USL and AAI team up in USA
02/02/2011
Ultrasonic Sciences Ltd (USL), the UK’s principal supplier of automated ultrasonic testing systems, has announced an agreement with Arcadia Aerospace Industries (AAI), based in Punta Gorda, Florida, USA, to market and sell the USL range of hardware and software for ultrasonic testing.AAI staff have long experience in the manufacture and application of ultrasonic inspection systems and the combination of USL products and AAI expertise offers a unique capability. Initially, existing non-destructive testing systems for aerospace applications in the USA and Canada will be upgraded by AAI using the USL ultrasonic electronics, data acquisition and software. For new applications, AAI will be able to offer complete USL scanning systems.
The effort, based in AAI’s Florida facilities, will combine cutting-edge USL instrumentation and software technologies with AAI design, engineering and integration expertise. The group will provide users of automated complex contour-following systems with an advanced software and hardware upgrade platform capable of faster, more efficient complex geometry inspections. Training, integration, calibration, maintenance, repair and support will also be provided directly from the Florida location. The venture brings together the unique capabilities of two companies in automated NDT.
Already the first order has been placed by a long established USA aerospace manufacturer, and their squirter inspection system will be upgraded early in 2011 with a four-channel USL ultrasonic system and software. Further upgrade orders are in the pipeline.
USL is an established provider of ultrasonic testing systems in a range of industries throughout the world. In the last few years, sales volume has increased significantly, especially in the aerospace composites sector, and in 2010 more than 12 full inspection systems were completed at the USL factory in Aldershot. In many of these installations the USL electronics has shown its full capabilities, with the ability to simultaneously capture pulse echo data in linear amplifier mode and through-transmission data in logarithmic mode.
Given the increasing complexity of composite products in aircraft applications, the ease with which the USL mechanisms and software can follow complex curved parts at high scanning speeds has proved extremely valuable.
Aside from this, the USL order book remains very healthy, with at least seven systems already in manufacture for China, India, Europe and Singapore.
www.ultrasonic-sciences.co.uk
www.arcadiaaerospace.com
