nLink
nLink AS is a Norwegian mobile robotics company founded in 2013 that develops robotic solutions for the construction industry, including ceiling drilling robots (Drilly/Jaibot), facade installation systems (Hephaestus), nuclear decommissioning robots (Robodecom), and robotic boom lifts (RoboLift) for construction firms and industrial partners.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersSogndal, Norway
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What nLink does
nLink AS is a Norwegian mobile robotics company founded in 2013 and headquartered in Sogndal, Norway. The company designs and develops mobile robotic systems that combine mechanical design, software engineering, robotics, and machine learning to automate construction and industrial tasks. Its product portfolio includes the Drilly mobile drilling robot (claimed as the world's first mobile drilling robot in service at construction sites, 2013-2018), the Jaibot (an industrialized drilling robot developed in collaboration with Hilti AG from 2017 onward), the Hephaestus cable-driven parallel robot for facade module attachment (EU Horizon2020, 2017-2020), the Robodecom tracked robot for radiological contamination monitoring in nuclear decommissioning (2019-2022), and the RoboLift robotic boom lift for facade cleaning and surface treatment (2020-2021). A new project, FutuRaPS, was announced in February 2024 targeting ceiling fixture installation.
The company's technology stack centers on ROS-enabled platforms, BIM integration software, SLAM algorithms for low-feature environments (notably in nuclear facilities), vision systems with line-laser for structural identification, and digital task management with wireless robot coordination. Underlying capabilities include robotic arm positioning, tool integration via tool changers, high-precision positioning using total stations and prisms (6DOF), and 3D-printed custom fixtures.
nLink operates as a project-based B2B enterprise, historically combining hardware sales (Drilly robot), subcontractor drilling services (concluded 2018), and grant-funded R&D collaborations with industry associations, research institutes (SINTEF, IFE, Fraunhofer, TUM), and trade bodies (BNL, MLF). Customer and partner logos are concentrated in Norwegian construction (Vintervoll, Mesta, Statsbygg) and European consortia. The company remains privately held, founder/management-controlled, with no disclosed venture capital investment beyond a 2017 Hilti relationship.
nLink firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- nLink
- Legal name
- nLink AS
- Website
- https://nlinkrobotics.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- nLink AS is a Norwegian mobile robotics company founded in 2013 that develops robotic solutions for the construction industry, including ceiling drilling robots (Drilly/Jaibot), facade installation systems (Hephaestus), nuclear decommissioning robots (Robodecom), and robotic boom lifts (RoboLift) for construction firms and industrial partners.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
nLink industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Construction Robotics
- NAICS
- Construction Machinery Manufacturing (333120), Construction Machinery Manufacturing (33312), Agriculture, Construction, and Mining Machinery Manufacturing (3331)
- SIC
- Construction Machinery & Equip (3531), Construction, Mining & Materials Handling Machinery & Equip (3530), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Construction & Mining Robotics (HDAAAIAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Industrial Robots (Articulated, SCARA, Delta, Cartesian) (IMAHAHAA), Motion & Machine Control (CNC, Robotics Controllers, Servo/Motion Controllers) (IMAGABAG)
Keywords
Where nLink is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sogndal
- HQ country
- Norway
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
nLink business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Robotic Hardware Sales: Sale of mobile robotic systems for construction automation, including drilling robots and specialized robotic solutions. The company designs, manufactures, programs and implements robotic systems for specific construction tasks.
- Subcontractor Drilling Services: nLink offered subcontractor drilling services using their Drilly robot at construction sites between 2013-2018, including over 25 construction sites and 30,000+ holes drilled.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
nLink product offering
Product offeringCore offering
nLink designs, manufactures, and implements mobile robotic systems for construction automation. The company's portfolio includes mobile drilling robots for ceiling installation, robotic boom lifts for facade cleaning and surface treatment, cable-driven parallel robots for facade module attachment, and tracked platforms for radiological monitoring in nuclear decommissioning. nLink combines mechanical design, robotics software engineering, and machine learning to automate hazardous and repetitive construction tasks.
