Many manufacturers want to have intelligent robotic arms. But these are often blind. This means that they must be presented with identical parts that are always positioned in the same way. To alleviate this constraint and thus facilitate the use of industrial robots, the start-up Inbolt is marketing a solution that allows the robot to adapt its trajectory during different operations (gripping, tightening, drilling, sanding, screwing and applying paint). This will allow the young company, based in Paris, to raise 15 million euros, according to an announcement made on September 19.
Inbolt’s Change of Strategy
This new solution, marketed for a few months, is not Inbolt’s initial raison d’être. At the request of its customers, the nugget changed its strategy in 2023 by moving from a product for tooling to a solution for robotic arms. “It is not the technological core that has evolved but the usage”says co-founder Rudy Cohen. The goal: to bring vision to robotic arms so they are more flexible. “The problem for manufacturers is not so much to improve the operator, but to recruit them, explains Rudy Cohen. Hence the automation of processes to compensate for the lack of manpower.”
Inbolt precisely detects where the robot’s motor is in relation to the part. The localization technology has been the same since the start-up was created in 2019. It is based on computer vision algorithms. Using a 3D camera, purchased by Inbolt from suppliers and positioned on the robotic arm, the software compares the video data collected to the CAD model of the part retrieved upstream. The trajectory of the industrial robot is adjusted so that it performs its task in the right place. “Trajectories are sent at very high frequency to the robotic arm!”exclaims Rudy Cohen. The start-up assures its customers: they can easily program new parts on the software.
In the space of six months, the technology has been deployed on around twenty sites, including five of the car manufacturer Stellantis. The young company also cites clients such as Ford and Whirlpool for industrial deployments. It also claims to have PoCs (proof of concept) in progress with other clients. Rudy Cohen claims to have made “save Stellantis more than 3.1 million euros in the space of a year.” Inbolt sells its software but its business model is not yet definitively fixed. “Part of the solution is sold as a direct sales contract and the other part as an annual license for maintenance”explains the co-founder.
Offices open in the United States and Japan
The German fund MIG Capital, the American fund SOSV and BNP Paribas Développement, which contributed to the seed fundraising of 3 million euros carried out in 2022, are participating in this new round of funding led by the Exor Ventures fund with the participation of Bpifrance. Proof that this change of strategy is appealing.
With the new envelope, Inbolt wants to recruit around ten people by the end of the year. Then, around twenty in 2025 to reach a workforce of 45 employees. Figures likely to evolve according to the growth of the start-up. The goal is to be able to support manufacturers on the deployment and to ensure follow-up. While strengthening the sales force.
At the same time, Inbolt wants to expand in Europe, starting with Italy, Poland and Hungary. An expansion project in the United States, with the opening of an office, should follow with initial deployments with current clients of the young company. Rudy Cohen discusses the reindustrialization policy of this territory and the lack of labor, two phenomena that are driving activity for the young company. Finally, in the longer term, it plans to open an office in Japan. A country hit hard by the aging of its population and therefore the lack of labor.
Source: www.usinenouvelle.com
