Robotics firm eyes nuclear growth

Jun 4 2009 by Andrew Mernin, The Journal

Mr Searby also said the firm has won a deal with an unnamed international energy company which will help create new North East jobs and showcase the company’s services on a global scale. DPT’s list of heavyweight clients includes BP, multinational fuel firm Total and energy empire Halliburton, which employs 50,000 people in 70 countries.

Its technology was first developed at Durham University around 15 years ago before DPT eventually launched as a commercial enterprise in 2004.

Initially the scientists behind DPT developed a device which used two sets of bristles and was powered along pipelines by compressed gas or electricity.

It later created a version of the so-called ‘pig’ which uses a turbine to generate power from whichever liquid is in the pipeline so the device can operate without the pipeline being shut down - helping the operator make substantial savings.

One of the company’s main financial backers in its five-year history has been NorthStar Equity Investors, which gave the firm £300,000 last summer as part of a £500,000 round of funding.