MUTRON, a Korean developer of next-generation nuclear power plant MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Operations) automation robot technology, announced that it has attracted seed investment from Series Ventures. The investment amount was not disclosed. Previously, MUTRON had secured seed investment from the Busan Center for Creative Economy & Innovation.

With the newly secured investment, MUTRON plans to advance prototypes and establish demonstration infrastructure for various robot-based equipment for nuclear power plant maintenance automation, including WAAM automatic welders, hole and pad combined processing machines, automatic tool change systems, and angle-controlled compatible jigs. Concurrently, the company will develop an AI and CAM-based intelligent maintenance automation platform utilizing this infrastructure, aiming to introduce an integrated solution optimized for the nuclear power plant MRO market.

Currently, the nuclear power plant equipment market demands both safety and efficiency, yet the high reliance on human labor and the hazardous work environment necessitate urgent adoption of automation. MUTRON intends to standardize and automate maintenance processes by combining intelligent welding processes, multi-functional processing and tool automation technology, and precise fastening jig systems. This will secure competitiveness through cost reduction, improved precision, and enhanced work safety compared to existing manual operations.

MUTRON is also expanding its technology development to apply robot solutions to critical nuclear power plant facilities, such as heat exchange tubes and head welds of steam generators. This will reduce the risk of radiation exposure associated with manual work and shorten maintenance times, thereby increasing the efficiency of power plant operations.

Furthermore, MUTRON is conducting demonstrations in collaboration with nuclear power plant operators and MRO specialized companies, planning to expand its entry into the B2B and B2G markets based on these efforts. In the future, the company aims to broaden its technology application scope to include piping and welding areas, securing competitiveness in the global nuclear power plant maintenance market.

Sung-wook Kwak and Jun-sang Park, co-representatives of Series Ventures, explained the investment rationale: “Nuclear power plant maintenance automation is a high-value-added field that demands both safety and efficiency. MUTRON is a team with specialized technology and demonstration capabilities in this area, and it has significant potential to grow into a leading company in the global nuclear power market.”

Moon-sung Ahn, CEO of MUTRON, stated, “Through this investment, we will accelerate the technological advancement and demonstration of nuclear power plant maintenance automation robot solutions. We will particularly focus on realizing maintenance automation for critical nuclear power plant facilities such as steam generators, securing both safety and economic viability.”