Voliro secures funding to transform industrial inspections with aerial robotics
06/11/2024
Voliro, a leading innovator in aerial mobile robotics, has announced that it has secured $12 million (approximately £9.19 million) in Series A funding. The round was led by Cherry Ventures, with additional investment from existing business angels, family offices and a conventional debt facility. This new funding brings Voliro’s total capital raised to $22 million (approximately
£16.85 million) and will accelerate the company’s mission to make industrial inspection, maintenance and repair work at height safer, more efficient and cost-effective.
Founded in 2019 and headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, Voliro has been at the forefront of developing advanced aerial robots designed to perform precision tasks in challenging environments. The company launched its first product in November 2022, a drone equipped with a unique tiltable rotor system that allows it to interact with surfaces at any angle, making it an invaluable tool for industries where safety, efficiency and precision are paramount.
Industrial inspection, maintenance and repair work at height is inherently dangerous, expensive and time-consuming. Traditional methods often require building scaffolds, using rope access and deploying large workforces, exposing workers to significant risks. Voliro’s aerial robots provide a safer and more efficient solution by performing these tasks remotely, significantly reducing the need for human exposure to hazardous conditions while also cutting down on costs and time.
“Our mission is to eliminate the need for people to be exposed to risk for any work at height,” said Timo Müller, Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder of Voliro. “With our advanced flying robots, we are not only making these operations safer but also more efficient and cost-effective. This new funding will enable us to expand our product offerings and bring our technology to more industries globally.”
Voliro’s technology is already being utilised by major industry players, including Chevron, Holcim and Acuren, as well as niche thought leaders such as Osprey Integrity. These companies are leveraging Voliro’s aerial robots to perform critical inspections and maintenance on industrial assets such as flare stacks, wind turbines and other hard-to-reach infrastructure. Voliro’s drones are capable of conducting non-destructive testing and other contact-based inspections with unmatched precision, even in challenging conditions such as high winds or on sloped
surfaces.
“We have been able to save our customers significant time and money by using Voliro’s technology,” said Danny Landry, General Manager and Drone SME at Acuren. “Their drones allow us to perform inspections much faster than traditional methods that require scaffolding, all while reducing our safety exposure.”
