Voliro Acquires Sixpec PEC Technology to Advance Drone-Based NDT

Voliro AG has acquired the intellectual property (IP) rights of Sixpec, the developer of Pulsed Eddy Current (PEC) sensor technology, to advance drone-enabled non-destructive testing (NDT) solutions.

The PEC inspection method identifies hidden flaws, including Corrosion Under Insulation (CUI), a costly challenge in heavy industries. By enabling non-destructive testing, PEC eliminates the need for traditional approaches that require insulation removal, scaffolding, or rope access, reducing costs, time, and safety risks.

Voliro’s PEC technology has been deployed at scale across the United States, Canada, Europe, and the APAC region, demonstrating global trust and adoption as well as ensuring long-term innovation and availability for critical industries worldwide.

Osprey Integrity conducted the first drone-based PEC workflow at Canada’s largest refinery. Aerial PEC inspections on insulated tanks proved the solution’s resilience and accuracy under extreme conditions.

TICS, Hummingbird, TEAM, and Georgia-Pacific, other leading inspection providers, have also adopted Voliro’s aerial PEC technology for CUI detection. This emphasizes Voliro’s establishment of aerial PEC as the trusted standard for non-destructive testing across geographies.

Giovanni Schirra, Sixpec’s co-founder and PEC technology expert, is collaborating with Voliro to enhance the airborne PEC solution and ensure the innovations meet the needs of oil and gas, petrochemicals, and infrastructure sectors.

Florian Gutzwiller, CEO of Voliro, stated, “Sixpec’s PEC sensor laid the foundation for a breakthrough in non-destructive testing. With this acquisition, Voliro continues to demonstrate its leadership and commitment to advancing aerial Pulsed Eddy Current technology for CUI detection, while expanding its open platform to deliver safer and more cost-efficient inspections. We are proud to carry this technology forward together with Giovanni and his team’s expertise.”

Timo Müller, Co-founder and VP Product at Voliro, added, “This acquisition is about our commitment to scaling impact. By combining Voliro’s aerial robotics expertise with Sixpec’s PEC innovation, we are tackling one of the industry’s biggest challenges in a way that prioritizes efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and above all, safety.”

The securing of Sixpec’s IP follows a year-long partnership between Voliro and Sixpec, including the first drone-based PEC payload being launched in March 2025.

The PEC payload was Voliro’s first third-party sensor integration, reinforcing the company’s commitment to an open aerial robotics platform and providing the industry with advanced inspection technologies.

By acquiring Sixpec’s IP, Voliro aims to accelerate further productization and integration of advanced NDT payloads, providing customers with strong versatility and inspection performance.