PLACING A PREMIUM ON SAFETY WITH STATE-OF-THE-ART OIL TANK CLEANING TECHNOLOGY

Re-Gen Robotics’ Commercial Director

Chris Platt discusses what innovation looks like for him and his team of designers and engineers as they work on revolutionising safety and efficiency in the tank cleaning sector.

Chris joined Re-Gen Robotics as Commercial Director in February 2023. He brings extensive senior-level and technical experience in oil and gas operations, health and safety, and project management to the no man entry robotic tank cleaning company.

A chemical engineer with over 35 years’ experience in world-scale oil and gas processes in refineries and storage terminals, Chris has a track record of delivery in multi-national and rapidly growing businesses.

He says his coalface experience in innovating in his sector has made him optimistic about the direction that the future of tank cleaning is heading.

“Re-Gen Robotics has access to the latest and best in technology and innovation and over the last few years has responded to the demand in the industry for safe, reliable and affordable robotic tank cleaning solutions. Our patented tank cleaning service is significantly reducing clients’ risks and improving the uptime of their assets. Since 2019, we have removed sludge and waste deposits from more than 50 crude oil and middle distillates tanks in the UK, with our Zone 0 Ex-certified technology.

“As new technology emerges, people reskill and upskill and what is so exciting for us is that we can actually create more jobs than those being replaced. Overall, the demand for no man entry cleaning is growing rapidly, but we still need experienced personnel to control the robots. Essentially, we are creating better-paying jobs and conditions as a result of our technological advances.

“The robotic operator manages all aspects of the tank clean from a dedicated, airconditioned control room through a series of ATEX cameras and gas monitoring equipment. This ensures every clean, no matter what category of tank, is safe and straightforward as the operation is remotely controlled.

“A key part of our business strategy is the commitment to continually invest in new product development to drive safety and efficiency in the industry. We are currently working on an advanced range of telemetry technology in our vacuum trucks, new tech for our control units, robots and supplementary equipment including washing and suction heads.

“The team is also exploring and trialling a fuel reclamation system which will enable crews to separate solids and liquids to reduce the volume of waste for disposal and, in so doing, recover viable materials for clients’ use.

“Our ambitious, young team is driving the company’s success. It is ready to meet the needs of our customers, staying close to them to establish what additional features we can create to provide them with most value.”

Since 2019, Re-Gen Robotics has committed over £7 million in investment across all key areas of their service. In order to lay the ground for a sustainable future, Re-Gen Robotics has scaled up and is working hard to get the message out about its pioneering solution to prospective clients in Europe and the USA.