NDTnet 2002 News Archive

2003 News Archive
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December 2003
Miniature rad-hard Cameras
A cost-effective solution to monitoring and measurement in high radiation environments.
Ultrasonic probes for NDT, industrial measurement, energy and environmental applications
Cordis Database Results
New TOFD course at Sonovation, start February 9, 2004
Sonovation has planned training courses for UT-TOFD level II in accordance with EN473. The courses have a duration of 7 days.
EU Approves General Electric Co. $480 Million Purchase of Agfa Division
The European Commission said Friday it was "satisfied with the solution," because the proposed buyer, Canada's R/D Tec, "is an experienced player" in the European testing market.
Longview Inspection Licenses MIB from Avistar
MIB provides broader coverage than older systems such as ultrasonic testing (UT) and eddy current, partly due to fast and simple operation but primarily because it produces instantaneous area readings instead of point-by-point readings, allowing for much higher production rates.
Northrop Grumman Employees Help Identify USS Monitor Artifacts
employees recently provided X-ray services to identify artifacts recovered from the wreck of the USS Monitor.
Specialists pinpoint failures to prevent them
One lab may preserve what it tests. Another may destroy it. But the analysts have a common enemy: failure. Among their recent targets are the reinforced carbon-carbon panels from the leading edge of the shuttles' wings, whose failure led to Columbia's demise.
Homepage of Structural Monitoring Systems Ltd provides severeal articles
Comparative Vacuum Monitoring (CVM™) has been developed by Structural Monitoring Systems Limited to detect and monitor structural integrity in structures. CVM technology has been independently tested, comprehensively validated and is being used by several major aerospace manufacturers and military organisations.

November 2003

Refinery "PLATFORMER" Furnace Coil Inspection/Testing Advancements
This periodic technical newsletter is sent out by QUEST Integrated, Inc. to current and future customers / partners in order to provide critical information on advances in Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) technologies.

16 WCNDT - Call for Papers "Advanced Radiation Techniques"
Prof. Dr. Uwe Ewert BAM-Berlin would like to encourage you to submit papers for oral and poster presentations.

Information Fusion in Industrial Inspection and Condition Monitoring
Call for papers for a special issue of Information Fusion International Journal on Multi-Sensor, Multi-Source Information Fusion on Information Fusion in Industrial Inspection and Condition Monitoring.

Ultrasonic system for the measurement of thickness and elasticity of subcutaneous fat

Cordis Database Results:
Calibration data set from laboratory rock sample tests
Calibration data set from in situ tests
Calibration data set from numerical modelling using dynamic wave propagation code
Compact modular multi-technique platform for non-contact inspection of complex parts
Advanced Integrated NDT concepts for unified Life-Cycle

New Line of Ultrasonic EMAT Transducers
GE Panametrics introduces a new line of ultrasonic EMAT transducers (electromagnetic acoustic transducers) that provide several advantages in applications involving thickness measurements on high temperature oxide-scaled surfaces.

Advanced Digital Ultrasonic Flaw Detector with Multi-Color Display
GE Panametrics announces the latest addition to its line of digital ultrasonic flaw detectors, the EPOCH 4PLUS. The advanced EPOCH 4PLUS flaw detector combines powerful flaw detection and measurement features, extensive data storage and high-speed transfer capabilities, and a multi-color LCD that dynamically changes the color of the waveform based on user-selected alarm conditions.

London's Derailment & Ultrasonic Testing
Ultrasonic scan would have averted tube derailment
LU is urgently reviewing the frequency of ultrasonic tests which check the strength of track across the tube network, after last Friday's derailment at Hammersmith because of a broken rail. LU's managing director, Tim O'Toole, yesterday admitted that an ultrasonic scan, currently conducted twice a year, would have revealed a crack in the rail.

Leak reveals tube safety warning
Inspectors told London Underground (LU) six months ago to step up safety checks. Lack of competent staff to perform the inspections". LU is also reviewing its maintenance standards and the technologies employed, including ultrasonic testing.

Rail union to hold strike ballot over state of underground
LU's managing director, Tim O'Toole, criticised the RMT's demands this week by pointing out that tracks at the site of both of the weekend's derailments, at Hammersmith and Camden, had been inspected fewer than 24 hours previously. It was difficult to see how more visual checks could be a "useful solution" but he suggested that more ultrasonic inspections could be appropriate.

Kenyon Confronts - London Underground's reply
The BBC's Kenyon Confronts programme is claiming that LU falsely stated its safety inspection regime was adequate following two derailments in October. LU is also reviewing its maintenance standards and the technologies employed, including ultrasonic testing. Principal track safety inspections that are mandated in the current LU Category 1 standards for all passenger lines.

