Nexterity wants to automate the hard, dangerous part of pipefitting

Nexterity, founded by former ExxonMobil engineer Lindsey Elliott, is developing a remote-controlled robot that automates work on bolted flange joints in oil, gas, and petrochemical infrastructure. The battery-powered device fits around pipes, moves along them, and can loosen or tighten four bolts at a time, reducing physically demanding and injury-prone labor.

The startup reflects a broader push to apply robotics to skilled trades facing labor shortages, safety risks, and productivity constraints. If adopted widely, tools like Nexterity’s could shift pipefitters toward supervision and deployment roles while making industrial maintenance more efficient.