Technical inspection using drones
Drone Inspections for Industrial Maintenance
Inspecting an industrial roof, monitoring electrical cabinets at height, or checking outdoor piping without tying up a crew or setting up scaffolding: this is now possible thanks to XLG’s drone-based technical support service. Part of the Hard Facility division, this service addresses a real need among maintenance and facility managers who seek to reduce the risks associated with on-site work while maintaining a high level of technical oversight.
Industrial sites present challenges that traditional inspection methods struggle to address: great heights, confined spaces, live electrical equipment, and the risk of falls. Deploying an aerial work platform or erecting scaffolding involves significant costs in terms of labor, equipment, and time—not to mention the partial disruption to operations that this often entails.
XLG has incorporated aerial drone inspections as a direct response to these challenges. The group’s certified pilots conduct on-site inspections using professional equipment designed for industrial environments to perform precise, documented inspections that can be immediately utilized by the client’s technical teams.
The result is threefold: interventions are faster, risks to technicians are eliminated during the inspection phases, and the overall cost of the operation is significantly lower than that of a conventional inspection.
What types of inspections can be performed using drones?
Temperature Monitoring of Electrical Cabinets.
Using an onboard thermal camera, the drone detects abnormal hot spots on electrical cabinets and distribution panels. This approach makes it possible to identify emerging faults—such as loose connections, localized overloads, and components nearing the end of their service life—before they cause a failure or incident.
Inspection of outdoor power lines.
Outdoor pipeline networks (compressed air, gas, heat transfer fluids) are inspected visually and thermally from the air. The drone locates potential leaks and areas of corrosion without requiring a technician to physically access areas that are sometimes dangerous or difficult to reach.
Inspection of industrial roofs.
The condition of the gutters, the waterproofing of the membranes, and proper rainwater drainage: these are all elements that a drone can inspect in a matter of minutes, whereas a ground crew would need several hours and personal protective equipment. This application is particularly well-suited for large roof areas on industrial buildings, logistics warehouses, and production facilities.
A rigorous methodology, from the assignment to the report.
XLG doesn't just send out a drone. Every inspection mission follows a structured protocol that ensures the reliability of the results and the safety of the operation. Before any operation, a customized risk assessment is conducted:
- Website Analysis
- Identification of Regulatory Constraints
- Defining the inspection area and flight parameters.
This step is standard, regardless of the site’s size. XLG’s drone pilots are certified in accordance with current European standards (“European Territory”), which ensures their compliance with the regulatory requirements applicable to professional drone operations in Belgium, France, and Luxembourg. At the end of each mission, the client receives a comprehensive report including HD videos, annotated thermal images, and a detailed analysis of any anomalies detected. This deliverable serves as a practical operational tool: it informs the preventive maintenance plan, justifies intervention priorities, and provides a documented record for audits or insurance purposes.
A service rooted in XLG's innovation strategy.
The integration of drones into XLG’s Hard Facility offering is part of a broader effort to modernize maintenance practices. For 40 years, the group has been serving major clients in heavy industry, the service sector, and public infrastructure in Belgium, France, and Luxembourg. The adoption of technologies such as drones builds on this commitment: to provide solutions that save time, reduce risk exposure, and improve the quality of maintenance data.
For industrial site managers, this translates into fewer production stoppages due to inspections, earlier detection of anomalies, and more informed maintenance decisions. XLG provides its clients with a dedicated team to support every drone inspection project, from defining the scope to delivering the final report. To learn more or request a quote, contact our Hard Facility experts directly.
