Robotics chief reveals how he almost lost firm

THE founder of one of the North East's most promising companies has given a candid account of how his company was nearly lost after suffering a series of major setbacks.

- TOM KEIGHLEY Business writer [e-mail]

Atif Syed, the scientist behind innovative North East robotics firm Wootzano, took to social media to explain how a barrage of customer defaults, delayed payments and what he said were “broken promises” put the business through one of its toughest moments in its seven-year history.

The Tyneside-based maker of automated systems for food packaging has enjoyed fast growth in recent years, driven by interest in its robotic skin technology and a string of multimillion-pound orders from around the world, including customers in the US and Japan.

Last year, the firm was named Business of the Year at the North East Business Awards - a title which followed its move from County Durham to North Tyneside’s Cobalt Business Park following growth.

In January, Wootzano raised more than £380,000 in a crowdfunding campaign that surpassed its £358,000 target.