Product overview
nLink designs and develops a portfolio of mobile robotic solutions that combine software engineering in robotics, machine learning (AI), and mechanical design. The product family includes: Drilly (the world's first mobile drilling robot for construction ceiling drilling), Jaibot (industrialized drilling robot developed with Hilti), RoboLift/Liftbot (robotic boom lift for facade cleaning and surface treatment), Hephaestus (cable-driven parallel robot for facade module installation), and Robodecom (tracked robot for radiological contamination monitoring in nuclear decommissioning). Projects combine expertise in ROS, BIM integration, SLAM, and task management to automate dangerous and laborious construction tasks.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Drilly Mobile Drilling Robot Mobile drilling robot for construction ceiling installation. Mounts a robot arm on a scissor lift framework with an integrated vision system using line-laser technology to identify ceiling structures and automatically drill holes for hangers, light fixtures, sprinklers, and dropped ceilings. Used by commercial construction firms (e.g., Vintervoll, Mesta, Statsbygg) to automate hazardous and labor-intensive overhead drilling.
- Jaibot Industrialized Drilling Robot Industrialized, scalable version of the Drilly drilling robot developed jointly with Hilti AG for global commercialization. Designed for construction companies seeking a production-grade mobile drilling robot for ceiling installation tasks across commercial building projects.
- RoboLift (Liftbot) Robotic Boom Lift Robotic boom lift integrating robotic control with commercial off-the-shelf boom lift machinery. Provides automatic facade cleaning, painting, and surface treatment capabilities, including sand blasting of ship hulls, with digital task management, high-precision positioning, and intuitive user interface. Developed for trade contractors (painters, facade cleaners) and surface treatment operators.
- Hephaestus Cable-Driven Parallel Robot Cable-driven parallel robot (CDPR) for automatic attachment of facade modules and curtain wall brackets on new buildings. Uses a total station positioning system with prisms on the CDPR for 6DOF position and orientation measurement, and a robotic arm with tool changer and custom tools to fasten brackets. Developed for facade construction firms and building envelope contractors.
- Robodecom Radioactive Contamination Monitoring Robot Mobile robot for monitoring radioactive contamination in nuclear power plant decommissioning. Provides a modular, ROS-enabled tracked platform that positions radiological classification sensors at designated points using SLAM and obstacle avoidance, and integrates with BIM-based digital twin environments for digital task management. Built for nuclear facility operators and decommissioning research institutes.
Quantifiable outcome
- 30,000+ holes drilled across 25+ construction sites between 2013-2018
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use nLink
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
nLink technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
nLink partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
21 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- VintervollcoreElectrical contractor that presented the challenging ceiling drilling task to nLink, leading to the Drilly mobile drilling robot development (2013-2018). Vintervoll was the initial customer driving product conception.
- Innovasjon NorgecoreNorwegian government innovation agency providing funding for the Drilly mobile drilling robot development (2013-2018). Key governmental financial supporter of early R&D.
- Hilti AGcoreGlobal construction tools company that partnered closely with nLink from 2017 onwards. Collaboration focused on industrializing and scaling the advanced drilling robot (later Jaibot) for global construction market.
- Byggenæringens Landsforbund (BLN)majorNorwegian construction industry association partnering on RoboLift project (2020-2021) to address HSE improvement in trades through robotizing traditional boom lifts.
- Malemesternes Landsforening (MLF)majorNorwegian painter/finisher trade association collaborating on RoboLift project focused on improving HSE through automation of facade cleaning and surface treatment.
- HybekominorNorwegian equipment supplier that joined the RoboLift project as partner for boom lift automation solutions.
- TessminorNorwegian industrial supplier partner in RoboLift project providing equipment and technical support for robotic boom lift development.
- J.S. CockminorPartner in RoboLift project contributing to robotic boom lift automation for facade cleaning and surface treatment applications.
- TUM (Technical University of Munich)majorGerman technical university partner in EU Horizon2020 Hephaestus project (2017-2020) for cable-driven parallel robot development for facade automation.
- FraunhofermajorGerman research organization partner in Hephaestus EU project contributing to facade cable robot system development.
- LIRRMminorFrench research partner in Hephaestus EU project for cable-driven parallel robot facade automation technology.
- TechnaliaminorSpanish research partner in Hephaestus EU project contributing to construction robotics development.
- FochiminorItalian partner in Hephaestus EU project for facade cable robot and bracket mounting system development.
- CemvisaminorPartner in Hephaestus EU project contributing to cable-driven parallel robot development for construction automation.
- R2MminorPartner in Hephaestus EU project for robot arm and tool development for facade installation automation.
- IFE (Institute for Energy Technology)majorNorwegian nuclear research institute leading the Robodecom project (2019-2022) for robotic decommissioning of nuclear installations.
