Startup Nexterity has developed a remote-controlled robot designed to automate the process of loosening and tightening bolts on bolted flange joints in pipes. Lindsey Elliott, a former engineer and planner at ExxonMobil and founder of Nexterity, stated that this part of pipefitting involves hard physical work and is a source of injuries for pipefitters.
The robot operates on batteries and consists of two main pieces that fit around a pipe. Once attached, it can slide across the pipe and is capable of loosening and tightening four bolts at a time. Nexterity has created various configurations to suit different standard pipe sizes.
Elliott noted that the robots are compact enough to fit into a Pelican case and can be carried by a single worker, facilitating deployment to new sites. The company plans to offer the robot as rental construction equipment.
Elliott indicated that 80% of pipes range from two to eight inches in diameter, or NPS2 to NPS8, which she believes presents a suitable opportunity for automation. She also suggested that the market for piping infrastructure, including water, wastewater, food and beverage, mining, and nuclear facilities, is substantial.