North Robotics

What North Robotics does

North Robotics Inc. is a privately held Canadian manufacturer, founded in 2013 and headquartered in Victoria, British Columbia, that designs and builds modular laboratory automation systems for research laboratories. Its core product is the N9 Robotic Platform, a configurable workstation anchored by a four-axis SCARA manipulator with a torque-sensing end-effector, a built-in pipetting probe, and tool-grasping capability for wafer handling. The platform is complemented by a proprietary hardware ecosystem of controllers (C9, C8, C2, T8, P2), a structural frame, dispensing modules (Syringe Pumps with up to 3 µL accuracy, Peristaltic Pumps, Dispensing Carousel), heating/mixing modules, balances, a Camera Module, a Spin Coater, and a Wafer Handler Vacuum Tool.

Name

North Robotics

Legal name

North Robotics Inc.

Website

https://northrobotics.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

North Robotics Inc. is a privately held Canadian manufacturer of modular laboratory automation systems, led by a four-axis SCARA N9 robot and a proprietary NorthIDE software stack, sold directly to academic, government, and pharmaceutical research laboratories worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Laboratory Automation Robotics

NAICS

Other General Purpose Machinery Manufacturing (3339), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (3345)

SIC

Special Industry Machinery, Nec (3559), Special Industry Machinery (No Metalworking Machinery) (3550)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial Robots (Articulated, SCARA, Delta, Cartesian) (IMAHAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Robot Software, Autonomy Stacks & Simulation (ROS, digital twins) (HDAAAIAK), Robot Hardware, Actuators & Components (sensors, grippers, motors) (HDAAAIAL), Motion & Machine Control (CNC, Robotics Controllers, Servo/Motion Controllers) (IMAGABAG)

Keywords

• Laboratory automation
• SCARA robotics
• Lab automation hardware
• Sample preparation robots
• Closed-loop discovery

Headquarters

HQ city

Victoria

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Laboratory Robotics Hardware: Sale of modular hardware components including the N9 Robot, L-Series Linear Robots, controllers (C9, C8, C2), temperature controllers, powder controllers, structural frames, racks, dispensing modules (carousel, pumps), heating/mixing modules, sensors, and pneumatic actuators. Hardware is sold as individual modules that integrate into the N9 platform.
2. Software Licenses (NorthIDE): The NorthIDE IDE bundled with pre-configured Python environment is provided as part of the platform ecosystem for controlling the N9 Robotic Platform. Software enables development, simulation, and execution of laboratory automation routines.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

North Robotics designs, manufactures, and sells the N9 Robotic Platform, a modular laboratory automation system built around a four-axis SCARA manipulator. The platform is sold as configurable bundles of proprietary hardware modules (controllers, frames, dispensing pumps, balances, cameras, wafer tools, clamps, spin coaters) paired with the NorthIDE software and north Python package. Customers use the system to automate repetitive laboratory tasks such as sample preparation, serial dilution, pH testing, heating/mixing, and closed-loop discovery applications in academic, government, pharmaceutical, and industrial research laboratories.

Product overview

North Robotics offers a modular laboratory automation platform called the N9 Robotic Platform. The system consists of the N9 Robot (a four-axis SCARA manipulator) as the core workhorse, controlled via Python scripts through the NorthIDE software. The platform includes a comprehensive ecosystem of modular hardware components including multiple controllers (C9, C8, C2, T8, P2), structural elements (N9 Frame, Shelves), dispensing modules (Dispensing Carousel, Syringe Pumps, Peristaltic Pumps), heating/mixing equipment (Reaction Pod, SBS Mixer/Heater), sensors (Balance, Camera Module, Spin Coater), and various racks and accessories. The software stack comprises NorthIDE (an IDE with Simulator and Locator features) and the north Python package for programmatic control. The platform is designed for automating laboratory tasks including sample preparation, serial dilution, pH testing, and heating and mixing, with applications in closed-loop discovery and materials research.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NorthIDE: An Integrated Development Environment (IDE) built specifically for operating the N9 platform, allowing users to create projects, write code, and visualize experiments with the simulator.
• N9 Platform