No date for Tube re-opening
LU managing director Tim O'Toole said on Sunday that LU was still looking at maintenance regimes and practices and was considering more use of ultrasonic technology to check for faults in the track.

Checks 'did not find rail problem'
Metronet is one of two companies responsible for Tube repairs under the controversial part-privatisation of the network. A LU spokesman said: "At this early stage in the investigation, it appears that a broken rail was the cause of the incident. The rail looks like it might have been partly fractured before, but the bulk of the rail broke when the train was passing over it. The rail was subject to both ultrasonic tests and visual inspections.

Asset Management and Track
Metronet will introduce improved track installation, monitoring and maintenance by using Ultrasonic Rail Flaw Detection (URFD) to minimise the occurrence of broken rails.

Wheelsets and Rolling Stock Support
Metronet's Ultrasonic and Magnetic Particle Inspection tests are performed on all wheelsets to ensure the wheelset is free from cracks and structural defects.

A warning that the Railways ignored
BANGALORE: The October 24 accident involving the Mysore-Bangalore Push-Pull train that resulted in the death of four women passengers and injuries to several, could have been averted had the Railways checked the Durgapur wheels on time and heeded safety pleas. Three tests —those of ultrasonic, carbon percentage and dye-penetrant —were mandatory before wheels could be used.

October 2003

New Patented Corrosion Device Monitors Pipe Wall Loss Under Actual Operating Conditions
CorrView International, LLC announces an innovative new tool for realistically monitoring corrosion activity in piping systems. CorrView is a simple, low cost, and self-contained device in the form of a 3/4 in., 1 in., or 1-1/2 in. hex head pipe plug.

Register FREE for the October 2003 issue of Aerospace Testing International
Aerospace Testing International, launched in July 2002, is now published quarterly to a global audience of aerospace testing professionals.

New sensor film accurately measures contact force
Pressurex® - a thin sensor film that, by changing color, reveals stress distribution and magnitude between any two surfaces that come in contact.

BAM seeks collaboration in Acoustic fields
The German Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung) seeks collaboration in Acoustic wave propagation studies in Anisotropic (isotropic) critical structures:Theoretical modelling, Visualization and Analysis

Technically Superior Solution for Capturing, Communicating Image Data For NDT Engineers
The best possible density range classifications achievable for a laser film digitizer were attained by the new Array 2905 HD (from Array Corporation USA, Brentwood, N.H.) in a recent test by the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing of Berlin, Germany.

R/D Tech Launches the New 2003-2004 Edition of its Probe Catalog for Tube Inspection and Steam Generator Applications for the Non-Destructive Testing Market
QUÉBEC, CANADA, September 15, 2003. - R/D Tech inc. introduces its new 2003-2004 Probe Catalog for Tube inspection and Steam Generator applications for the Non-Destructive Testing Market.

Revolutionary New Black light for NDT
Test Equipment Distributors, LLC announces the introduction of Inspector+, an new, patented, battery powered black light lamp for NDT.

RFI: ET of carbon-carbon composites
NTIAC is reviewing the state of the art in eddy current testing of carbon-carbon composites. We are seeking all relevant knowledge about this topic, and would welcome any input. Please contact NTIAC at info@ntiac.com or (800) 684-2239.

The September 2003 NTIAC Newsletter is available online
Current Issue September 2003: NDE Of Composite Gas Cylinders, Ward Rummel Awarded 2003 Jack Lincoln Award, 2003 USAF Aircraft Structural Integrity Program (ASIP) Conference, Recent Developments At AFRL, MiniMax Facilities Security System Gains NDE Capability

September 2003

A risk based approach to determine ultrasonic inspection frequencies in railway applications
We'll publish this article online in the NDT.net Nov issue (CORDIS Database Publications).

Invision Technologies Announces Acquisition of Hapeg,
a Provider of Computed Tomography-Based Testing. Strategic Acquisition to Strengthen YXLON Non-Destructive Testing Business

Aerospace Testing Expo 2004 grows by 250%
The number of exhibitors already approaches 200.

