into the system, they can work safely and confidently.
Automation-as-a-Service model offers labor savings
Would you describe the subscription as a robotics-as-a-service (RaaS) model? How do you plan to scale your support as your customer base grows?
Lee: We describe our model as “automation as a service” — AaaS — rather than traditional RaaS. It reflects that we’re not just providing the hardware, but a full-service solution that includes operation support, maintenance, and data visibility through Xpanner Connect.
As our customer base grows, we plan to scale support through regional field teams combined with remote diagnostics via Xpanner Connect, allowing us to monitor machine performance and respond proactively without needing a large local support footprint at every site.
What’s the estimated return on investment (ROI) for the new system?
Lee: The ROI story starts with labor efficiency — a traditional manual crew runs around 10 people, while the X1 Panel Lift operates with just three. Our PoC [proof-of-concept] data also shows reduced physical strain and injury risk, which lowers workers’ comp exposure, along with more consistent installation quality that cuts down on rework.
Real-time process tracking through our digital twin system, Xpanner Connect, also gives customers daily visibility into installation progress, allowing them to forecast and manage schedules proactively rather than reactively — which helps control the cost of schedule slippage. On top of that, schedule predictability matters, since even a single day of delay on a utility-scale project can carry a significant financial penalty.
How would you differentiate Xpanner from other automated solar installation providers?
Lee: We’ve built deep relationships with customers through our X1 Pile Driving solution, and that experience has given us a real understanding of what customers actually need on site. Xpanner isn’t just providing equipment — as an Automation-as-a-Service company, we work with customers to redesign their existing workflows and build automation solutions around that redesigned process, rather than simply dropping a machine into an unchanged workflow.
That approach isn’t limited to panel lifting. The same X1 Kit technology underpins our pile driving, shakeout, and panel lift solutions. Together, these solutions give customers a seamless experience across the entire installation process, with all of that data feeding into Xpanner Connect, our integrated digital twin platform, so we can continuously analyze and improve performance across the field.
Are you targeting specific countries or regional markets?
Lee: The United States remains our primary target market, where we have established strong relationships with leading construction companies by introducing our latest AaaS solutions to their operations. Xpanner solutions, such as the X1 Piling system, are already operating seamlessly on customer job sites, while we continue to conduct PoC testing and validation for the X1 Panel Lift through a structured, step-by-step process.
Beyond the United States, Xpanner is also beginning to expand into international markets this year, exploring strategic opportunities and partnerships to support our long-term global growth.
X1 Panel Lift is designed for operator safety and ease of use. Source: Xpanner
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