RAID storage start-up Data Robotics has employed the services of distributor Bell Micro to help it scale across Europe.

The vendor, which makes eight- and four-drive storage arrays for SMEs and consumers, has shipped 85,000 units since it was founded two years ago.

Mike Collins, Data Robotics’ EMEA channel director, said Bell would help it “extend the brand across Europe in the quickest and most efficient way”.

Data Robotics’ DroboPro and Drobo offerings include self-monitoring and self-healing features designed to ensure the highest levels of data protection. A third product, DroboShare, turns Drobo into a network attached storage appliance.

The partnership covers nine European countries, including the UK, Germany, France, Spain, Italy and the Netherlands.

Data Robotics describes its technology as "BeyondRAID" rather than just RAID, claiming that Drobo storage arrays provide the protection of traditional RAID without the complexity.

David Chantry, product marketing manager at Bell, said: “Businesses that deploy DroboPro can maintain uptime in the face of constant data growth and enjoy enterprise-level business continuity features, including protection against multiple, concurrent drive failure and non-disruptive capacity expansion with thin provisioning.”