Swedish OpiFlex winner of the European Commission's "Business Innovation Observatory Award"
The Västerås-based company OpiFlex Automation has won the European Commission "Business Innovation Observatory Award".
OpiFlex won the European Commission's "Business Innovation Observatory Award" big innovation award as the "Most Disruptive Innovation". The award was presented at a major event in Brussels, on April 16th, by Mr Peltomäki, European Commission Director General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs.
The jury’s motivation was: "A unanimous jury has chosen OpiFlex based on the uniqueness of the technology, the ability demonstrated by the management, the potential to grow internationally as well as the size of the total available market. OpiFlex solves an important challenge for Europe's manufacturing industry."
The jury consisted of Mr Peltomäki General of the European Commission and representatives from e.g. the European Business Angels Network, European Business and Innovation Network, the Swiss investment bank Edmond de Rothschild and contractors. The term "Disruptive Innovation" means disruptive innovations which reach the market "from below", and is easier and cheaper than the established technology.
- We are extremely proud of this award and acknowledgement from the European Commission. Our effort to solve customers' real challenges in an easy and very flexible way has not only given great appreciation from customers, but also an award from the European Commission and investors is great, says Johan Frisk, CEO and founder of OpiFlex Automation AB.
The European Commission had interviewed 250 companies before the nomination of ten companies, which the Swedish OpiFlex Automation AB now won. At the event in Brussels the ten nominees got to introduce the company and their innovation to the jury and an audience of over 200 persons.
Unique mobile robot platform
OpiFlex has a unique mobile robot platform which means that the entire robotic cell can be moved to the machine that requires automation for the moment. Thus, they enable both manual and automatic operation of the machine with short repayment of the investment. This concept enables automation in a profitable way, even the small series available in Europe, and to create more competitive companies. OpiFlex can remove repetitive and strenuous operations and can create new, more stimulating jobs in industries where intelligence and dexterity are needed. The aim of OpiFlex is to bring back manufacturing to the European industry.
A patented docking station ensures high accuracy and stability even for large robots. By the use of OpiFlex’s concept for simplified programming you are able to quickly reprogram into new products. By moving the robot cell it is possible to get a very flexible automation with a short payback period. With a robot, productivity increases 20-60 % and manufacturing costs can be greatly reduced. The concept allows for both manual and automatic operation of the machine with a short pay-off. The robots can be run with full accuracy and performance.
The concept originates from Robotdalen which has supported OpiFlex since its inception.
For more information, please contact
Johan Frisk, CEO OpiFlex, phone +46 768-99 93 30, email johan.frisk@opiflex.se or
Erik Lundqvist, General Manager Robotdalen, phone +46 21-10 70 26, email erik.lundqvist@robotdalen.se
Robotdalen is a Swedish robotics initiative with the mission to enable commercial success of new ideas and research within robotics and automation; focusing on solutions for the industry, service and healthcare sector. Robotdalen is financed by VINNOVA (the Swedish Innovation Agency), the European Regional Development Fund and a number of public institutions, universities and companies in Central Sweden. Please visit www.robotdalen.se/en for further information.
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