Thayer Capital Partners Acquires Interest in MISTRAS Holdings Group
Thayer Adds Leading Company in the $4.5 Billion Nondestructive Testing (NDT) Market to the Private Equity Firm's Portfolio. MISTRAS Holdings has four subsidiaries/divisions in the United States: Physical Acoustics Corporation (PAC), NDT Automation, Vibra-Metrics and Quality Services Laboratories, Inc. (QSL-Plus)

DSPUT5000 - The World's Fastest UT Board
The board features 32-bit master mode PCI bus for ultra-fast data transfer rate, up to 4.8 GIPS DSP chip

ASNT Awarded One of ANSI's First Personnel Certification Accreditations

intelligeNDT Systems & Services bei Airbus erfolgreich im Geschäft

intelligeNDT Systems & Services mit neuartiger Prüfanlage für Squirter- und Kontakttechnik

Automatisierte Stangenprüfung ohne Rotation (German) 419 KB
A new special reprint of Karl Deutsch.

August 2003

CONAM Inspection to be Acquired
CONAM Inspection Reaches Agreement to be Acquired by MISTRAS Holdings Corporation

Hydrogen Disbonding Test from Bodycote
The Hydrogen Disbonding test is a method for the evaluation of hydrogen induced disbonding (HID) of bimetallic stainless alloy / steel plate for use in refinery high-pressure / high-temperature gaseous hydrogen service.

New generation of wire rope flaw detectors
Intron Plus introduces new generation of wire rope flaw detectors INTROS

A robot created for the nondestructive inspection of airplanes
Robot to inspect a line of rivets on an airplane without a human operator.

Onda Corporation and NTR Systems, Inc. Announce Agreement for Marketing and Sales of Ultrasound Testing Products
Onda Corporation, a leading firm acclaimed for its ultrasonic test and measurement products and its expertise in research and development of ultrasonic applications, today announced that it has signed an agreement with NTR Systems, Inc. of Seattle, Washington. NTR is a leading supplier of scanning systems, hydrophones, radiation force meters, and other products used in ultrasonic measurement.

July 2003

Agfa NDT's UT magazine, Echo 39
Read this table of contents with access to the full-text as 6,5 MB big PDF file.

Battelle Acquires Pipeline Simulation Facility For Industry Use
Battelle has acquired the Pipeline Simulation Facility, located in West Jefferson, Ohio, making it part of the Battelle Pipeline Technology Center. It was previously owned jointly by Battelle and the Gas Research Institute (also known as the Gas Technology Institute, or GTI).

CORDIS Database Partners:
food packaging and preservation, food package interactions, nondestructive testing of food package integrity

Introducing the 37DL PLUS Corrosion Thickness Gage
See also the Product news of May 20, 2003: New version 1.11 Operating Software and Custom Language Utility for EPOCH 4 Flaw Detector (GE Panametrics).

Video Inspection
The Snake Eye® handheld remote video inspection system is ideal for quick, qualitative inspections in hard-to-reach places (GE Panametrics).

Die ZfP-Zeitung 85 der DGZfP ist erschienen
Wie in jeder Ausgabe sind einige Beiträge der Zeitschrift sind im Volltext vorhanden.

June 2003
RMG 4015 - Crack Depth Gauging even on (almost) impossible objects
Surface crack testing on complicated and expensive workpieces: The crack depth gauge RMG 4015 here cannot be resigned.
LEPTO-Pen: Layer thickness measurement quite easy
If the high accuracy of electronic coating thickness measuring instruments is not necessary, the question about a simple and economical alternative sets itself up again and again.
Two prizes are awarded biennially by the International Photoacoustic and Photothermal Association
The IPPA Prize is aimed at recognizing and honoring scientists or engineers who have made significant contributions to the field of Photoacoustic and Photothermal Science and Technology.
CORDIS Database Projects:
Laser multitask non-destructive technology in conservation diagnostic procedures
Improved damage assessments of parchments
On-site investigation techniques for the structural evaluation of historic masonry buildings
Chemiluminescence - a novel tool in paper conservation studies
CORDIS Database Results:
Ultrasonic probes for non-destructive testing, industrial measurement, energy and environmental applications
System for the assessment of safety conditions in reinforced concrete and masonry structures
Bjarne Larsen died
Bjarne was a very early fellow of the NDT.net forum and shared his broad technical experience with many colleagues.

May 2003

Mechanised and Automated Ultrasonic Testing in Production
Vogt Werkstoffprüfsysteme GmbH, Burgwedel has developed a new PC-based testing system with WINDOWS-operating system, called PROline for mechanized and automated ultrasonic testing in production.

Mechanisierte und Automatisierte Ultraschallprüfung in der Produktion
Die Fa. Vogt Werkstoffprüfsysteme GmbH, Burgwedel, hat ein neues PC-gestütztes Prüfsystem mit Windowsoberfläche, genannt PROline, für die mechanisierte und automatisierte Ultraschallprüfung in der Produktion entwickelt.

