Surface Corrosion Consultants Launches New UAV Service

Surface Corrosion Consultants Ltd., Europe’s largest coating inspection company, has announced the launch of a new UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) inspection service which is set to transform operations for a number of cross-sector industries.

The Belfast-headquartered company, which specializes in comprehensive paint inspection, NDT inspection and corrosion prevention, will be deploying its UAV service to monitor and inspect corrosion for its clients across the UK and Europe.

The new UAV service will offer long-term solutions such as reduced overheads and operating costs, as well as a host of health and safety benefits compared with the traditional manual inspection survey methods.

The use of UAVs is quickly becoming the preferred technique for coating and paint Inspection across a wide range of sectors including oil and gas, construction, renewables, marine, industrial and transport and infrastructure.

Rab Grainger, Surface Corrosion Consultants technical director, said UAV technology plays a fundamental role in the future management of corrosion. “UAV services relating to the inspection sector has seen huge advancement in recent times as companies begin to understand the benefits of incorporating this form of inspection into their maintenance and repair budgets,” said Grainger.

“UAV inspection is the safest alternative to any manned inspection survey method.
“Using a UAV reduces the risk of our inspectors being exposed to working at height and removes any associated, unnecessary risk,” added Grainger. “Essentially, UAV inspection can provide a number of solutions to combat what were once potential issues within the inspection and coatings survey market.”

UAV inspections offer a number of cost saving benefits as the surveys can be carried out while an asset is still operational reducing costs associated with isolating an area or shutting down an entire asset. Further cost savings are achieved as companies generally no longer require a manual process such as rope access technicians, mobile elevating work platforms or scaffolds.

“Multiple areas can be surveyed in a short period of time transforming what was conventionally a lengthy task into a much more efficient and safe process,” Grainger noted.