Voliro‘s advanced aerial robotics technology is transforming Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) inspections.
Inspecting tall structures traditionally requires scaffolding or rope access, both of which are costly, time-intensive, and risky for human inspectors working at heights.
Designed to perform precise, contact-based inspections, Voliro drones are equipped with various NDT and Lightning Protection System (LPS) sensors. These drones enhance safety, efficiency, and accuracy, addressing a wide range of inspection needs.
Acuren: Non-Destructive Testing and Industrial Services
Acuren is a provider of NDT and rope access industrial services serving over 8,650 customer sites through a workforce of 5,300+ employees across more than 90 locations in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
By leveraging advanced technology and optimizing access methods, Acuren minimizes the need for scaffolding and frequently performs inspections without requiring plant shutdowns. Inspections that once took days can now often be completed in just hours.
Case Study: Acuren’s Innovative Flare Stack Inspection
Acuren used the Voliro T drone, equipped with a UT payload, to conduct a thickness measurement inspection on an in-service 200-foot flare stack at a California refinery.
The inspection’s objective was to gather critical data before the facility’s next planned turnaround, presenting a major improvement over traditional methods that require shutdowns.
The Voliro T drone completed the inspection in just 2 hours, a dramatic improvement compared to the typical 3-day timeframe required with cranes and technicians. Traditional methods also necessitate taking the stack out of service, a step avoided by employing the drone-based solution.
This innovative approach saved the refinery considerable downtime and operational costs, including approximately $150,000 in crane rentals and labor expenses.
Additionally, it enhanced safety by minimizing personnel exposure to hazardous conditions and ensured smoother operations during the turnaround.
The refinery expressed high satisfaction with the reduced downtime and the improved data quality obtained through Acuren’s cutting-edge methods. This successful implementation demonstrated how advanced technology can improve efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and safety in industrial inspections.
