Charles R. Goulding and Preeti Sulibhavi spotlight how a humanoid robot’s Nasdaq debut connects to a Long Island innovator blending robotics, 3D printing, and safety gear.
The most recent milestone in robotics at the stock exchange? It wasn’t human—it was a robot. On May 28, 2025, a humanoid robot from Unitree Technologies rang the opening bell at Nasdaq to mark the launch of a new robotics-focused ETF, making financial headlines worldwide.
The Robot That Rung the Bell
The star of the ceremony was Unitree’s G1 humanoid—a sleek, bipedal machine capable of walking, gesturing, and simulating human movements. Tasked with ringing Nasdaq’s bell, it demonstrated both technological finesse and symbolic importance. This moment underscored how advanced robotics is no longer futuristic, it’s very much present-day reality.
From China to Plainview, Long Island: A Pathway of Innovation
Unitree Technologies, based in China, has been commercializing humanoid robots for years, with the G1 as one of their flagship products. These robots are designed for research, security, entertainment, and inspection tasks. Now, they’ve taken center stage in finance, literally ringing in a new era.
Unitree Robotics is reportedly planning an initial public offering (IPO), with a potential listing on the Hong Kong Exchange (HKEX), according to Caproasia.com. The company recently completed a Series C funding round, valuing the company at US$1.7 billion, according to Caproasia.com. This funding, along with a restructuring into a joint-stock company, is seen as a step towards an IPO. Unitree has also been increasing its capital and expanding its global reach, including establishing a business base in Hong Kong.
In Plainview, NY, a local distributor plays a crucial role in bringing these robots closer to the U.S. robotics ecosystem. Theodore “Teddy” Haggerty, a friend of our firm and the U.S. KOID robot distributor, is the CEO of “Robostore,” the official partner of Unitree Technologies.
Meet the Distributor: Theodore “Teddy” Haggerty
Teddy Haggerty is most prominently known as the President and founder of Defender Safety, headquartered in Plainview. He rose to national prominence through his innovative safety gear business. Defender designs and manufactures next‑gen hard hats—ventilated, chin‑strapped, and electrically insulated—and has distributed over 100,000 units nationwide.
Inc. Magazine described him as a “wunderkind” and profiled him in 2023, where he was quoted as saying: “Playing around with computers and making a bunch of money in tech wasn’t fulfilling to me. There’s no electronic technology that’s going to take over head protection.”
Defender Safety: 3D Printing at the Core
Defender Safety isn’t just innovating in safety equipment distribution—it’s using 3D printing in-house too. At its Plainview facility, Defender harnesses 3D printing for prototyping, packaging, and small-run production.
What They Do with 3D Printing
- Rapid prototyping of helmet components
- They iterate chin-strap designs, internal comfort liners, and EPS-foam ventilation channels using SLA and FDM printers.
- Within days, new helmet variants are printed, tested, and refined.
- Custom tooling and fixtures
- Custom jigs, assembly fixtures, and test rigs for helmet pressure and electrical conductivity are 3D printed.
- Helps scale Defender’s line without costly injection-molded tooling upfront.
- On-demand replacement parts
- Customers can request printed spare parts—buckles, liner inserts—without a large SKU inventory.
- Supports remote job sites with quick turnaround, reducing downtime.
- Collaborative automation integration
- It’s not just printing—they’re planning to use cobots (possibly through Teddy’s distributor links) to automate printing, part removal, post-processing, even assembly.
Why It Matters
- Time-to-market leaps from months to weeks.
- Cost efficiency for iterative tests and low-volume components.
- Customization supports bespoke helmet sizes and shapes.
- Resilience and adaptability in supply chain—especially for site-specific needs.
While many heavy manufacturers see 3D printing as R&D only, Defender is making it a daily production linchpin—turning robotics into productivity, and prototypes into products.
Linking the Chains: From Nasdaq Bell to Helmet Shell
- Unitree G1 robot leaps into financial headlines by ringing Nasdaq’s bell.
- Plainview distributor (Haggerty’s Robostore) imports and sells advanced robotics platforms to national customers, making these systems operational beyond demonstration labs.
- Defender Safety, also Haggerty’s brainchild, uses those same robotics technologies—especially 3D printing and collaborative automation—to redesign and manufacture a smart helmet.
It’s a full-circle model: robotics inspires robotics. From ceremonial bells to industrial equipment and wearable safety gear, Haggerty weaves these technologies into larger narratives of design, distribution, and on-demand manufacturing.
The Bigger Picture
- 3D printing + robotics = democratized innovation.
- Technologies once isolated to high-end labs are being integrated into local business operations.
- Sustainability improves as waste shrinks and production localizes.
- Customization for niche markets becomes more feasible, especially in industries like construction, healthcare, and field services.
Teddy Haggerty’s twin ventures spotlight a wider trend: the lines between distributing, manufacturing, and application are blurring. He imports robots, uses those robots in production, and releases products that reflect robotic-era agility.
The Research & Development Tax Credit
The now permanent Research and Development (R&D) Tax Credit is available for companies developing new or improved products, processes and/or software.
3D printing can help boost a company’s R&D Tax Credits. Wages for technical employees creating, testing and revising 3D printed prototypes are typically eligible expenses toward the R&D Tax Credit. Similarly, when used as a method of improving a process, time spent integrating 3D printing hardware and software can also be an eligible R&D expense. Lastly, when used for modeling and preproduction, the costs of filaments consumed during the development process may also be recovered.
Whether it is used for creating and testing prototypes or for final production, 3D printing is a great indicator that R&D Credit-eligible activities are taking place. Companies implementing this technology at any point should consider taking advantage of R&D Tax Credits.
With a California facility, the company will be able to utilize the lucrative California R&D tax credit for its U.S. innovation activities.
Final Take
From ringing Nasdaq’s bell to pioneering helmet design, robotics isn’t just advancing—it’s reshaping university research and industries at every level. Teddy Haggerty is one of the few who wears all hats (safety & robotics) simultaneously. His embrace of 3D printing and cobots at Defender Safety proves these tools aren’t just hype—they’re driving real-world improvements in safety gear, distribution models, and manufacturing speed.
As more regional tech leaders follow Teddy’s path, expect to see humanoid and collaborative robots in labs, warehouses, and frontline factories—powering everything from ceremonial moments to protective headgear—and likely printed in-house.
That’s not sci-fi. It’s 2025.
