ICM makes history once again by being awarded a contract to perform the first inspection of a power plant cooling tower with a climbing robot. A major research organization recently awarded the contract to ICM to perform this remote inspection at a power plant in West Virginia, USA. This initial inspection will be performed using the ICM climbing robot integrated with shear wave technology and a positioning/ mapping system. It will be a verification deployment intended to inspect a focused region of the cooling tower. “No one has done anything like this before,” stated Sam Maggio, President of ICM. “For years people have said that they need this type of robotic inspection on large concrete structures such as cooling towers. Yet, when they asked us if we have climbed on a cooling tower with our robot, we had to admit we had not. Now that will all change. Having a physical case history of the ICM Robot deploying on a cooling tower will provide the physical evidence that many people need.”

Over the past several years, ICM has deployed on other large concrete structures such a hydroelectric dams, concrete walls at DOE facilities, and even containment domes in Nuclear plants, but this will be the first deployment on an actual cooling tower. The work is slated for mid November 2016. ICM was incorporated in 2001 and was awarded a patent on its technology in 2003. Since 2005 it has deployed its climbing robot technology in many industries and markets around the world. The ICM robots can climb on ferrous and non-ferrous metals, composites, brick, wood, concrete, and they can climb on very rough surfaces or even on many surfaces with plates of bolts rising up from the surface. “We have no doubt our robot will work,” Maggio explained. “ICM robots have climbed on large concrete surfaces so we have no doubts at all. However, it will satisfy those who want someone else to be the first to actually use the ICM technology on a cooling tower. We hope this will yield great interest and revenues in 2017 and beyond.” ICM Robots can deploy virtually any sensor or tool and then remotely perform the work. This prevents workers from being subjected to hazardous conditions or toxins. ICM robots are also being considered by the DOE to spray on coatings that can be used to decontaminate large concrete structures. There are no limits to the capabilities that can be added to an ICM climbing robot. To learn more about ICM robots, go to www.icm.cc or call 607 288 4001 USA.