A Welsh manufacturer of darts equipment has snapped up a fast-growing technology business that automates scoring, in a deal aimed at reshaping how the sport is played and watched.
Nodor, based in Bridgend and backed by private equity firm Inflexion, has acquired Autodarts for an undisclosed sum. The company said the move would help “deliver the most advanced playing, training and competition experiences for players worldwide.”
Autodarts uses cameras mounted above or around the board to detect where darts land and instantly calculate scores. The technology already has more than 85,000 players worldwide using the system to train, compete online and play socially.
The acquisition comes as darts enjoys a surge in popularity. Luke Littler’s remarkable victory this year as the youngest ever world darts champion has brought fresh attention to the game, inspiring new fans and players.
Even elite professionals are backing the tech. Michael van Gerwen, the three-time world champion and Winmau ambassador, said: “I’ve been playing professional darts for nearly 20 years and this next-generation technology is an absolute game-changer. Online play, training programs, connecting the darts community across the globe — it will take the sport to the next level.”
Vince Bluck, managing director of Nodor, said the deal represented a natural evolution for the company: “By combining our world-class equipment with their world-class technology, we are creating a platform that not only supports players at every level but also redefines how the game is played, practised and enjoyed globally.”
Founded in 1973 by John Bluck, a Ford motor engineer, Nodor was born out of an ambition to make tungsten darts more affordable for working men. John and his wife Gill built up the Red Dragon brand, acquiring Nodor in 1983 and rival Winmau in 2002.
In 2023, private equity group Inflexion acquired a majority stake in the business for tens of millions of pounds, giving it fresh capital to expand.
The addition of Autodarts reflects the trend of sports increasingly blending tradition with technology. For darts, it means eliminating disputes over scores, enabling seamless online play, and offering new opportunities to collect player data and develop training tools.
With the weight of Nodor’s global brands behind it — from Winmau dartboards to Red Dragon tungsten arrows — the partnership aims to establish darts not only as a pub game and professional sport, but as a connected, data-driven global community.
