Rental instruments support rapid NDT response
26/10/2018
Following an urgent request from one of its clients, IRISNDT contacted Steve Drake, Ashtead Technology’s Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) Market Manager, seeking phased array instruments for an inspection. Despite the call coming in after hours, an IRISNDT phased array expert was able to call into Ashtead’s facilities in Bedfordshire at 9.00 am the next morning to collect the kit on their way to the inspection.
“The equipment was needed to inspect welding joints on a steam line at a power station and our client was absolutely delighted that we were able to conduct the work at such short notice,” commented John Dawson, IRISNDT’s Operations Director. “Knowing that we can rely on Ashtead Technology to provide specialised equipment with a rapid turnaround means that we are able to satisfy even the most demanding of client requirements,” he added.As part of an international group and with offices spread around the UK, IRISNDT is accustomed to receiving urgent calls for NDT and inspection work from its clients. Consequently, the firm maintains a fleet of both conventional and advanced NDT instruments, including several phased array sets, but in periods of high demand this capability is supplemented by equipment from
Ashtead Technology’s rental fleet.
On this occasion, the hired equipment included the OmniScan MX2 ultrasonic flaw detector and the Olympus Chain Scanner, a manual inspection tool for pipes with outside diameters between 45 mm and 965 mm.
“This rental story underlines a number of our core strengths. Firstly, we invest heavily in the latest NDT equipment, so that our customers do not have to stock higher levels of equipment just to meet intermittent demands. This is an extremely important issue because it makes no sense for our customers to purchase expensive additional equipment and then only use it occasionally. Clearly, it makes more sense to rent during busy periods, which also provides access to the latest technology,” commented Steve Drake.
“Additionally, every product is tested and checked when it returns from a rental and again before it leaves the building on the next job. This means that customers can rely on Ashtead’s equipment to be ready for work, straight out of the box, which is particularly important in urgent applications such as the recent IRISNDT rental,” Steve added.
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