MontiPower and Voliro Partner to Bring Bristle Blasting to Aerial Robotics

MontiPower and Voliro have announced a strategic partnership to integrate Bristle Blaster® surface preparation technology into Voliro's autonomous aerial robotic platform. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in the evolution of industrial surface preparation — bringing grit-free, standard-compliant surface treatment to structures that were previously inaccessible without scaffolding or rope access.

What This Partnership Means for Surface Preparation

Voliro develops autonomous aerial robots capable of physical interaction with surfaces in complex environments. By integrating the Bristle Blaster® tool into these platforms, the partnership enables:

• Surface preparation on elevated steel structures without scaffolding
• Preparation to SSPC-SP10 / Sa 2½ standards from an aerial position
• Significant reduction in personnel at height and associated safety risks
• Consistent anchor profile creation (65–85 µm Rz) across hard-to-reach surfaces

Why Bristle Blasting and Aerial Robotics Are a Natural Fit

Traditional grit blasting cannot be performed aerially — the weight, compressed air requirements, and containment needs make it incompatible with drone-based platforms. The Bristle Blaster® is different. It is a compact, self-contained rotary wire tool that creates a grit-blast-equivalent anchor profile through mechanical impact and wire geometry. No abrasive media, no containment tent, no heavy compressor required.

This makes it uniquely suited for integration into autonomous robotic systems, including aerial platforms operating on bridges, offshore topsides, wind turbine towers, and industrial infrastructure.

The Broader Vision: Autonomous Surface Preparation

The MontiPower–Voliro partnership is part of a broader industry shift toward robotics-driven maintenance. As asset owners look to reduce manual labor, improve safety, and maintain maintenance schedules on aging infrastructure, robotic surface preparation becomes a critical capability.

MontiPower brings decades of experience in mechanical surface preparation and a proven product that meets international standards. Voliro brings cutting-edge aerial robotics and autonomous positioning technology. Together, they represent a new category: Aerial Physical AI for industrial maintenance.

Applications

• Wind turbine towers and nacelles
• Bridge steelwork and expansion joints
• Offshore platform topsides and risers
• Industrial tanks and elevated piping
• Telecom towers and transmission infrastructure

About Voliro

Voliro is a Swiss deep-tech company developing autonomous aerial robots for physical interaction with infrastructure. Their systems are designed to perform contact-based tasks — inspection, cleaning, and now surface preparation — in environments where human access is costly, dangerous, or impractical.

Get in Touch

Interested in how aerial robotic surface preparation could apply to your maintenance program? Contact MontiPower to learn more about the partnership and upcoming pilot programs.