Market Trends of NDT In The Aerospace And Defense Industry
Radiography Testing Technology to Account for the Largest Share
- Radiography is one of the versatile testing methods in non-destructive testing, which is used to detect surface and subsurface features in welded parts and castings. Radiography employs highly penetrating X-rays produced by an X-ray tube, gamma rays by a radioactive isotope, and other forms of radiation for testing without causing any damage to the product.
- It enables product reliability, providing the information to prevent accidents and saves lives in industries. It is also used for corrosion mapping, detection of blockages inside sealed equipment, testing of semiconductor devices for cracks, broken wires, and unsoldered connections, detecting reinforcing material in concrete slabs, and measuring the bulk density of materials.
- Radiography test equipment such as computed radiography is mainly used to manufacture and maintain military and civil aircraft and is considered under the aerospace segment's scope. Radiography applications in aerospace include detecting internal defects in thick and complex shapes, metallic and non-metallic bodies, and the quality of critical aerospace components, structures, and assemblies.
- Further, Conventional radiography is being increasingly replaced with digital radiography in aerospace, and the latter is anticipated to completely overshadow the market, except for some critical high-resolution imaging applications. This shift has also been fueled by the advent of common binding standards for joint accreditation, following the National Aerospace and Defense Contractors Accreditation Program (NADCAP).
- Due to digital radiography systems' automation and digital factors, scan times are drastically decreased by up to 90%. This time saving contributes to significantly lower labor requirements and increases the capacity of a single system, so more parts can be inspected.
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Europe to Account for Significant Share
- NDT plays a major role in all life phases of an aircraft structure in order to ensure the defined quality level in the production of the components and also of structural integrity in the service phase. The region showcases demand for NDT, such as radiography and ultrasonic test equipment, majorly due to high uptake by industries such as the aerospace sector due to growing concerns towards safety.
- Moreover, the region is witnessing increased investment, owing to the huge potential, especially in the aerospace sector, which is constantly growing. For instance, In August 2022, Godrej Aerospace plans to grow 3X over the next three years. Critical sheet metal brackets, intricate fabrications, and hydraulic aggregates are just a few of the complex airworthy systems that Godrej Aerospace manufactures and supplies for aircraft applications in the United Kingdom Market. Godrej Aerospace has received NADCAP approval and AS9100 certification for unique procedures like non-destructive testing.
- Furthermore, the United Kingdom’s super-deduction tax relief is expected to boost post-covid business recovery due to offered benefits. For example, companies are investing in qualifying new plant and machinery assets and will be able to claim a 130% capital allowance on their new plant and machinery investments and a 50% first-year allowance for qualifying special rate assets.
- Moreover, ultrasonics are able inspect and detect damage which are too small to be discovered by visual means. This makes ultrasonic NDT Equipment testing an essential part of the process in European countries. For instance, Testia, an Airbus company, launched the latest version of its ultrasonic, eddy current, and resonance non-destructive testing device, the Smart UE1. The Smart UE1 testing device is designed for aerospace use, and certified NDT inspectors or B1 mechanics can use it.
- Further, organizations based in the United Kingdom are likely to be faced with changed rules regarding activities in the area of testing and inspection. The United Kingdom is an important trading partner for many European countries. As the services are subject to testing, inspection and certification under EU regulations, it is likely that Brexit will might have a negative impact on businesses exporting products or services from Europe to the United Kingdom.
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