Products and services

• N9 Robotic Platform Modular laboratory automation platform designed to automate common and repetitive laboratory tasks including sample preparation, serial dilution, pH testing, and heating and mixing. The platform is built around the four-axis SCARA N9 Robot and integrates a configurable ecosystem of controllers, frames, dispensing modules, sensors, and wafer-handling tools. It is targeted at research laboratories in academia, government, pharmaceutical, biotech, and industrial testing organizations.
• NorthIDE Proprietary Integrated Development Environment built specifically for operating the N9 platform. NorthIDE allows users to create projects reflecting physical experimental setups, write Python code that drives the robot, and visualize experiments with a 3D Simulator before running on physical hardware. It is targeted at laboratory researchers and automation engineers using the N9 platform.
• north Python Package (API) Python package used to control the N9 Robotic Platform from a PC connected to the C9 Network. The API exposes commands to move the arm, actuate modules, read sensors, and interface with I/O, and is compatible with Python 3.7 and later. It targets developers and scientists integrating N9 automation into custom Python workflows.
• N9 Robot (100-124) Four-axis SCARA manipulator that serves as the core workhorse of the N9 Robotic Platform. Features an infinitely rotating end-effector with torque sensing for capping vials, a built-in probe for pipetting, and tool-grasping capabilities enabling wafer handling. Targets laboratory automation users running sample preparation, dispensing, and material handling workflows.
• L-Series Linear Robots (102-104) Robots featuring three ultra-stiff translating axes of customizable length designed for moving racks and samples between frame decks and into third-party instruments. Targets laboratories that need extended reach and transport of samples between modules.
• C9 Controller 8-Axis N9 (125) Interface between the computer and numerous N9 modules, featuring four motion axes, four auxiliary axes, four COM ports, six pneumatic outputs, eighteen 24V digital outputs, sixteen 5V digital inputs, and eight 16-bit analog inputs. Can network to additional controllers to extend system capability. Targets laboratories requiring multi-axis motion and I/O control for the N9 platform.
• C8 Controller 8-Axis Auxiliary Motor (126) Controller providing eight auxiliary motion control axes that extend C9 Controller capabilities in complex systems. Drives motion axes of every motorized module including L-Series Linear Robots. Targets laboratories scaling up to larger or more complex N9 system configurations.
• C2 Controller 2-Axis Auxiliary Motor (129) Controller providing two auxiliary motion control axes for driving stepper motors such as those in the Wafer Conductivity Testing Station or Peristaltic Pumps. Targets laboratories that need compact, two-axis stepper control for specific modules.
• T8 Temperature Controller (130) Monitors process temperatures and actuates heating elements in temperature-controlled modules, featuring eight temperature process channels with dual heating/cooling functionality and thermocouple or RTD input, with 120V, 4A (500W) max per channel. Targets laboratories running temperature-sensitive reactions, mixers, and annealers.
• P2 Powder Controller (136) Powers and controls the Powder Driver and monitors sensor data from other modules and instruments. Can control up to six Powder Drivers and is required for any Powder Dispensing Operation. Targets laboratories running automated powder dispensing workflows.
• N9 Frame (150) Structural base that supports all other N9 system modules, with an 814x664mm frame deck and a grid of M4 tapped holes spaced at 37.5mm for mounting modules and shelves. Targets laboratories building out an N9 platform configuration.
• Dispensing Carousel (250) Dispenses solid and liquid materials into target vessels, featuring seven hose fittings for dispensing liquids from pump modules and six fittings for Powder Dispense modules. Supports up to 15 Syringe Pumps in daisy-chain configuration and up to 6 Powder Drivers. Targets laboratories running automated dispensing workflows.
• Syringe Pump (260) TriContinent C3000 syringe pump ideal for dispensing and pipetting operations, supporting syringes between 50 microliters and 12.5mL with up to 3 microliters of accuracy. Up to 15 pumps can be connected in daisy-chain configuration on the Dispensing Carousel. Targets laboratories requiring precise liquid handling.
• Peristaltic Pump (256) Module consisting of two independent peristaltic pumps for transferring relatively large amounts of fluid quickly, as opposed to Syringe Pumps which transfer limited volumes slowly but with greater precision. Targets laboratories needing higher-volume fluid transfer.
• Balance (350) Integrates directly with the Clamp to weigh samples while capping and dispensing operations are performed, available in 0.1mg (80g range) or 1mg (350g range) configurations with built-in crash and spill protections. Targets laboratories requiring in-process gravimetric measurement.
• Camera Module (355) Mounted to the N9 Frame deck and used in computer vision applications, consisting of an articulated stand with two joints allowing a variety of position options. Used in closed-loop discovery workflows such as color matching with Bayesian optimization. Targets laboratories running vision-based characterization.
• Spin Coater (370) Used to create thin, uniform coatings on a substrate by spinning at high speed while solution is applied, capable of spinning 20mm or 25mm substrate at 6000rpm. Targets materials science and semiconductor research laboratories performing thin-film deposition.
• Clamp (500) Holds vessels such as vials, tubes, and bottles during capping and uncapping operations and integrates with the Balance for weighing during operations. Pneumatically actuated with adjustable holding force between 10-70kg. Targets laboratories performing automated capping/uncapping workflows.
• Wafer Handler Vacuum Tool (505) Allows the N9 robotic arm to manipulate wafers and substrates typically of 20mm or 25mm square size using vacuum suction. Targets semiconductor and materials science laboratories performing wafer handling.