2002-2003 NDT Salary Survey Results Available from PQNDT, Inc.
The results of the survey, including breakouts by region, industry served and certification level, are available on the PQNDT web site at: 22 Pages [740 KB]

Aerospace Testing Expo 2003 REVIEW
Aerospace Testing Expo opened its doors for the first time at the Hamburg Messe, Germany on 26, 27 & 28 February 2003. An impressive 2500+ visitors from 58 countries attended the launch event, representing more than 1000 companies.

Einstellung des Eschede-Strafverfahren
German Court Abandons Rail Crash Trial
A strong guiltiness of the three men in trial could not been proved, however, it is questionable if the right persons would have been brought to trial. Also the Deutsche Bahn AG as company could be guilty, but unfortunately German's law does not recognize responsibility of companies or organizations, however just individuals can be brought to court.
It seems that the German courts were dubious of the ability of any NDT method to find defects. As a result it would appear that the courts could find no fault with the engineers having not selected test equipment or established a practical test interval. However, if 100% reliability of a probability of detection was required it would leave in question the need for any NDT. Since no test can guarantee 100% reliability - why should we use NDT at all? (a comment of Rolf Diederichs).
This topic in brief at Deutsche Welle.

Ultrasonic testing of primary first wall mock-ups and panels
(CORDIS Database).

NASA urged to improve inspections of shuttles
NASA is likely to use ultrasonic, thermal and X-ray imaging that can reveal internal faults in the half-inch-thick panels, said Michael Greenfield, the agency's deputy associate administrator for technical programs. Until Columbia's loss, NASA relied primarily on visual inspections with a magnifying glass and touch tests to detect decay or degradation of the material.

NDT of composite material under spotlight in Columbia accident
The research team has recently published results of the work in Acoustics Research Letters On-Line and previously presented the work at the Review of Progress in Quantitative Non-Destructive Evaluation. It has also submitted a paper, "In-Situ High-Temperature Monitoring if Carbon-Carbon Oxidation Using Time Reversal Mirrors," to the International Conference on Composite Materials scheduled for July 2003.

Ex-Panametric shareholders sue GE for $25 million
Former shareholders of a small company acquired by General Electric Co. GE.N last year filed a federal lawsuit against the conglomerate on Tuesday, claiming GE owes them at least $25 million because it used deceptive practices to lower the deal's purchase price.

April 2003

Metals Testing Company Announces a Rapid R&D™ Capability
Rapid R&D™ is a quick turnaround service to provide the NDT marketplace with a cost effective feasibility study of a given NDT application. The pathfinder service is based upon immersion and contact Ultrasonics (UT). MTC has advanced color C-Scan systems to support such a service.

51st Defense Working Group on Nondestructive Testing
The 51st Defense Working Group on Nondestructive Testing is hosted this year by the United States Air Force, 361st Training Squadron/Detachment 2, and will be held from 4-6 Nov 2003, at the Ramada Plaza Beach Resort, Ft. Walton Beach, FL.

R/D Tech at the MT2003 Exhibition 8-10 April
R/D Tech will be exhibiting a complete Pipe Wizard Phased Array Inspection system .

Camera for real-time inspection in wood and timber processing
A Swedish SME needs a camera system with an optical image sensor array with high-speed data transfer capability. The camera is used with lasers in a system for inspection and control in wood and timber manufacturing (CORDIS Database).

Schlieren and Shadowgraph Techniques: Visualizing Phenomena in Transparent Media
This new book is intended as a practical guide for those who want to use these methods, as well as a resource for a broad range of disciplines where scientific visualization is important.

RNDT, Inc. received EN-473 / ISO-9712 Level III Certification
These certifications approve RNDT, Inc. personnel to provide testing services compliant to article 13 of the Pressure Equipment Directive 97/23 EC. n

R/D Tech launches the OmniScan™, a new family of instruments for the nondestructive testing market
R/D Tech introduces a new family of NDT test instruments, OmniScan, which is designed to meet the most demanding inspection requirements in various business sectors, such as aerospace, petrochemicals and balance of plant, industrial production, component testing, and labs.

R/D Tech Launches the MultiScan MS 5800™, a New Instrument for the NDT In-Service Market
R/D Tech inc. introduces a new NDT inspection instrument, the MultiScan MS 5800™, which is dedicated to the in-service and maintenance inspection mainly for the petrochemical and balance of plant industries. The lightweight, portable MultiScan MS 5800™ is ideal for a number of applications such as weld and tube inspection, and corrosion mapping.

