OC Robotics presented with Queen’s Award

Sept. 18, 2009 - PRLog -- On 4th September, world-leading snake-arm robot supplier, OC Robotics, was honoured to welcome H.M. Lord-Lieutenant, Sir Henry Elwes, who visited OC Robotics to present the company with a Queen’s Award for Enterprise.

The Bristol-based company won its Queen’s Award in the Innovation category in April this year. OC Robotics specialises in novel robotic systems for confined spaces automation and was commended for achieving outstanding business success through the development of snake-arm robots. OC Robotics has worked with some of the world’s largest organisations delivering robots for nuclear, aerospace and bomb disposal applications.

At the ceremony Sir Henry Elwes congratulated the company on achieving one of only 49 Innovation Awards in the whole of the UK. “It is a proud day for the company and it makes me and the whole community of Gloucestershire proud of you. Fly the flag and wear the badge to show others what you have achieved. This award is not for the company name but for every member of staff as part of the team” he said. He also commented that he was “astonished by the inventiveness of the young team” and commended the company for working closely with Universities and local industry.

During the ceremony Sir Henry presented the company with an engraved crystal bowl to mark the occasion. Dr Rob Buckingham, Managing Director of OC Robotics, received the bowl on behalf of the team. He expressed his thanks to OC Robotics’ customers, suppliers, investors and supporters, and congratulated staff on the award, saying “We set out to build a quality team. We now have a world class team. It is a pleasure to work with such a talented group and Andy [Graham, Technical Director] and I are continually encouraged by how you rise to the challenges we set. This Award marks the achievement of the whole team so you should be rightly proud of your contribution.”

Dr Buckingham also spoke about how robotic technology will shape the future. He commented: “Whilst OC Robotics seems small, we have our part to play. Our biggest contribution is likely to be in two areas: firstly, making the workplace safer, such as in war zones and factories, and, secondly in high value life extension projects such as in the nuclear sector and oil and gas. There is huge potential in snake-arm robots and we intend to encourage the use of our technology around the world.”

# # #

Oliver Crispin Robotics Ltd was formed in 1997 and is based in the city of Bristol, UK. The vision of the founding Directors, Rob Buckingham and Andrew Graham, is to see innovative robotic systems become a commercial reality. In its early years OC Robotics prospered by building innovative servo-mechanisms for Hewlett-Packard and became a second tier supplier to Rolls-Royce for the design and analysis of ground support equipment. At the turn of the millennium, OC Robotics returned to its roots to focus on snake-arm robots. This was enabled by winning three DTI SMART awards and raising external investment through the Oxford Technology 2 VCT Plc and a number of business angels. Since then the company has grown to an 18-person company in 10,000 sq ft premises.

OC Robotics has built robots for a wide range of industries including security, aerospace and nuclear, and customers include UK Ministry of Defence, US Department of Defense, Airbus, Ontario Power Generation and Areva.