US techies buy Kiwi robots
A Kiwi robotics company has made a multi-million dollar deal with a US tech company.
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A Kiwi robotics company has made a multi-million dollar deal with a US tech company.
CleanFlow Systems, which designs and manufactures robotic devices that assess damage to underground pipes, has been acquired by RedZone Robotics, a leading US designer and manufacturer of robotic wastewater inspection technologies.
CleanFlow Systems chief executive Trevor Logan will join RedZone’s Board of Directors. CleanFlow's 12 employees will continue product development.
CleanFlow's FlyEye device travels down pipes taking photographs and 360-degree laser readings to pinpoint wall loss, cracks, holes and blockages. The information it collects is analysed using a software programme to build a digital image showing the pipe’s exact condition. It can also be adapted for use in flooded pipes taking readings by sonar.
It was recently used in Christchurch to help get the city’s water systems back up and running.
Mr Logan said Massey University's business innovation hub ecentre had contributed greatly to the company’s success, when the company first approached them in 2001.
“The support we received from being based at the ecentre was critical in getting through the first tough years."
Over the last three years ecentre companies have contributed over $76 million in revenue, and over $31million in export revenue to the NZ economy.
Earlier this year, CleanFlow Systems moved into a new research and development facility in Tarndale Grove Albany - part of a plan to continue to develop the company's research and development. Just after the opening of their new facility, co-founder and company chief technical officer Geoff Logan died in a plane crash.
Mr Logan said he had "specifically banned" his brother from starting on the FlyEye project eight years ago. "Now it is the leading inspection tool bar none in our industry and the reason for the successful sale of the company.”
Charlotte Woodfield
Thu, 15 Sep 2011
Thu, 15 Sep 2011
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