March 2003

Metals Testing Company's FPI now Pratt & Whitney approved for Fracture Critical Parts
The FCPS-1 certification is based upon Probability of Detection (POD) testing that was performed at MTC in February 2003.

Nondestructive Evaluation of Nano and Smart Materials
The Nondestructive Testing Department of the National Institute of Research and Development for Technical Physics (NIRDTP) is looking for Collaboration (CORDIS Database).

Simulation of Ultrasonic Inspection process
This Cordis Project is completed (CORDIS Database).

InVision und YXLON wollen gemeinsam neue Sicherheits-Standards setzen
Führende US-Marke übernimmt Hamburger Röntgenspezialisten. Innovatives YXLON-Verfahren identifiziert alle Sprengstoffe im Gepäck. InVision Technologies setzt auf transatlantische Expansion.

InVision Technologies Signs Definitive Agreement to Acquire YXLON International
The acquisition significantly furthers a core component of InVision's strategy -- to strengthen the company's global leadership position in certified explosive detection systems (EDS) with continued performance advancements.

February 2003

New Products from Metorex International
New Portable Optical Emission (OES) analyzers and Handheld XRF analyzer based on X-ray tube technology.

Tech Brief for Ultrasonic Bond Testing Shadow Variations
An informative article (a.k.a., Tech Brief) is now available from Metals Testing Company that describes the pitfalls of using such an inspection method.

A Series of CORDIS News
• Material Characterization of steel sheet
• Material Characterization of steel quality by Laser UT or XRD
• NDT of quality characteristics of heavy plates
• EMATS using guided waves in hot steel products better than conventional UT or ECT
• Advanced non-contact UT and OT for online inspection of laser welds
• 100% Ultrasonic Testing During Extrusion
• EMATS using guided waves in stainless steel strips testing.
• UT system for narrow gap welds
• Dissemination of information about advanced corrosion monitoring techniques.
• European network for inspection qualification (ENIQ)
.... and more

Automatic shaft revision system
Automatic shaft revision system SARSz-1 allows precise remotely controlled observation of the inside of shafts using a high-end camera (CORDIS Database).

Nondestructive Testing Services Market Growing
Maxtech International's analysis of Nondestructive Testing Services Markets is available in a 150 page report that provides market sizes and segmentation both by industry and type of NDT method.

Software Solutions for Safety Professionals
Solving the everyday needs of radiation protection professionals. You may download an evaluation copy.

Inspections of Columbia's Main Propulsion System (MPS)
Due to the magnetic property of the stainless flow liners on Columbia, ultrasonic testing proved to be a more effective means than eddy current to determine if cracks were present. Using ultrasound, technicians identified three cracks on engine two liquid hydrogen flow liner. No further decisions are expected until teams are able to inspect Endeavour late this week.

HHT Advanced Analysis Software Technology Briefing
(NASA) contemplates holding a briefing on March 24, 2003 to discuss opportunities for the commercialization of its Hilbert-Huang Transform (HHT) in the analysis of machine health and acoustics. This award-winning technology provides a nondestructive method for monitoring and diagnosing operational machine health condition enabling you to avoid catastrophic equipment failures.

January 2003

Higher throughput with fully-automatic X-ray inspection of Al wheels
YXLON International manufactures approx. 60% of all light metal alloy wheel X-ray inspection systems being installed worldwide.

Chromasonics
The application of chromatic processing techniquesto acoustic signatures.

First International NDT Symposium & Exhibition in China
International Symposium on NDT in conjunction with ChSNDT 25th Anniversary and 8th ChSNDT Conference as well as 2003 Measuring and Testing Equipment Exhibition June 03-06,2003 Suzhou,China.

Australian NDT Service Company for Sale
Industry in the area, ranges from local fabricators, Mineral Sand & Coal Mines, to large Power Stations & Alumina refineries.

Sachverständigenanhörung im Eschede-Verfahren
Das Landgericht Lüneburg wird ab dem 15. Januar 2003 13 Sachverständige zu den der Anklage zugrunde liegenden technischen Ursachen des Radreifenbruchs des ICE "Conrad-Wilhelm-Röntgen", der zu dem Eisenbahnunglück von Eschede geführt hat, anhören.

RFQ for Maintenance of Eddy Current and Ultrasonic Equipment
Information has been posted by the NTIAC Email Newsletter

Fixed, Mobile Internet Satellite System for Inspection Vehicles
DataStorm is a new low cost satellite Internet system for inspection vehicles offered by P&L International, Inc.