KOKS Robotics is the world’s leading manufacturer of remotely controlled no-man-entry robots for tank cleaning and maintenance in explosive atmospheres, holding the first and only ATEX Zone 0 certification for robotic tank cleaning systems. A division of the Dutch KOKS Group — a family-owned industrial cleaning equipment manufacturer founded in Alkmaar in 1989 — KOKS Robotics develops and produces robotic systems that eliminate the need for human entry into confined spaces, hazardous tanks and ATEX-classified zones during cleaning, inspection and sludge removal operations at oil terminals, refineries and petrochemical facilities.
Company Overview
KOKS Robotics was established after KOKS Group acquired ADROC Tech s.r.o., a Slovak robotics company originally founded on 18 January 2011 to develop robotic systems for nuclear plant decommissioning. The acquisition brought specialist robotics engineering capability into the KOKS Group alongside its existing vacuum truck and industrial cleaning equipment divisions. KOKS Robotics operates primarily from Slovakia, where its research and development and manufacturing functions are based, with commercial and support operations integrated across the broader KOKS Group network.
KOKS Group is headquartered at Diamantweg 1, Alkmaar, Netherlands, and operates eight specialised subsidiaries across the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia and the United States, with rental organisation participations in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. The US operation — KOKS United States Corporation — is based in La Porte, Texas, placing it within the Houston Ship Channel industrial corridor and directly adjacent to the Gulf Coast refining and terminal sector. The group employs approximately 300 people and is led by Rick Koks (Managing Director) and Gerard Koks (Financial Director), the second generation of the founding family.
Product Range: Tank Cleaning and Inspection Robots
KOKS Robotics’ flagship system is the KOKS ESOT (Equipment Set for Oil Tank Cleaning), designed specifically for no-man-entry maintenance of aboveground oil storage tanks in ATEX Zone 0 environments — the highest hazard classification under European explosive atmosphere directives. The ESOT system enters through a standard 24-inch (600 mm) manhole and operates in conjunction with an ADR-certified vacuum truck, which handles the discharge and transport of recovered sludge, oils, fuels and chemical substances in compliance with ASME/ADR (CEOC) regulations. The robot is constructed from AISI 316 grade stainless steel throughout and is controlled remotely from a Transportable Vented Cabin (TVC) — a patented sealed operator enclosure available in standard container, ATEX Zone 1 and ATEX Zone 2 variants. No VOC exposure occurs within the TVC, eliminating the need for additional personal protective equipment for the operating crew.
The ESOT’s patented abrasive magnetic tracks provide traction through dense oil sludge on tank floors, while a heavy-duty hydraulic arm generates up to 2,000 Nm of force in any direction. The system is capable of continuous 24/7 operation — a critical performance parameter for terminal operators scheduling tank turnarounds against tight maintenance windows. For smaller confined space applications, KOKS offers the ADEX and ADES EX robots, also ATEX Zone 0 certified, for cleaning aboveground and underground storage tanks, oil sludge pits and hazardous substance containment structures.
The KOKS POIRO inspection robot covers pipe inspection in diameters from 200 mm upward, equipped with a grabber arm for minor obstacle removal and upgradeable with gamma radiation sensing for nuclear applications. The system accommodates cable runs of up to 50 metres between inspection hatches. For underwater applications — including submerged tank floors, water basins and port infrastructure — KOKS Robotics offers a purpose-built underwater cleaning robot capable of suctioning sediment and residue in fully submerged environments. The SAKAL robot extends the range further into nuclear and hazardous waste applications, using high-pressure jetting for wall and floor cleaning in the most demanding radiological environments.
Applications at Tank Terminals and Refineries
The primary market for KOKS Robotics is oil and gas terminals and petroleum refineries — the exact audience served by tank terminal operators across the global storage sector. At these facilities, ATEX Zone 0 conditions exist inside storage tanks containing petroleum products, fuels, chemicals and solvents, where explosive gas-air mixtures at their most dangerous concentrations are possible at all times during tank cleaning operations. Historically, this work required workers to enter the tank in full personal protective equipment — a process carrying significant safety risk, high PPE cost, and productivity constraints.
The KOKS ESOT system eliminates manned entry entirely for the sludge extraction phase of tank cleaning. Common applications include: periodic tank recertification cleaning ahead of API 653 inspection; product changeover cleaning to prevent chemical cross-contamination; sediment removal from crude oil and black oil storage tanks; and decommissioning preparation for tanks undergoing lining replacement or structural repair. The robot’s 24/7 operating capability compresses turnaround time compared to shift-limited manual cleaning teams, reducing the period during which a tank is out of service — a direct commercial benefit for terminal operators whose storage utilisation is the primary revenue driver. The safety and efficiency case for no-man-entry cleaning systems is explored alongside other technology-led developments in OGSN’s coverage of sustainability and safety initiatives in tank storage and the broader shift toward autonomous operations across energy infrastructure.