- SINTEFmajorNorwegian research organization partner in Robodecom project for robotic decommissioning technology development.
- AllinventminorPartner in Robodecom nuclear decommissioning project contributing to building material classification technology.
- CreatecminorUK-based partner in Robodecom project providing expertise in radiological sensing and monitoring technology.
- TecnubelminorPartner in Robodecom project contributing to robotic decommissioning of nuclear facilities.
- MagicsminorPartner in Robodecom project for nuclear decommissioning robot development and sensor deployment.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
nLink competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Construction Robotics: US-based construction robotics company behind SAM (masonry robot) and MULE (material handling). Like nLink, it builds mobile robotic systems to automate repetitive on-site construction tasks such as masonry and material movement.
- Dusty Robotics: Dusty Robotics builds BIM-driven mobile robots that automate construction layout and field marking. Comparable to nLink in combining mobile robotics with BIM integration to digitize and automate traditional on-site construction workflows.
- Canvas: Canvas deploys mobile drywall-finishing robots on active construction sites, automating one of the most labor-intensive finishing trades. Closely comparable to nLink's mission of replacing repetitive, hazardous manual construction tasks with mobile robots.
- Kewazo: Kewazo builds mobile robotic scaffolding/material-lift systems for construction and industrial sites, addressing labor shortages in facade and maintenance work. Highly comparable in deploying ROS-enabled mobile platforms to automate on-site construction logistics.
- Advanced Construction Robotics: ACR builds rebar-tying (TyBot) and steel-placing (IronBot) robots for infrastructure projects. Directly comparable as a specialized mobile-robotics company targeting repetitive structural construction tasks, with a similar project-to-product business evolution.
Emerging players
- ANYbotics: ANYbotics develops autonomous quadruped robots (ANYmal) for industrial inspection in power plants, construction, and mining. Comparable on the autonomous mobile-robot platform layer and SLAM-based navigation in unstructured environments.
- Exyn Technologies: Exyn builds autonomous aerial robots for 3D mapping and inspection in construction, mining, and decommissioning. Comparable on SLAM-based autonomy in GPS-denied, partially-built environments similar to nLink's Robodecom nuclear-decommissioning use case.
Broad incumbents
- Hilti (Jaibot): Hilti is the global construction tools leader that partnered with nLink to industrialize the Jaibot, an evolved version of nLink's Drilly mobile drilling robot. While Hilti is also nLink's partner, its commercialized Jaibot is the most directly comparable mobile ceiling-drilling construction robot on the market.
- Brokk: Brokk is the leading manufacturer of remote-controlled demolition robots used on construction sites. Comparable as an established supplier of specialized robotic equipment to the construction industry, addressing similar labor-safety and productivity themes.
- Boston Dynamics: Boston Dynamics' Spot has been deployed for construction site documentation and progress monitoring. Comparable as a broader mobile-robotics player entering the construction vertical with advanced autonomy and SLAM capabilities.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
nLink social profiles
Digital presencenLink financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
nLink leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
nLink funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
nLink M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about nLink
What does nLink do?
nLink designs, manufactures, and implements mobile robotic systems for construction automation. The company's portfolio includes mobile drilling robots for ceiling installation, robotic boom lifts for facade cleaning and surface treatment, cable-driven parallel robots for facade module attachment, and tracked platforms for radiological monitoring in nuclear decommissioning. nLink combines mechanical design, robotics software engineering, and machine learning to automate hazardous and repetitive construction tasks.
Is nLink a public or private company?
nLink is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was nLink founded?
nLink was founded in 2013. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is nLink based?
nLink is headquartered in Sogndal, Norway, in the Europe region.
How does nLink make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Robotic Hardware Sales are the primary driver. The others are subcontractor Drilling Services.
Who are nLink's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Construction Robotics, Dusty Robotics, Canvas, Kewazo and Advanced Construction Robotics. Emerging players are ANYbotics and Exyn Technologies. Broad incumbents are Hilti (Jaibot), Brokk and Boston Dynamics.
Does nLink have an API?
No public API is recorded for nLink.
What industry is nLink in?
nLink's product category is Construction Robotics. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAAAIAE, Construction & Mining Robotics, with a secondary code of IMAHAHAA, Industrial Robots (Articulated, SCARA, Delta, Cartesian). Its NAICS code is 333120 and its SIC code is 3531.