MOLDE, Norway, September 18, 2024 – Axess Group has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Nearthlab, a leading provider of autonomous drone solutions, to expand its drone inspection capabilities.

Since 2017, Axess has been performing drone inspections for various assets, including tanks, bridges, platforms, and vessels. In 2024, Axess became the first DNV-approved company in Norway for the use of remote inspection techniques.

Under the MoU, Axess Group will deploy Nearthlab’s drones to conduct inspections across both onshore and offshore wind farms in Scandinavia and Africa, with inspection data managed through Nearthlab’s cloud-based analytics platform, Zoomable.

Håvard Sletvold, Group Director – AIM at Axess Group, said, “This partnership is a testament to our commitment to using the latest technology. From our experience, using drones for inspections has proven to improve efficiency and accuracy while also enhancing safety and lowering manpower requirements. By adding autonomous drones to our equipment portfolio, we are further advancing our capabilities, offering even greater precision and operational effectiveness.”

Jay Choi, CEO and co-founder of Nearthlab, said, “Efficient inspections are crucial for maintaining wind turbines that endure significant fatigue loads. Through this partnership, our drones will be able to help numerous wind farms operate at their peak efficiency.” Nearthlab has been redefining drone solutions since 2015, pushing practical boundaries beyond conventional standards. By enabling faster, safer, and more cost-effective inspections with proprietary AI drones, Nearthlab shortens inspection time to 15 minutes, helping wind farm operators maximise the efficiency and longevity of their assets.

Header photo: © Nearthlab