Lavender International launches new ultrasound training facility
09/04/2014
Lavender International marked what would have been the 90th birthday of its founder with the launch of a new training hub.
Lavender International, which has its headquarters in Penistone, near Barnsley, has moved its ultrasound training to the Technology Centre at the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham.Lavender International trains people from all over the world in non-destructive testing. Clients include major aerospace companies, nuclear, oil and gas suppliers, and firms involved in service inspection and the leisure industry.
The new premises have been equipped with the latest testing appliances and the teaching facilities will be able to take up to 30 trainees at a time.
Steve Lavender is Co-Managing Director with his brother Dave. Their father, Jack, who was a highly-respected metallurgist in the steel industry in Sheffield, set the company up in 1976. The official opening would have been his 90th birthday.Steve Lavender said: “He’d be proud if he could see how the company has grown. We now have trainees from virtually all over the world, from Australia and India to Brazil and the USA.”
The trainees are taught non-destructive testing using dyes, X-rays, magnetism and ultrasound to find faults in metal and other materials used in anything from gas pipes to aeroplane wings.
Moving the ultrasound testing facility to the AMP will free up space in Penistone so the company can offer a wider variety of courses.
The Open Day was a great success, with 60 guests from a wide range of industries in attendance.
As well as meeting the Lavender International staff now based at the UT Technology Centre, Tim Armitt, Director and UT lead, had put together a variety of innovative demonstrations explaining the wide range of applications that the advanced programme for UT can be used for.Dr Mike Farley, Chair of the International Committee for NDT (ICNDT), and his wife, Kay, travelled from Glasgow to perform the ceremonial cutting of the ribbon (with lavender ribbon, of course) and to open the centre by unveiling the official plaque. Mike also gave a short speech, which not only paid tribute to Jack and his life in NDT but also to his wife, Joyce, the woman behind Jack, Dave and Steve.
The move comes as the company workforce has grown to 50, with the recent addition of three new technical trainers.
Rachel Wood, Chris Boreham and Tom Dart join Andrew King, who started on 1 January, and two Business Services staff have increased their hours from part-time to full-time.Andrew joined the Advanced Ultrasonics Team at the new Advanced Manufacturing Park facility in Sheffield under the lead of Director Tim Armitt.
Rachel is an experienced magnetic and penetrant technician and will be working in the Training School under the direction of Ian Griffin and also gaining experience with the Level 3 consulting group under Director Gary Elliott.
Also in the MT/PT department is Chris Boreham, who will also be working with visual testing, again under the direction of Ian Griffin.
Tom Dart has joined the RT team under the lead of Andrew Greenwood, joining Phil Hall and Rebecca Roberts.
The company welcomes the new starters and is confident that they will enhance the growing training facilities.
All who took part enjoyed the day. Anyone who would like to visit the new facility should contact Rachel (rachel@lavender-ndt.com) who will be happy to arrange a tour.
www.lavender-ndt.com
