$420,000 Saved in Elios 1 Test by Argentinian Energy Company, Subsequently Invests in Elios 2
$420,000 Saved with Elios 1 by an Argentinian Energy Giant, Now Investing in Elios 2
Pampa EnergÃa, Argentina’s leading independent energy company, saved $420,000 during its first test of the Elios 1 for boiler inspections and later chose to invest in the Elios 2. This move has transformed their maintenance procedures, making them safer, faster, and more cost-effective.
Key Benefits at a Glance
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Safety By using the Elios 1 instead of sending inspectors into dangerous environments inside boilers, Pampa EnergÃa significantly reduced the risks associated with manual inspections. The drone allows for remote data collection, keeping workers out of harm's way. |
ROI The Elios 1 helped identify that burners in one of the plant’s boilers were already worn out before the warranty expired. This allowed Pampa EnergÃa to save $420,000 by avoiding scaffolding costs, downtime, and unnecessary part replacements under warranty. |
Speed & EfficiencyBoiler inspections, which once took seven days, were cut down to just 20 minutes. Downtime was also reduced from seven days to two, as the boiler only needed time to cool down before inspection. |
Company Overview
Pampa EnergÃa is the largest independent energy company in Argentina, operating across all sectors of power generation. As part of their routine maintenance, they regularly inspect boilers at their power plants, which typically involves setting up scaffolding and taking several days to complete each inspection.
Each boiler requires a full week of downtime due to the time needed for scaffolding setup, inspection, and dismantling. With multiple boilers per plant, this leads to significant operational delays and financial loss.
Customer Needs
With mandatory biannual inspections required by law, Pampa EnergÃa faced a major challenge in maintaining compliance without disrupting operations. Each inspection meant losing valuable production time, and the logistical burden of managing multiple scaffolds was immense.
Due to safety concerns, high costs, and inefficiencies, Pampa EnergÃa sought a better solution. After researching, they discovered Flyability’s Elios 1, a compact drone designed specifically for indoor inspections like those in boilers.
Elios 1 Tested at Pampa EnergÃa's BahÃa Blanca Plant
The first test of the Elios 1 took place at Pampa EnergÃa’s BahÃa Blanca power plant, one of the largest in Argentina. In just 20 minutes, the drone captured all necessary visual data for a full inspection of one boiler.
Flyability's Elios 1 in flight
Impressed by the speed and efficiency, the team decided to inspect a second boiler on the same day. The results were shocking—burners were in such poor condition that restarting them would have been risky and costly.
A $420,000 Inspection
The images collected by the Elios 1 provided clear evidence of the damaged burners, allowing Pampa EnergÃa to file an insurance claim and recover the full cost of replacement. The savings included:
- Scaffolding savings = $30,000
- Downtime avoided = $290,000
- Insurance reimbursement = $100,000
Total savings = $420,000
Elios 2 Adopted Based on Success of Elios 1
Following the success of the Elios 1, Pampa EnergÃa began using it widely for boiler inspections. When the Elios 2 was released in 2019, they immediately tested it and were even more impressed.
A picture taken by the Elios 2 at one of Pampa EnergÃa's plants
The Elios 2 offers improved imaging, advanced stabilization, and easier operation. It has since been approved by formal inspection bodies and is now used across all of Pampa EnergÃa’s power plants, including coal, gas, and hydropower facilities.
Looking ahead, Pampa EnergÃa plans to establish an in-house drone team at each site, equipped with its own Elios 2 and trained pilots. This investment marks a major shift toward smarter, safer, and more efficient maintenance practices.
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