Drone inspection of tank at Topsoe

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At Topsoe, a team of reliability engineers continuously works to improve the plant’s equipment and ensure stable operations. The production of catalysts requires precise monitoring of process equipment, and to avoid costly downtime, it is essential to track the condition of assets – including hard-to-reach installations such as tanks and silos. Topsoe therefore wanted to minimize the need for employees to enter confined or enclosed spaces.

To address this challenge, Topsoe partnered with Drone Eksperten, who delivered a solution based on the Elios 3 drone. This drone is specially designed to operate in confined spaces and enables both visual inspections and ultrasonic thickness (UT) measurements. This makes it possible to assess the condition of equipment without sending personnel into enclosed areas – only calling them in when actual repairs or maintenance are needed.

After each inspection, Drone Eksperten provides a full report documenting any damage, wear, and developments over time. This gives Topsoe a solid foundation for planning equipment replacements and lifetime extensions. The collaboration has been characterized by responsiveness and initiative, and with drone technology, Topsoe can now monitor equipment condition continuously – safely, efficiently, and without unnecessary risk to employees.