Leap Automation has received seven-figure funding from Alba Equity and Scottish Enterprise to help consolidate its lead in the food packing sector by increasing its team and strengthening its production, product development and support capabilities.
The Aberdeen-headquartered business - which also has a base in Edinburgh - builds robotic systems for end-of-line automation with fresh produce.
Currently employing 21 staff, the company's software enables systems to deliver more with less components and complexity than traditional packaging machinery.
Combined with its vertically integrated approach - Leap design and build robotic systems from the ground-up, while developing its own software - it aims to give food companies with a cost-effective and simplified approach to automation.
Following the launch of its first product early this year, the PikPak solution, Leap is working with a major international food conglomerate and one of Europe’s biggest fresh food producers.
Further product development is underway to deliver enhanced quality control, advanced data analytics, increased efficiency and faster deployment.
Ben Stuart, chief operating officer and head of product at Leap, said: “Right from the start, it has been our mission to develop products that are intuitive and simple to use, lowering the barriers to the adoption of robotic systems.”
Leap was founded in 2018 by Stuart and chief executive Ben Bamford, following careers developing and commercialising technology solutions within the energy sector. Having developed the underlying codebase and robotic technology over the past three years, the duo are now focused on helping the food sector address its labour and efficiency challenges.
Bamford said: “Our AI-enabled robots are helping to solve these challenges - and the capital we have raised will help us expand the team and our facilities to scale up and deliver to a wider range of customers.”
Jock Gardiner, co-founder of Aberdeen-based Alba Equity, said: “Alba Equity is proud to back two exceptionally talented local entrepreneurs, with the team at Leap having developed a compelling proposition.
“To be able to pivot the robotic technology and expertise that they have developed originally for the energy sector to the food industry due to market demand and customer-driven opportunities is visionary.”
Kerry Sharp, director of entrepreneurship and investment at Scottish Enterprise, added: “It is an exciting period of expansion for the company that will have wider benefits for SME food manufacturers in automating processes and improving logistics across Scotland and beyond.”
Don't miss the latest headlines with our twice-daily newsletter - sign up here for free.
