News
15/04/2020 Auxiliary Engineering Support for field hospitals - volunteers needed
REISSUED: Call now extended for UK-wide support
Would you be prepared to volunteer to help tackle the COVID-19 pandemic?
27/03/2020 Thin-film ultrasonic sensor from Novosound
Scotland-based Novosound is preparing to launch its first flexible thin-film ultrasound sensor for inspecting curved surfaces, after securing a £3.3 million (approximately US$4.3 million) investment in its technology.
26/03/2020 Advanced condition-based maintenance for autonomous ships
The NYK Group has concluded a joint research agreement for developing advanced condition-based maintenance (CBM), a new maintenance and management process for ship machineries, and has started verification during actual ship operation.
25/03/2020 Detechtion releases Enbase Asset Monitor
Detechtion Technologies, a global provider of condition monitoring products, has launched the Enbase asset monitor, a system for remotely monitoring the run status and location of natural gas and oilfield equipment.
24/03/2020 SKF equipment used to control costs
SKF has designed a condition-based monitoring programme for the marine industry to enable ship operators to control costs and avoid damaging equipment breakdowns.
23/03/2020 Micro-Epsilon scanners enable height measurement and presence detection of beer bottles in moving crates
Non-contact laser scanners from Micro-Epsilon are being used to quickly and reliably recognise if all of the beer bottles are present and of the correct type in returned crates.
23/03/2020 UTA developing better bridge inspections
The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) has received funding from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to use a testing system invented by a university researcher to inspect bridges for repairs without disrupting Texas commuters.
20/03/2020 Envirosuite to acquire EMS Brüel & Kjær
Australian environmental management technology firm Envirosuite Limited (EVS) has announced that it will acquire EMS Brüel & Kjær Holdings Pty Ltd (EMS), a noise and vibration monitoring technology company, combining to create a global leader in environmental technology.
20/03/2020 AMS introduces contactless vibration sensor
AMS has introduced the laser-based optical Vocalzoom sensor, designed to measure and analyse vibrations, for example from machine parts, at a distance of up to 3 m without contact.
19/03/2020 High Technology Sources Limited becomes Zetec UK distributor
High Technology Sources Limited (HTSL) has announced a new distribution agreement with Zetec, a global leader in phased array ultrasonic testing (PAUT) and eddy current testing (ECT), to enhance and expand the comprehensive offering HTSL brings to the UK NDT industry.
18/03/2020 Thermal imagers
Precision sensor manufacturer Micro-Epsilon has introduced two thermal imagers for industrial environments that are both compact and robust, offering advanced thermal imaging functions at a price level normally associated with single-point pyrometers.
18/03/2020 MFL inspection system
Building on a decade of field experience with the previous-generation Silverwing Pipescan, Eddyfi Technologies has launched an improved magnetic flux leakage (MFL) inspection system that elevates this proven technology to a new level for rapid screening of corrosion in ferrous pipes and surfaces.
17/03/2020 BAM leads new project on structural health monitoring of safety-relevant structures
Over the next four years, Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM) will coordinate a new EU project aimed at safer and more reliable operation of chemical plants, pipelines, transport systems and aeronautical structures. The guided waves for structural health monitoring (GW4SHM) project brings together 20 partners from academia and industry across Europe to train a new generation of researchers in all aspects of structural health monitoring (SHM). Funded by €3.9 million from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 programme, the goal of this project is to transform research into practical application.
17/03/2020 Oceaneering NDT expert recognised as innovation influencer
Jim McNab, NDT Subject Matter Expert at Oceaneering International, has been recognised by E&P Magazine in its list of Energy Innovators for 2020. Nominated by peers and colleagues, all of the people in the list have shown a dedication to advancing technologies in the oil & gas industry and have demonstrated strong leadership in ensuring the innovations and cutting-edge technologies will help to facilitate a thriving future for the industry for generations to come.
16/03/2020 HPE partners with NREL
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is partnering with Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) to develop artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technologies for efficient data centre operation.
16/03/2020 Accelerometer with built-in noise filtering function
ROHM Group company Kionix has announced the availability of an accelerometer ideal for high-accuracy, low-power motion-sensing applications in the industrial equipment and consumer wearable markets.
