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Apellix presented the key benefits of its specialized drones for industrial cleaning , coating, and painting during an interview with Nader Khakpour, the company’s sales representative at NISTM 2026. He explained that these solutions are designed to transform traditionally complex, costly, and high-risk tasks, particularly those involving storage tanks and elevated structures.
The scope and multiple uses of inspection drones in industry
Khakpour pointed out that one of the main contributions of Apellix’s technology is the reduction of personnel exposure to working at heights. In tank cleaning processes that can normally require up to two weeks of work using ladders or other access systems, the use of drones allows for gentle washing operations to be carried out at a height of approximately 200 feet, with a flight autonomy of 32 minutes.
The representative also mentioned that Apellix owns a drone that complies with the National Defense Authorization Act ( NDAA ), manufactured with U.S. components. This feature allows its operation in military, federal, and government facilities, where security and technological origin requirements are more stringent.
Furthermore, the specialist indicated that the company’s drones can be integrated into structured inspection programs because they include an onboard camera to support visual inspections. This allows for combining inspection activities with maintenance tasks, such as cleaning surfaces on tanks and other industrial structures.
The drones implement the Air Trace system , a technology that allows the drone to autonomously clean areas designated by the operator, who can define specific zones using squares or work sections. It has the capability to be applied in painting and coating activities, where the equipment can maintain level and execute vertical passes according to defined parameters.
Regarding performance, Apellix states that its paint and coating application drones can cover between 2,000 and 3,000 square feet per hour, depending on job conditions, height, location, and surface size. Khakpour added that, while all such technology faces limitations primarily related to operating range and required height, the company has developed solutions capable of coating tanks from the bottom up using automated assistance.
Regarding durability, the spokesperson assured that Apellix drones are designed to exceed the average lifespan of other drones used in similar applications. While some units on the market may have a lifespan of around two years, Khakpour stated that the company’s drones are projected to last between four and five years, backed by warranties, technical support, and specialized engineering.
Finally, the representative invited companies interested in learning about the technology to contact Apellix to schedule demonstrations of their gentle washing, spray painting, and industrial coating solutions. The company maintains its contact channels available through its website and sales team.
Source and photo: Inspenet | Apellix