IMSystems receives growth capital from UNIIQ for its Archimedes Drive

At Yes!Delft’s new year reception on 26 January 2018, IMSystems received a € 300,000 investment from UNIIQ, an investment fund. This was announced by Theun Baller, Dean at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at TU Delft. The Archimedes Drive was developed by IMSystems Delft. It is a mechanical transmission (gearbox) that can be used for several purposes including industrial robots that operate on friction rather than cogs. This investment will allow IMSystems to enter the market this year with an optimal product.

Left to right: Alfons Schure (IMSystems), Rory Deen (IMSystems), Casper van Eersel (IMSystems), Matthew Corvers (IMSystems), Liduina Hammer (UNIIQ), Jack Schorsch (IMSystems), Mathijs Heutinck (UNIIQ/TU Delft), Theun Baller (Dean Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, TU Delft) and Thibaud Verschoor (IMSystems).

Archimedes drive

Gearboxes are used to supply the right amount of power to electric motor-driven applications. IMSystems is one of the first companies that has been able to apply the principle of friction in a lightweight compact gearbox in a way that works. This gives the Archimedes Drive great potential for use in several industries, including the robot operated manufacturing industry.

The industrial robots that are used in this industry are highly dependent on the quality of the gears to move. While very rapid software development is making robots smarter, the current gearboxes are still not able to supply the robots with the precision and power needed. The Archimedes Drive achieves the same power transmission in a smaller and lighter format than the current systems. As there is no play in the cog wheels, the robots perform more accurately.

Jack Schorsch, founder and CEO of IMSystems says that “We are very happy with UNIIQ’s investment as it enables us to quickly optimize our product and launch it on the market. We strongly believe that our technology will increase the accuracy of industrial robots and help bring manufacturing a step further.”

UNIIQ’s investment will enable the accuracy, efficiency and life-span of the Archimedes Drive to be thoroughly tested using various testing systems. In partnership with leading robot manufacturers, IMSystems expects to launch a commercial product on the market later this year. “And this focus on achieving commercial traction in an early phase perfectly complements our philosophy,” says Liduina Hammer, UNIIQ Fund Manager. “Our funding primarily goes to companies that have determined teams that are able to bring their innovative products quickly to market.”

UNIIQ early-stage investment fund

This article was originally published in 2018.
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