Waygate Technologies and PETRONAS sign agreement to roll out co-developed robotic inspection solution

HUERTH, Germany, and KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, March 28, 2022 – Waygate Technologies, a Baker Hughes business and world leader in nondestructive testing (NDT) solutions for industrial inspection, has signed an intellectual property and technology agreement with Malaysian oil and gas company Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS) for the roll-out and commercialization of a jointly developed robotic inspection platform. The official signing ceremony took place at the 2022 Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) Asia in Kuala Lumpur (March 22-25).

The new robotic crawler platform, based on the BIKE robotic system, will initially be implemented by PETRONAS globally while Waygate Technologies will support the deployment with a comprehensive training and services package. The two companies will also explore commercialization of robotic crawler solutions in the future.

PETRONAS will deploy a refined version of the standard BIKE robot that will be fitted with a cleaning tool and additional ultrasonic and eddy current inspection capabilities. The two companies are also planning to jointly develop two new versions of the platform; the BIKE I-Beam, designed to overcome specific obstacles and sharp edges in confined spaces, and a micro crawler version to facilitate inspection of smaller pipes.

“PETRONAS has been a valued customer of our NDT solutions for years and we are thrilled to now also be able to help advance their remote inspection and cleaning procedures,” says Michael Domke, executive general manager, Visual and Robotic Inspection Solutions at Waygate Technologies. “Our R&D teams have been working closely together to tailor our robotic BIKE platform to their specific challenges. The result is a solution that will allow PETRONAS to minimize safety risks for their personnel as well as the overall downtime of their assets around the globe”.

“We are really glad to join forces with the Robotics team at Waygate Technologies on this,” says Dr Mahpuzah Abai, chief executive officer (CEO) of PETRONAS’ technology commercialization arm, PETRONAS Technology Ventures Sdn Bhd (PTVSB). “They have a great deal of experience and patents in mobile robots and inspection technologies. By pairing that with the know-how and vision of our R&D team, we could create solutions that will benefit our inspection and cleaning staff as well as streamlining our asset management. I look forward to offering these solutions to other companies in the future”.

For Waygate Technologies, the agreement seals another milestone in the business’ strategy to strengthen its automated data caption capabilities and drive innovations that will enhance its customers' productivity and competitiveness. As part of an energy technology company, robotic inspection solutions are part of the mission to make energy operations safer and more efficient for people and the planet.
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About Waygate Technologies

Waygate Technologies, a Baker Hughes business, is an industrial inspection solutions provider and the world leader in nondestructive testing (NDT) ensuring safety, quality and productivity. We combine more than 125 years of experience and a collection of heritage brands including Krautkrämer, phoenix|x-ray, Seifert, Everest and Agfa NDT. Today, hundreds of brands in the automotive, aviation, space exploration, electronics, energy, battery and additive industries trust our technologies. We drive digital transformation through a broad portfolio of award-winning solutions in industrial radiography and computed tomography (CT), remote visual inspection (RVI), ultrasound (UT), eddy current, and robotic inspection. Headquartered in Germany, Waygate Technologies is part of the Digital Solutions segment of Baker Hughes (NASDAQ: BKR). Inspection starts here: waygate-tech.com
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About Petroliam Nasional Berhad

We are a dynamic global energy group with presence in over 50 countries. We produce and deliver energy and solutions that power society’s progress in a responsible and sustainable manner.

We seek energy potential across the globe, optimising value through our integrated business model. Our portfolio includes cleaner conventional and renewable resources and a ready range of advanced products and adaptive solutions.

Sustainability is at the core of what we do as we harness the good in energy to elevate and enrich lives. People are our strength and partners for growth, driving our passion for innovation to progress towards the future of energy sustainability.

Media Contact

Waygate Technologies

Henning Juknat
​Global Communications Leader
​Waygate Technologies
​+49 2233 601272
​henning.juknat@bakerhughes.com
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PETRONAS

Taufik Atman
​+60 19 669 957)
​taufik.atman@petronas.com