HMT has announced two strategic collaborations aimed at enhancing its inspection capabilities and helping customers address the growing challenges associated with asset integrity management across the oil and gas and industrial sectors.
The company has partnered with Aero Velocity, a provider of advanced drone-enabled inspection and digital asset intelligence solutions, and Arix Technologies, a specialist in robotic inspection technologies for pipelines and Corrosion Under Insulation (CUI). Together, these collaborations strengthen HMT’s ability to deliver safer, more efficient, and data-driven inspection services while maintaining the technical rigor and reliability expected by customers.
Addressing evolving inspection challenges
As operators face increasing pressure to improve safety, reduce downtime, and comply with stricter regulatory requirements, inspection programs are becoming more complex. Aging infrastructure, hazardous operating environments, and difficult-to-access assets continue to challenge traditional inspection approaches.
Critical assets such as aboveground storage tanks, internal floating roof tanks, terminal piping systems, process piping, pressure vessels, flare systems, structural steel, and large industrial facilities often require extensive planning, specialized access methods, and, in some cases, costly operational disruptions to facilitate inspections.
While conventional inspection methods remain essential, industry demands are driving the adoption of complementary technologies that can improve access, enhance data quality, and reduce personnel exposure to hazardous environments.
Leveraging advanced inspection technologies
Through its collaboration with Aero Velocity, HMT is expanding its capabilities in drone-enabled visual inspections, thermal imaging, and digital asset intelligence. These technologies enable the collection of high-quality visual and spatial data while improving access to hard-to-reach locations and reducing the need for personnel to work in elevated, confined, or otherwise challenging environments.
At the same time, the partnership with Arix Technologies enhances HMT’s ability to address one of the industry’s most persistent integrity concerns: Corrosion Under Insulation. By utilising advanced robotic pipeline inspection systems, operators can obtain critical condition data in areas where conventional inspection methods may be difficult, disruptive, or costly to implement.
Together, these technologies provide customers with a broader range of inspection options while maintaining the consistency, accountability, and quality standards associated with HMT’s inspection programmes.
Enhancing data quality and decision-making
The integration of drone and robotic technologies into HMT’s inspection services is designed to support more informed maintenance and integrity management decisions. Benefits include improved access to challenging environments, reduced personnel exposure to risk, enhanced documentation for compliance and maintenance planning, and faster collection of visual, thermal, and spatial data with minimal operational disruption.
In active terminals, refineries, processing facilities, and other operating environments where safety and efficiency are critical, these capabilities can significantly improve inspection planning and execution while helping operators make more confident decisions regarding asset performance and maintenance priorities.
A more integrated approach to Asset Integrity
The new collaborations reflect HMT’s commitment to delivering a comprehensive inspection strategy that combines established expertise with advanced technologies tailored to specific asset types and operating conditions.
By integrating drone-enabled inspections, robotic assessment technologies, and traditional inspection methodologies, HMT can provide a more complete understanding of asset condition while aligning inspection techniques with the unique requirements of each project.
This approach offers several advantages, including improved safety through reduced human exposure to hazardous environments, greater operational efficiency, enhanced insight for maintenance planning, and more flexible execution across both routine and highly complex inspection scopes.
Additionally, customers benefit from streamlined project delivery through a single provider capable of coordinating multiple advanced inspection solutions under one integrated programme.
Supporting smarter Asset Management
The expansion of HMT’s inspection capabilities underscores the growing role of advanced technologies in modern asset integrity management. Rather than replacing proven inspection practices, drones and robotics serve as powerful tools that enhance existing programs by providing additional visibility, better data, and improved operational flexibility.
Whether supporting routine tank inspections, evaluating confined spaces, assessing pipeline integrity, or addressing corrosion-related challenges, these technologies help operators focus resources more effectively and reduce uncertainty in critical decision-making processes.
Looking ahead
As industrial operators continue to seek safer, more efficient ways to manage critical infrastructure, HMT’s collaborations with Aero Velocity and Arix Technologies represent an important step forward in the evolution of inspection services.
By combining deep field expertise with advanced inspection technologies, HMT is expanding its ability to support customers in reducing risk, improving efficiency, and extending the operational life of critical assets. The company remains focused on delivering innovative solutions that help customers make smarter decisions, strengthen asset integrity programmes, and achieve stronger long-term outcomes.
For more information visit www.hmttank.com
