An advanced engineering company is developing a new water technology hub in North Yorkshire that will create eight new jobs.
Synthotech develops advanced monitoring and leak detection technology for utility companies. The investment in the new technology centre follows the securing of £7.3m of funding for water and multi-utility no-dig technologies.
Harrogate-based Synthotech designs and builds advanced pipeline inspection systems and robotics to detect leaks and fix pipes. The robots can be deployed remotely for long distances, speeding up the investigation process to aid safety and reduce environmental impact. The company’s advanced AI-capable robots are designed, developed, and manufactured in the UK.
Using robots in pipeline maintenance significantly reduces the time and excavation required to investigate pipelines for leaks. A more efficient process also reduces the cost of each investigation.
Its latest sector innovation, the SynthoCAM H20, is a CCTV inspection system that allows water networks to inspect drinking water pipes to ensure that pipelines are leak-free and working effectively without interrupting customers’ water supply.
Commenting on the investment, Mark Tindley, managing director of Synthotech, said:
“Our recent advancements in robotics and leak detection technology are helping water companies operate more efficiently and reduce the impact of repairs on the public.
“As we expand our technological capabilities, it’s crucial that our learnings and outcomes are shared with the water sector to accelerate the adoption of cutting-edge technologies by water utilities.”
Leakage from underground water pipelines is a challenge to the water industry. Some estimate that up to a fifth of all treated water is lost, adding up to nearly 1 trillion litres per year in the UK alone.
Synthotech’s innovation division, Synovate, was recently awarded two contracts in Ofwat’s Water Breakthrough Challenge worth £5.8m. The company will use its latest robot technology to identify and repair links from within live water mains without requiring extensive excavations and minimising interruptions to water supplies.
