Heather Trodden

Our interviewee this month is Heather Trodden, Technical Solutions and IP Coordinator at Novosound, a Scottish company that designs and manufactures specialist ultrasound sensors and is a Corporate Member of BINDT…

Describe your current role

I am the Technical Solutions and IP Coordinator at Novosound. This role encompasses many aspects of the business that suit my knowledge and background. Within my workday, I provide support to the commercial team with technical requests and proposal writing for large-scale projects. I also help to support project management and oversee smaller-scale bespoke research and development (R&D) projects. As the IP Coordinator, I need to stay up to date with new and emerging ultrasound and NDT technologies, as well as have extensive knowledge of the competitor landscape.

What education or training route did you follow?
I studied physics at the University of the West of Scotland. Throughout my last year of university, I worked within the ultrasonics team, expanding my knowledge of ultrasonics for industrial and medical applications. One of my projects involved applying cutting-edge ultrasound for medical imaging. In particular, we applied thin-film ultrasound into a monitoring system to investigate dehydration levels. I was able to build on this skillset when I moved into the NDT industry at Novosound.

What other roles have you had in the past? 
As an original member of a start-up company (Novosound), I have experienced the benefits of exploring many roles and opportunities within my workplace, including initial testing and R&D work on our high-temperature technology. With my background in the company and the technology, I have been able to provide my expertise to the sales team and help scope out key industry events.

What would you consider to be your biggest NDE achievements and challenges 
to date?
One of the products at Novosound is the Belenus, a permanently installed corrosion monitoring system for high-temperature environments. As one of the inventors on our Belenus patent and having been involved in the original Belenus development work, I was ecstatic when the Belenus monitoring system was announced as a winner of the 2021 Materials Performance (MP) Corrosion Innovation of the Year Awards.

What do you think are the pressing challenges for the NDE industry?
Awareness of NDE as a career option to the younger generation is still limited. The NDE industry was unknown to me prior to joining Novosound. I feel that there is still a push for young people to attend university, without them being aware of the other practical opportunities out there that may better suit their skills.

What changes, if any, do you foresee for NDE in the future?
I foresee that the reliability and repeatability of systems will continue to be more important. Advancements in technology and software are moving at a faster pace than ever before and the move to NDE 4.0 is already here. I feel this is being reflected in the market; the demand for wireless monitoring systems has increased when previously that technology would not have been considered a first option.

How would you describe NDE to someone who has not heard of it before?
NDE covers any evaluation of an object or structure that does not include destruction or alteration of the integrity of the part. There are a full range of techniques, with some requiring more advanced learning than others, ultrasound being one of these. Ultrasound images can be difficult to interpret, whether it is within an industrial or medical setting. There are a variety of ultrasonic systems and tools that all require specific training.

Outside of NDE, what are your interests and hobbies?
I am an avid reader and have enjoyed exploring new genres and setting myself targets. Also, now that live events are back, I have been able to see some of my favourite bands, including Green Day and My Chemical Romance after two years of 
anticipation.

Please get in touch if you have any recommendations for future interviewees or would like to be interviewed yourself. Contact the editor at ndtnews@bindt.org or email Maria Felice direct at mvfelice@gmail.com