At the 27th Annual International Aboveground Storage Tank Conference & Trade Show (NISTM 2025), Kimberley Hayes, president and founder of Valkim Technologies, shared the progress and challenges of her company, recognized for its disruptive approach to integrating NDE 4.0 into the industry of storage tank inspection.
During the interview, Hayes highlighted the positive impact of his participation in the event, underlining the growing interest of decision-makers in adopting new technologies.
We’ve had a lot of engagement from real decision makers who are really looking to implement change. So, it has been a very good conference.
he stated.
Innovation in robotics for explosive environments
One of the breakthroughs presented by Hayes was the development of a pioneering robotic platform: an intrinsically safe intrinsically safe robotATEX and IECEx Zone 0 certified robot designed to operate in explosive environments. The idea, which came almost impromptu in a garage after his decision to found Valkim Technologies, has evolved into a solution that already performs industrial inspections in extreme conditions.
With the backing of companies such as Chevron, the company was able to make this breakthrough without resorting to venture capital investment, privileging its technological independence and commitment to ethically driven solutions.
Despite his achievements, Hayes acknowledged that financing remains a constant challenge. His strategic decision to avoid venture capital implies limitations on the speed of new project development. He also identified another challenge: finding specific problems that new technologies can solve directly.
Valkim Technologies’ global commitment
Valkim Technologies reaffirms its global vocation, already having a presence in Europe through an office in the Netherlands. Hayes emphasized their mission as “agents of change” within the industry, inviting more companies to collaborate in the validation and adoption of innovative technologies that improve the safety and efficiency of industrial operations.
For more information, interested parties can contact Valkim Technologies via. LinkedInwhere the company shares frequent updates on its developments and activities.
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Source and photo: Inspenet
