Photo, from left to right: Mark Slaughter (Intero Integrity), Justin Paulman (Intero Integrity), Tjibbe Bouma (SPRINT Robotics), Rienk de Vries (Intero Integrity), Rudolf Essel (SPRINT Robotics), Edwin Rosier (Intero Integrity)

The SPRINT Robotics Award 2018 has been awarded to Intero Integrity. This award by the SPRINT Robotics Collaborative is awarded annually in recognition of ground-breaking collaborative work towards the acceptance of inspection and maintenance robotics in our society. The award was presented on November 13th in Galveston (Texas, USA) during the first edition of the SPRINT Robotics World Conference for Inspection and Maintenance Robotics.

Intero Integrity was awarded the prize for their collaboration with Vopak in executing an innovative robotic low flashpoint naphtha product tank floor inspection while the storage tank was in-service. For this inspection, the ATEX approved OTIS500 robot was used. This robot is developed for live deployment, eliminating the need to take the tank offline, saving man-hours and tank downtime. Additionally, by using an unmanned solution for tank inspection there are less health and safety concerns regarding the procedure and a reduction in the emission of hydrocarbon vapours and waste water.

Tjibbe Bouma, Chairman of the SPRINT Robotics Collaborative, said: ”The work performed for this successful project is a shining example of how close collaboration can accelerate breakthroughs in industry practices. The SPRINT Robotics Award recognizes the important work by Intero and their project partners to help establish robotic on-stream inspection of storage tanks as a preferred standard solution to be considered for the majority of storage tanks around the world.”

Rienk de Vries, CEO of Intero Integrity Services: “We are honoured to be acknowledged by the Sprint Robotics Collaborative for this ground-breaking tank inspection approach. With our innovation and R&D efforts we are dedicated to contribute to the industry in order to maximize safety and efficiency.”

Other winners: The 2nd place was awarded to Ecoserv for a robotic non-manned entry into an aboveground storage tank with hazardous and pyrophoric material and a damaged floating roof, in collaboration with Chevron. ExRobotics was awarded the 3rd place for the execution of a remote inspection and autonomous surveillance operation, in collaboration with TU Darmstadt’s Energy Robotics Team, NAM, Shell and UL.

About Sprint Robotics

Launched in 2015, the SPRINT Robotics Collaborative is a global not-for-profit foundation, driven by asset owners and operators to promote the development, availability, application and commercialization of robotics techniques in technical inspections and maintenance of capital- intensive infrastructure.

With industry progress and acceptance of inspection and maintenance robotics globally, the SPRINT Robotics Collaborative network continues to grow at a rapid speed. Participants include asset