Lindsey Elliott, a former ExxonMobil engineer, has identified a critical pain point in the energy infrastructure sector: the manual labor required to manage bolted flange joints. At the 13th annual Bolting Symposium, Elliott noted the prevalence of self-identified “torque dorks” and highlighted the physical toll these tasks take on workers. According to Elliott, pipefitters often face grueling schedules, such as 12-hour shifts over three months, leading to significant fatigue and injury rates.
Addressing both the labor shortage and productivity challenges in North American pipefitting, Elliott’s startup, Nexterity, has developed a remote-controlled robot designed to handle these repetitive and dangerous operations. Selected for the Startup Battlefield 200 at TechCrunch Disrupt, the technology aims to transform blue-collar work by enhancing safety and efficiency.
The device consists of two main components that clamp around a pipe. Powered by batteries, the robot can traverse the pipeline and simultaneously loosen or tighten four bolts. Elliott emphasized that despite their specialized function, the units are compact enough to fit into a Pelican case and be transported by a single worker, facilitating easy deployment across various job sites.
This design was informed by extensive consultations with industry professionals, including members of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers’ Pressure Vessels & Piping Division. Elliott discovered that approximately 80% of pipes fall within the NPS2 to NPS8 diameter range (two to eight inches), creating a high degree of repeatability ideal for automation.
Elliott believes the market potential is substantial, extending beyond oil and gas to include water treatment, food and beverage processing, mining, nuclear facilities, and sustainable manufacturing. By treating the robots as rental equipment, Nexterity seeks to make this automation accessible to a wide range of industrial clients.
Who else remembers the old manual torque tools? This robot looks like a huge upgrade for precision and safety.
Eighty percent of pipes falling in that diameter range is a solid target market. Smart business model with rentals.
I hope this doesn’t mean fewer jobs for skilled pipefitters. Automation should assist, not replace, the human element.
Sounds promising, but will these robots handle uneven terrain on active job sites, or just straight pipes?
Finally, someone addressing the grueling 12-hour shifts. Robots should handle the dangerous stuff so workers stay safe.