MANUFACTURER of underwater drones, UUV Aquabotix (ASX: UUV), is expanding into Japan as it adds new distributors to the Aquabotix global network.
Hydro Systems Development is the 10th distributor Aquabotix has appointed in the past four months and it will work to get Aquabotix underwater robotics products into Japan, the world's third largest economy.
While the bottom line is always a consideration, Aquabotix chief development officer Ted Curley says bringing on new distributors means more than just a sales opportunity.
"Our new distributors bring unique industry expertise to our business, and knowledge about many of our primary markets, including aquaculture and defence," says Curley.
"They will be essential partners for Aquabotix as we further expand our channels to sale throughout the world and target new regions impacted by the growing underwater drone market, where we have not conducted sales to date."
Hydro Systems Development, which will represent Aquabotix in Japan, is a developer of underwater sensing systems for both the marine and in-land water sectors.
Hydro's customers include national hydrographic and oceanographic institutes, universities, governmental authorities and other private companies.
Aquabotix has also increased its presence in Australia and New Zealand with the addition of Seismic Asia Pacific as a distributor.
Seismic Asia Pacific, based in Salisbury, Queensland, is a provider of hydrographic, oceanographic and geophysical systems within Australia and throughout south east Asia.
Seismic also provides hardware and software equipment and system solutions to local government, defence and resource specific sectors.
David Batista, the CEO of Aquabotix, says the additional distributors will further grow the brand globally.
"We are excited to grow our network of distributors who will work to increase Aquabotix's brand and presence globally," says Batista.
"The fact that a well-known Japanese industry specialist company is now distributing our products in the very demanding and technologically advanced Japanese market is a testament to the quality and functionality of our products."
Shares in Aquabotix are down 2.00 per cent to $0.10 per share at 11.45am AEDT.
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