Ionix receives royal seal of approval for NDT innovation
10/09/2026
The King’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation has recognised the pioneering ultrasonic sensing technologies developed by Ionix Advanced Technologies, shining a national spotlight on the vital role that non-destructive testing (NDT) innovation plays in improving the safety, reliability and resilience of critical infrastructure worldwide.The Leeds-based company received the prestigious 2026 King’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation for its advanced sensing technologies, developed to operate in some of the world’s most demanding industrial environments. The award follows a royal reception hosted by His Majesty King Charles III celebrating organisations recognised for their contribution to UK innovation.
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| Tim Stevenson, Ionix CEO, meets His Majesty King Charles III at the King’s Awards for Enterprise reception |
Speaking after the event, Tim Stevenson MInstNDT, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ionix Advanced Technologies, said: “Receiving the King’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation is a defining moment for everyone at Ionix. While this recognition reflects years of advanced materials research, engineering excellence and commercial innovation, it also highlights the expertise and technical leadership that exists throughout the UK NDT community. We are proud to raise the profile of that community on the national stage.”
Founded as a University of Leeds spin-out in 2011, Ionix has grown into a global developer of advanced ultrasonic technologies for extreme operating environments. The award specifically recognised the company’s HotSense™ platform and proprietary high-performance piezoelectric (HPZ) materials, which enable continuous ultrasonic sensing and monitoring at temperatures from –200°C to +600°C, under high pressure and in hazardous environments where conventional sensor technologies cannot survive.
For the NDT profession, recognition through the King’s Award is significant. It demonstrates that innovation in sensing, measurement and inspection is being acknowledged beyond the engineering sector as an important contributor to industrial productivity, sustainability and infrastructure resilience. As industry increasingly embraces digitalisation, automation and continuous monitoring, NDT technologies are becoming central to safer, smarter and more efficient operations.
Building on this foundation, Ionix recently launched TRND, an intelligent corrosion and erosion monitoring system that combines permanently installed ultrasonic sensors, wireless connectivity and data visualisation to provide continuous asset condition data. The system extends the capabilities of traditional inspection by delivering reliable wall thickness measurements without the need for repeated access to critical assets. For members of the British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing (BINDT), the award serves as an encouraging reminder that world-leading non-destructive testing innovation is being developed in the UK and recognised at the highest national level, helping to raise awareness of the industry’s contribution to solving some of the world’s most challenging industrial problems.
Ionix also offers a range of HotSense ultrasonic inspection transducers for NDT of on-stream assets, at low or high temperatures. These include dual probes for thickness, erosion and corrosion surveys and angled probes for weld inspection, such as time-of-flight-diffraction (TOFD). The technologies also support plant digitalisation and the realisation of Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) solutions.
www.ionix.at
