BusinessRoboHelix was founded in late 2015 by Hayel Smair with a vision to create a born-global company that would transform the industrial manufacturing sector.
“We saw an industry stuck in traditional methods of manufacturing and we saw an opportunity to make it better.”
In just two years, RoboHelix has developed from a garage to a global company. Responding to a sector that had struggled to innovate and keep up to speed with advances in technology, RoboHelix has created an alternative, future forward method to flight formation. In doing so, they have made major advances in the flexibility of the technology and speed of operation.
In a garage in the Sydney suburbs, three prototypes were developed and tested. An 8-axis robot came out on front and it’s this very flagship product, the world’s first flight forming machine, where the company name is derived.
“It’s incredible to see a theory transform into something practical and to see your prototype produce better results than you ever envisioned.”
From the very beginning the business has been largely export-led, with many of their customers based in Europe and the United States.
“The challenge you’re faced with as a born-global company is you have to be ready to hit the ground running and compete with the world from the get-go. There is no room for mistakes or second chances.”
For a long time, Germany have been considered the leader in this industry. RoboHelix is now shifting these perceptions, disrupting the market with technology that exceeds in both speed and accuracy.
The flight forming process was previously quite a specialised skill. Using the RoboHelix, you place the blank (flat annular disc) into the enclosed machine and press a button on the interface. In less than 30 seconds you have a newly created helical shape (also known as a flight or screw segment).
There are over seven sectors currently using these helical flights, from agriculture to mining all the way to food processing. Yet the significance of this technology extends beyond the industries that it directly impacts.
RoboHelix is not only helping advance Australia on the innovation scale, it’s also leading the way in the manufacturing sector and creating jobs of the future across the entire spectrum; advanced manufacturing, production, assembling and exporting.
There are a few key figures to understand the significance of businesses like RoboHelix for manufacturing in NSW; NSW manufacturers produce almost one third of Australia’s total manufacturing output, generating around $33 billion in industry value. They also directly employ around 253,000 people – almost one third of all jobs in the sector nationwide.*
For CEO of Jobs NSW, Nicole Cook, RoboHelix epitomises their purpose as a company; to support and help fund companies leading the way and putting Australia on the global map. It's a purpose that is not too dissimilar to the one of OFX; to support businesses entering the global market. As a born-global company, they've had to learn how to juggle multiple currencies from the outset.
“We wanted a platform that could do a lot of transfers. We were dealing with banks early on, but it becomes a nightmare when transfers get held up and you have to go through hoops to track the transfer.”
“OFX has been really great to us. We just needed something that is simple, easy and accessible, at the touch of our hands. The customer service, speed and ease of use on the platform ticked all the boxes.”
RoboHelix now has a design and R&D office with a growing talented team from different engineering disciplines, as well as sales and marketing teams. The company is in the process of opening an assembly production facility in Sydney and sales offices in both USA and Europe by the end of 2019.
It’s hard to think a company, which started in a garage only two years ago is now pioneering robotics within the global flight manufacturing industry. Hayel Smair's vision for RoboHelix to become a powerhouse in robotic and industrial manufacturing may not be too far away.
*https://www.industry.nsw.gov.au/development/industry-opportunities/advanced-manufacturing
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