Air Control Entech secures partnership with Stork

Air Control Entech, the certified remote inspection technology specialist, has secured a partnership with leading inspection company Stork, for its robotic inspection and pilot services, creating an additional five to 10 jobs.

The partnership enhances Air Control Entech’s position as a leader in the rapidly growing oil and gas digitalisation market, through the company’s provision of customised inspection technology.

By providing its range of state-of-the-art specialist equipment, from UAVs to ROVs and crawlers, Air Control Entech will assist in making this vital technology accessible to Stork’s client base, and is recruiting for between five and 10 new positions in the business including pilots and technicians.

Digitalisation is a rapidly growing trend in the oil and gas industry. Research conducted by Mordor Intelligence LLP forecasts an expected compound annual growth rate of over 60% during the period 2020-2025.

Kieran Hope, COO at Air Control Entech said: 

“Digitalisation within the oil and gas industry is rapidly evolving and our partnership with Stork ensures we are in a prime position to lead this through our state-of-the-art remotely operated vehicles on land, sea and air.

“We are seeing an increase in demand for new technology to meet the needs of our clients’ complex and often unique problems. Our ability to design and manufacture inspection equipment and payloads to suit our clients’ exacting requirements ensures our streamlined operational methods put fewer personnel offshore, reducing costs and business disruption to get the job done effectively, efficiently and safely. Our partnership with Stork is testament to this and we look forward to developing this relationship further.”

Air Control Entech, founded in 2016, is an independent partner, designing and implementing inspection solutions for complex and often unique problems on land, sea or in the air.

Stork delivers a complete portfolio of integrated asset lifecycle solutions; from heat treatment (Cooperheat), quality, integrity, industrial and mechanical services to plant and equipment rental, covering the full asset life cycle across a range of on and offshore sectors.

Andrew Dodds, Integrity Services Manager, at Stork commented: “This agreement helps to enhance Stork’s partnership approach to inspection; enabling us to further serve our clients with unique and cost effective inspection solutions.

“The remote digital element has already reduced manned entries to vessels and allowed for efficient in-service flare tip inspections to be carried out while retaining operational uptime. Clients can view our inspections in real-time, allowing integrity decisions and expanded surveys to be conducted in the same visit. Point cloud laser scanning, digital twin and associated isometric provision have all been delivered to several clients, providing a fundamental change in how their asset management is undertaken.

“At Stork, we have a passion for exceeding our customers’ expectations and this partnership allows clients to not only reduce the risk profile of many inspections, but provide more cost-effective and time-saving solutions.”