A Stoke-on-Trent business has teamed up with a Cyprus-based tech company and a University of Staffordshire graduate to develop a robotic arm tailored for the processing industry.
Ashwanth Vivakanantha, who recently completed an MSc in Robotics and Smart Technologies, has joined Brindley Ford-based automation specialists Promtek and Nicosia-based deep-tech firm IREROBOT through a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP).
Ashwanth said: “Applying my academic foundation to a real-world challenge like this is incredibly exciting. The opportunity to work with industry leaders like Promtek and be mentored through this collaborative environment has been invaluable.”
The project brings together Promtek’s Managing Director Charles Williams, IREROBOT founder and CEO Evagoras Xydas, and Ashwanth to develop intelligent ingredient handling solutions for the processing industry.
Charles, whose family-run business was founded in 1972, said: “We see this as a significant step toward the future of intelligent recipe handling systems. Our partnership with the university and Ashwanth is enabling fresh thinking and new energy in our R&D efforts.”
Evagoras, who has previously collaborated with Charles, brings IREROBOT’s expertise in haptics, sensory substitution and robotics to the partnership.
He added: “IREROBOT thrives on collaboration. By combining Promtek’s industrial automation expertise with Ashwanth’s robotics talent and our deep-tech innovations, we’re helping shape the next generation of intelligent, human-centric technologies.”
