Ultrasonic Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) Equipment Market Size

Ultrasonic Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) Equipment Market Analysis

The Ultrasonic Non-Destructive Testing Equipment Market size is estimated at USD 0.87 billion in 2024, and is expected to reach USD 1.33 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 8.79% during the forecast period (2024-2029).

Developing countries continue to consume vast amounts of natural gas while the demand increases in developed countries. The increased demand is causing the expansion of pipelines and refineries, due to which there is a surge in the ultrasonic NDT testing market.

• Regular non-destructive testing is widely used as a proactive safety measure, as it is required by law in many countries. However, ultrasonic testing is gaining popularity as it creates a better map of ship corrosion and can accurately determine hull thickness, as compared to visual inspection, which is frequently used in ship inspections. Images produced through ultrasonic testing can visualize defects inside the hull that visual inspection cannot detect. Regular ultrasonic testing ensures that hull issues are identified before a costly failure. Such trends are expected to create significant growth prospects for the market studied over the forecast period.
• Ultrasonic testing equipment is the most extensively used NDT equipment that is simple, lightweight, portable, can withstand temperature, humidity, vibration, and dust, and are also cost-effective in nature. Ultrasonic testing is witnessing incremental innovations aimed at filling gaps in the existing market product portfolio. Within ultrasonic testing, the market for phased array ultrasonic testing is witnessing saturation, while guided wave ultrasonic testing is being dubbed as one of the most significant techniques. Moreover, Ultrasonic testing is becoming a preferred choice amongst the end-users for fault detection, as it is non-hazardous to operators or nearby personnel and does not affect the material being tested. It also provides instantaneous results. Ultrasonic testing has witnessed the majority of applications in the power generation industry and the oil & gas industry. However, with the increasing technological advancements in the industry, technology is witnessing significant instances of applications in other industries as well.
• For instance, ultrasonic testing is being used in the marine and aviation industry, as the testing activity is regularly performed on steel and aluminum vessels to detect and quantify corrosion. It can also be used to measure the thickness and integrity of composite structures. In April 2021, Jet Aviation was approved by the Swiss Federal Office of Civil Aviation to use infrared thermography for non-destructive testing (NDT) at its Basel maintenance facility to add to other NDT techniques used in Basel, such as liquid penetrant, X-ray, magnetic particle, eddy current, and ultrasonic testing.
• There has been an incremental rise in the demand for skilled technicians in ultrasonic testing activities, along with skilled NDT technicians across the world. The demand currently outweighs supply due to many reasons. Non-destructive testing can only be performed by certified professionals who undergo detailed training in the presence of subject-matter experts to gain expertise on the various techniques and skills involved in analyzing the data.
• Technological advancements in the NDT industry have made it even tougher for workers to stay abreast of present-day practices and techniques. Acute shortage of skilled workforce can be seen in some regions, like Canada, the United States, the Middle East, and Asia. Shale oil and gas explorations in Canada and certain parts of the United States have led to a sudden surge in demand for NDT workers. The lack of quality instructors is another source of concern in emerging countries. Such trends coupled with companies operating in the market facing temporary operative issues due to the absence of site access and disruption in the supply chain might hamper the progression of the ultrasonic NDT testing equipment market.