Quantifiable outcome

• Syringe pump precision of up to 3µL accuracy
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers24 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature5 records

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Agilent Technologies: Analytical instruments and lab automation vendor serving pharma, materials, and academic customers. Overlaps North's customer set and precision liquid-handling workflows.
• Tecan: Major life-sciences lab automation OEM (Freedom EVO, Fluent) serving pharma, diagnostics, and academic labs. Overlaps North's sample-prep and integrated workflow use cases but operates at global enterprise scale.
• Beckman Coulter Life Sciences (Danaher): Large lab automation and life-sciences equipment vendor (Biomek, Echo). Competes in pharma/biotech sample-preparation workflows at scale that overlap North's primary use cases.
• Hamilton Company: Established lab automation vendor with the Microlab STAR, NIMBUS, and Prep modules for liquid handling. Competes in overlapping pharma and academic workflows but at much larger scale and broader product breadth.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific: Global lab instruments and automation conglomerate. Competes via its automation solutions portfolio and broader instruments (spin coaters, balances, controllers) that overlap several N9 modules.

Emerging players

• Biosero: Provides lab automation scheduling software (Green Button Go) and integrations across multiple instrument vendors. Comparable as a software/orchestration layer that competes for the same 'lab automation control plane' North's NorthIDE addresses.
• Peak Analysis & Automation: Smaller specialist in lab automation hardware and software for life-sciences research. Comparable as a niche peer in modular sample-prep automation for academic and biotech labs.

Direct peers

• Chemspeed Technologies: Provider of automated synthesis and workflow robots for chemistry and materials R&D. Comparable to North in modular architecture and materials/pharma use cases, particularly around powder/liquid dispensing and closed-loop experimentation.
• Hudson Robotics: Long-standing specialist in modular lab robotics and plate-handling automation. Comparable as a niche, configurable platform vendor serving similar research and pharmaceutical customers.
• Opentrons Labworks: Direct competitor offering modular, Python-controlled lab robots (OT-2) for sample preparation and bench automation. Highly comparable to North Robotics in target customer (academic and biotech labs), pricing tier, and Python-first developer approach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/north-robotics

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about North Robotics