A manufacturer of driverless 'dollies', which transport luggage and cargo around airports worldwide, has raised £5.25 million via a new share placing.
Aurrigo International will use the fresh round of capital to increase production of its 'Auto-DollyTug'.
The Coventry-based company was founded in 1993 by brothers David and Graham Keene and designs and develops airside products for the aviation industry including automated vehicles, systems and software.
It has recently deployed its products into multiple new countries, opened a US office and sealed a new deal with Changi Airport in Singapore.
This new investment will enable the company to have 22 Auto-Dolly Tugs in operation in 2025 and launch a new partnership with postal and logistics giant UPS.
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There will also be four news contracts at international airports using its 'Auto-Sim' product.
David Keene said: "This is a fantastic raise to finish the year and gives us the perfect platform to roll out our intelligent ground support equipment concept to the aviation world.
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"We have early-stage engagement with 34 airports and 19 airlines, with eight customers now agreeing to use Auto-Sim.
"The investment will ensure we can scale our production capabilities and teams to meet the growing demand for technology that we are now proving in the real world.
"Unlike a lot of companies who just talk about the impact of their tech, we are actually delivering and will now need more engineering, software, manufacturing and supply chain staff, not to mention an increase in the number of specialists in our deployment teams.
"By adopting smart airside solutions, the industry can reduce turnaround times, improve reliability, and significantly lower its environmental footprint. These are all key priorities for aviation executives around the world
"Today's aviation landscape demands that we step up our game. As we move into a new era of airside operations, it is imperative that we harness advanced technologies to improve efficiency, safety, and sustainability.
"The future belongs to those who will lead the charge in reimagining how ground handling is performed."