Qlayers has been Prequalified with ADNOC for Robotic Tank Coating

Qlayers has been prequalified as a technology supplier with ADNOC, working through its regional partner, Kanoo Energy. This opens the way for robotic coating to be specified on storage tanks and industrial assets across one of the most demanding operating environments in the Gulf.

Prequalification confirms that the technology and the supplier meet ADNOC’s standards for consideration of future work, and it is a necessary step before any deployment can be discussed.

What the partnership covers

Kanoo Energy acts as Qlayers’ robotic coating technology distributor in the region, handling commercial engagement and local support. The combination matters in a market where familiarity with client procedures, site requirements and contractor relationships often determines whether new technology gets a fair hearing.

The technology on offer

The Qlayers robotic coating system is built for exterior and interior tank coating, and several elements are relevant to operators managing large asset portfoflios.

A patented spray-shielding system  contains the coating close to the surface. This limits overspray, improves transfer efficiency and reduces the release of material into the surrounding environment, which is a recurring constraint on live sites and in areas with neighbouring infrastructure.

The system operates as a remotely controlled magnetic crawler on the asset itself, with the majority of the work is carried out from the ground. That shift reduces exposure to one of the most persistent risk factors in coating work and simplifies access planning.

Application speed shortens coating process up to 50%, which in turn reduces the period an asset spends out of service. For operators, downtime is often the dominant cost in a maintenance campaign, ahead of labour and materials.

Quality data is captured automatically as the robot works. Layer thickness, coverage and application conditions are recorded across the full surface rather than at sampled points, producing a traceable record that complements conventional inspection and supports handover documentation.

Paint conditioning allows the system to heat or cool coating material, extending the range of ambient temperatures and wind conditions in which application remains within specification. In the Gulf, where summer conditions regularly fall outside standard application windows, this is a practical consideration rather than a marginal one.

The platform works with a broad range of established industrial coating systems, so specifications do not need to be rewritten around the equipment.

What it means in practice

For an operator with a large tank portfolio, robotic application is not a replacement for a coating crew. It is a way of handling the repetitive, large-area work more consistently and with less time spent at height, while skilled applicators concentrate on detail, edges and obstructed sections.

Organisations interested in how the technology could apply to their assets can contact the Kanoo Energy team to discuss requirements.