Market Position and Global Reach
KOKS Robotics occupies a specialised niche within the tank cleaning and inspection equipment sector, competing with a small number of robotic system developers including Square Robot (autonomous underwater tank inspection, US) and a limited field of manual-to-robotic transition system providers. Its ATEX Zone 0 certification — the first ever granted for a robotic tank cleaning system — remains a definitive competitive differentiator in markets where regulatory compliance with European ATEX directives, IECEx international standards and UL certification is a procurement prerequisite.
Customer references span major industrial cleaning contractors and terminal operators across Europe, the Middle East and North America. ENDEGS GmbH in Germany, AQ-Rent bv in the Netherlands and multiple undisclosed terminal operators and refineries are among documented ESOT system users. KOKS Robotics operates a fleet service and maintenance model alongside direct equipment sales, offering scheduled on-site maintenance contracts that keep systems in certifiable condition between deployments. The company participates in the SPRINT Robotics ecosystem — the global network for inspection and maintenance robotics in industrial infrastructure — reflecting its positioning as a technology company as much as an equipment manufacturer. Among the independent tank terminal operators that form the core of OGSN’s readership, no-man-entry robotic cleaning is increasingly specified rather than optional — driven by tightening confined space entry regulations across European and Gulf markets.
Company Snapshot
| Parent Company | KOKS Group B.V. |
|---|---|
| KOKS Group Founded | 1989, Alkmaar, Netherlands |
| KOKS Robotics Origin | Acquired from ADROC Tech s.r.o. (founded 2011, Slovakia) |
| KOKS Group HQ | Diamantweg 1, Alkmaar, Netherlands |
| KOKS Robotics Manufacturing | Slovakia |
| US Operations | KOKS United States Corporation, La Porte, Texas |
| Group Management | Rick Koks (Managing Director), Gerard Koks (Financial Director) |
| Group Employees | ~300 |
| Key Certifications | ATEX Zone 0 (first certified robotic tank cleaning system), IECEx, UL |
| Flagship Product | KOKS ESOT — no-man-entry oil tank cleaning robot |
| Key Markets | Oil terminals, petroleum refineries, petrochemical plants, nuclear facilities |
| Website | robotics.koks.com |
What does KOKS Robotics manufacture?
KOKS Robotics manufactures remotely controlled no-man-entry robots for tank cleaning, hazardous waste removal, inspection and maintenance in explosive atmospheres. Its product range includes the KOKS ESOT oil tank cleaning system, the ADEX and ADES EX confined space cleaning robots, the POIRO pipe inspection robot, the SAKAL nuclear and hazardous waste robot, and purpose-built underwater cleaning robots.
What is ATEX Zone 0 and why does it matter for tank cleaning?
ATEX Zone 0 is the highest hazard classification under European explosive atmosphere regulations, designating areas where explosive gas-air mixtures are present continuously or for long periods. Inside petroleum storage tanks during cleaning operations, Zone 0 conditions are the standard. KOKS Robotics holds the world’s first ATEX Zone 0 certification for a robotic tank cleaning system, meaning the KOKS ESOT can legally and safely operate inside tanks where manned entry carries the highest possible explosion risk.
What is the KOKS ESOT system and how does it work?
The KOKS ESOT (Equipment Set for Oil Tank Cleaning) is a remotely controlled robot designed to clean aboveground oil storage tanks without requiring human entry into the ATEX Zone 0 hazard area. It enters through a standard 24-inch manhole, uses patented magnetic abrasive tracks to move through sludge, and works in combination with an ADR-certified vacuum truck that removes extracted material. The operator controls the system from a sealed Transportable Vented Cabin with no VOC exposure, enabling 24/7 continuous operation.
Where is KOKS Robotics based and who owns it?
KOKS Robotics is a division of KOKS Group B.V., a Dutch family-owned industrial cleaning equipment manufacturer headquartered in Alkmaar, Netherlands. KOKS Group was founded in 1989 and is led by the second generation of the founding family — Rick Koks as Managing Director and Gerard Koks as Financial Director. KOKS Robotics’ manufacturing and R&D operations are based in Slovakia, with a US subsidiary operating from La Porte, Texas.
Which industries use KOKS Robotics tank cleaning systems?
KOKS Robotics systems are used primarily at oil and gas storage terminals, petroleum refineries and petrochemical plants where ATEX Zone 0 conditions exist during tank maintenance. The company also serves the nuclear decommissioning sector (via the SAKAL robot), municipal wastewater and industrial facilities, and port infrastructure. Key applications include pre-inspection sludge removal, product changeover cleaning, tank recertification preparation and decommissioning of storage tanks.