50 | MANUFACTURING Techmatics Exceptional 3D Printing Solutions 0800 650 224 456 Moorhouse Ave, Christchurch, 8011 bdl3d.co.nz Commercial 3D Printing • Prototyping Design • Scanning • Dyeing Precision Manufacturing with Multi-Jet Fusion Technology High-Strength, Accurate Parts Made in New Zealand Robotics maker going global Techmatics has steadily evolved its product range, guided by customer feedback and real-world use. T T Karen Phelps Techmatics is setting its sights firmly on global markets. It has been supplying customers in Europe for the past year and has recently secured a distributor to support its entry into the United States market with a new generation of its products designed to meet increasingly complex international requirements. “The latest releases are about innovation and meeting the expectations of international markets, where standards and use cases can differ significantly,” explains Ravi Sanyal who owns the company with wife Terri. Founded in the wake of the Canterbury earthquakes the Christchurch robotics company has grown from a garage-based startup into a specialised manufacturer of inspection robots used by government agencies and commercial operators. “It was a single comment from a building inspector who said ‘it would be nice to have a robot’ that started Techmatics,” says Ravi. “A little bell went off in my head, and I told him I’d make him one.” From that moment the business began to take shape, initially building robots to assist inspectors navigating damaged buildings after the earthquakes. Since then, Techmatics has steadily evolved its product range, guided by customer feedback and real-world use. It now employs a team of seven and operates from a purpose-built manufacturing facility it moved into in 2023, with many of its engineers recruited from the University of Canterbury with all its software, mechanical and electronic engineering done from Christchurch. “Some study part time while working with Techmatics to complete their qualification. Others are employed when they graduate,” explains Ravi. The company’s reputation for reliability has also attracted attention domestically, with agencies such as the Department of Corrections and the Ministry for Primary Industries using its robots for security and biosecurity applications. A recent visit from Minister of Small Business and Manufacturing Cameron Brewer highlighted its role in the country’s innovation landscape. “Local Kiwi innovation is at the heart of what we do, and we want to keep it that way,” says Ravi. “All our software, mechanical and electronic engineering is done here in Christchurch, and that gives customers — government departments in particular — confidence in what we’re delivering.” Its flagship Hades Subfloor robot is now in its seventh iteration, with each version incorporating refinements aimed at improving reliability and usability in challenging environments. “We listen carefully to what our customers need and adapt the design accordingly,” says Ravi. “That’s been key to our growth.” The latest model introduces several upgrades, including removable batteries, improved controllers and front-facing cameras that allow the robot to continue operating even if it flips over. Alongside this, the recently released Hades 5 includes LiDAR technology to ensure accurate navigation, as well as a redesigned extendable pole camera that delivers higher-quality imaging and greater durability. To support its growth, Techmatics continues to invest in local partnerships. Christchurchbased BDL 3D Printing produces specialised components for Techmatics using multi-jet fusion technology, ensuring strong and dimensionally accurate parts. “Having high-quality manufacturing right here in New Zealand and in Christchurch is a real advantage.” Ravi says Techmatics plans to launch several entirely new products by the end of 2026, further broadening its offering.
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