Aeffe S.r.l.
Como, Italy maker of KeelCrab tethered underwater robots for yacht hulls and pools; holds a 2009 European patent for robotic hull cleaning.
Aeffe S.r.l. is an Italian underwater mechatronics company based in Bulgarograsso, in the province of Como, that designs and builds tethered underwater robots under the KeelCrab brand for cleaning yacht hulls, swimming pools, industrial tanks and aquariums. Its registered office is in Como (VAT 03385790138) and Michele Gioia is chief executive. The company traces its technology to a European patent for a robotic boat-hull cleaning device granted in 2009, later followed by a European patent covering the KeelCrab drones. It built 20 beta prototypes in 2015, collected EUR 85,000 in pre-orders for its Sail-one model in 2017 and received EU Horizon 2020 SME Instrument funding in 2019. Other milestones listed by the company are A.N.C.C.P. certification in 2011, an ADI award at the Genoa show in 2014 and a Tech Fast tender win for its Maxicrab project in 2021.
The KeelCrab hull cleaner is a mains-powered drone of about 10 kg, measuring 45.5 x 43 x 30 cm, that crawls along the submerged hull on natural-rubber or PVA tracks, brushing off algae and light barnacles with nylon and stainless-steel brushes and collecting residue in a filter bag so that antifouling paint is regenerated rather than stripped. It draws 350 W from a 100-240 V supply stepped down to 26.5 V DC, works on a 20 m Kevlar-reinforced cable and is driven from a wired remote with a 7-inch display and joystick. The company quotes about one hour for a 12 m boat and two hours for an 18 m boat, and lists the unit at EUR 3,986 excluding VAT with a 24-month or 500-hour warranty. The larger Maxicrab weighs 17 kg, draws 550 W, cleans 12 square metres per minute and targets yachts up to 50-60 m.
For pools, the Keelcrab Maxipool weighs about 13 kg and cleans floors and walls of pools up to 50 m long and 10 m deep at 10 square metres per minute, either autonomously or from an Android or iOS app over Wi-Fi, listing at EUR 5,986; the Aquapool Light-One covers pools up to 25 m. The range also includes a tank cleaner, an aquarium unit, a net cleaner, the Ultracrab ultrasonic antifouling device and antifouling paint products.
Robots are sold directly and through a network of Keelcrab Point partners, marine and diving professionals who resell the products and offer hull-cleaning services to boat owners. Customer testimonials on the website come from the United Kingdom, Croatia, Thailand and the United States.
Primary type & automation activities this supplier delivers:
The Keelcrab
Tethered tracked underwater drone that brushes algae and light barnacles off yacht hulls while preserving antifouling.
Maxicrab
Largest KeelCrab hull-cleaning drone, for yachts and vessels up to 50-60 m.
Keelcrab Maxipool
Pool-cleaning robot for floors and walls, autonomous or app-controlled, for pools up to 50 m.
Aquapool Light-One
Smaller autonomous or app-controlled pool drone for floor and wall cleaning in pools up to 25 m.
Contact Aeffe S.r.l.
WEBSITE
https://keelcrab.comPHONE
+39 031 890525HEADQUARTERS
Italy
Company Facts
Founded
-
Primary Role
Manufacturer
Company Size
-
Primary Region
Europe
Annual Sales
-
Funding Stage
-
Funding Total
-
Certifications & Memberships
Export Markets