12/03/2020 High-performance thermal camera
FLIR Systems has announced the FLIR T860, the latest addition to the high-performance T-Series family. This new thermal camera is the first to feature on-board Inspection Route software, said to be ideal for streamlining inspections of critical assets, including power substation components, distribution lines, manufacturing equipment or facility electrical and mechanical systems. By running a pre-planned route through the camera, thermal inspectors can spend less time in the field and face less hassle when creating survey reports.
12/03/2020 Cloud-based software platform
Floodlight Software has announced that its new cloud-based non-destructive testing (NDT)/non-destructive evaluation (NDE) management software platform is out of beta and is now publicly available. Developed to help meet the need for digital transformation in the NDT/NDE industry, Floodlight Software is a basis on which service providers can build their digital infrastructure.
11/03/2020 Inspection trainee recognised with BINDT award
A Bilfinger Salamis UK trainee has been recognised for his exceptional performance and dedication to the field of NDT at a national awards ceremony.
11/03/2020 Publication of HOIS Recommended Practice for Non-Intrusive Inspection and Guidance Notes
HOIS has announced the launch of an updated recommended practice for non-intrusive inspection (NII) of pressure vessels (HOIS-RP-103), the result of HOIS work on NII guidance. HOIS first looked at this area in the early 2000s, driven by HOIS member asset owners/operators and the UK regulator (the Health and Safety Executive (HSE)), aiming to provide a structured approach to the NII process to ensure consistency of application.
10/03/2020 Harbour Group acquires SpotSee Holdings
Jeff Fox, Harbour Group’s Chair and CEO, has announced that SpotSee Holdings and its subsidiaries are now part of the Harbour Group family of companies. Terms of the transaction have not been disclosed.
10/03/2020 Fujitsu wins first prize
Airbus SE has awarded Fujitsu first prize in its Airbus AiGym competition. The global aerospace manufacturer’s competition was devised to pinpoint the most accurate unsupervised predictive artificial intelligence (AI) capability for helicopters.
09/03/2020 Image analysis software
The release of Olympus Stream image analysis software version 2.4.2 gives users even more tools to ensure quality in manufacturing. The software release includes an improved image analysis solution to measure and rate non-metallic inclusion content in high-purity steel. The new inclusion content mode detects and classifies individual fields on a large scan area, expanding on the software’s capabilities to detect and classify individual inclusions in worst field mode.
06/03/2020 North Star Imaging UK technical event
North Star Imaging (NSI) UK recently added a new dual-tube (225 kV and 450 kV) X5000 CT system to its portfolio and is celebrating the addition of this new system with an X-ray and computed tomography (CT) demonstration in High Wycombe, UK. The technical workshop will include presentations from representatives of Volume Graphics and Instron. NSI UK has been successfully operating in the UK for over five years and will be sharing the benefits of its industrial X-ray imaging services with those who have yet to see its facility and experience the equipment’s full capabilities in real time. The event is taking place on Tuesday 24 March.
06/03/2020 Westinghouse acquires UK inspection company Inspection Consultants Limited
On 8 January 2020, Westinghouse Electric Company announced the acquisition of Inspection Consultants Limited (InCon), a leading UK-based provider of inspection services. This acquisition strengthens Westinghouse’s ability to support the existing operating nuclear fleet, as well as in-service inspection customers outside of the nuclear industry.
05/03/2020 Engineering gender pay gap in the UK less than feared, but still requires action
Research published recently by the Royal Academy of Engineering indicates that the gender pay gap is smaller in the engineering profession than the UK employee average. The mean (10.8%) and median (11.4%) pay gap for engineers in the sample analysed is around two thirds the national average.
04/03/2020 US Department of Defense looks to predictive maintenance
In its efforts to make greater use of commercial technologies, the US Department of Defense (DoD) has expanded its predictive maintenance effort designed to keep front-line aircraft ready for duty.
03/03/2020 BINDT registration with the Engineering Council
The engineering profession in the UK is regulated by the Engineering Council (EC) through 35 engineering institutions (Licensed Members, of which the British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing is one) that are licensed to put suitably qualified members on the EC’s Register of Engineers. The Register has three sections: Chartered Engineer; Incorporated Engineer; and Engineering Technician. These titles are protected by the EC’s Royal Charter and may only be used by registrants.
02/03/2020 New UK visa scheme announced for international researchers
The UK government has recently announced changes to Tier 1 visas for researchers. A new fast-track visa scheme to attract the world’s top scientists, researchers and mathematicians opened on 20 February 2020. This follows a commitment by the Prime Minister last summer to put science, research and innovation at the top of the government’s agenda.
