Nondestructive testing (NDT)

In our NDT laboratory we have a wide range of equipment at our disposal:

• Ultrasonic (UT) diving technology (scanner, pipe testing)
• High-frequency ultrasound for the detection of purity levels (MIDAS)
• Test bench for magnetic particle testing (MT)
• Roller tables and scanners for electromagnetic processes: Eddy current (ET), flux leakage (FT)
• Equipment for dye penetrant testing (PT)
• X-ray equipment (RT)

For mobile use:

• UT (also phased array) with mobile scanners
• ET
• PT
• MT

All tests are performed by certified employees (according to ISO 9712 Level 2 and 3).

We design and manufacture customized sensors, especially for the processes eddy current (coils), flux leakage (Hall and GMR sensors) and EMAT (coil systems with integrated magnets), e. g:

• water-cooled coils for hot tube testing
• EMAT systems for the excitation of rotating waves

Marking and sorting pipes

In a magnetically saturated pipe, external and internal defects disturb the magnetic field lines creating a so-called “flux leakage”. The flux leakage emitted on the surface can be recorded with magnetically sensitive sensors and used to detect inhomogeneity. The signals are further processed (filtered, classified, etc.) and used to mark and sort pipes.

For the first time worldwide, we developed and implemented an operational testing unit that uses giant magnetoresistance (GMR) sensors to record flux leakage.

... at temperatures up to 600 °C – developed by SZMF

Electromagnetic acoustic transducers (EMATs) can be used to conduct couplant-free ultrasonic wall thickness measurements on electrically conductive materials even at high temperatures. Unlike the conventional method, ultrasonic (US) waves are excited inside the specimen via electromagnetic interaction, thereby eliminating the need for a couplant to transmit sound. In ferromagnetic steels, especially effective transversal US waves are excited.

With special transmission and receiving electronics, EMATs can be operated with nearly all standard ultrasound testing and evaluation systems.

Suitable for a wide range of applications!

Applications range from simple thickness measurement on a substrate (e.g. paint) to the highly demanding longitudinally scaled depth profiling of thermal and/or optical properties. Practical examples of the method include the characterization of anticorrosion primers on automotive metal sheets with regard to their weldability, determination of the thickness of scale layers on piercing mandrels, and the depth profiling of hardness values.

Our patented process identifies pipes made from the wrong material

In the production of steel pipes, material/batch mix-ups must be avoided. To make sure this doesn't happen, manufacturers sometimes use electromagnetic processes. Materials can be distinguished from each other based on their different magnetic characteristics. In this context, measurement data often lie very close together (specifically in the case of identically alloyed steels with different heat treatment). An expanded analysis with greater sensitivity and selectivity based on different data mining algorithms was developed and patented.

Rapid geometric acquisition of large objects and areas

3D laser scanners are used to measure buildings and plants.

The beam of a laser-based distance measurement system is refracted into two orthogonal angles and uses high measurement frequency to determine the distance to all object points in the scanning area. We then use that measurement data to prepare CAD models.

Standard-compliant inspection and analysis

As X-ray sources, we use our 200-kV micro-focus X-ray unit and a 320-kV direct emitter. This makes it possible to conduct weld inspections according to DIN EN ISO 17636-2 Class B. A highly effective software program, partly developed in-house, enables certified inspectors (EN 9712 Level 2 and 3) to conduct standard-compliant inspection and analysis.