BOXBOROUGH, MA - In an effort to expand its presence in the southern United States, TÜV Rheinland Industrial Solutions, Inc. (TRIS), a subsidiary of TÜV Rheinland North America Holding Inc., has commissioned a new non-destructive testing laboratory in Decatur, AL. Equipped with a variety of nondestructive testing equipment incorporating technologies such as computed radiography, ultrasonic testing and others, the new 8,000-square-foot facility will feature a start-up staff of seven, with employment expected to double or triple within the first few years.

“As a company, one of our goals is to significantly grow the business we do in America’s south,” says Andy VanAusdall, director of sales for TRIS. “Our new lab’s dual offering of both lab-based and on-site inspection services should greatly facilitate our meeting this objective.”

Situated on the Tennessee River, 25 miles west of Huntsville and 80 miles north of Birmingham, Decatur is well positioned to serve the many automotive, aerospace, metalworking, high technology and other manufacturers located nearby, making it fast and easy to ship products to the laboratory for NDT inspection. The region’s numerous chemical and petroleum processing facilities, and their extensive networks of piping and pressure vessels, are well within reach of the laboratory’s field testing capabilities.

“Along with our traditional manufacturing and processing customers, we can now work with state and federal transportation departments and railroads to field-test the integrity of bridges and rails,” continues VanAusdall. “Our extended capabilities and partnership with our sister company, TUV Rheinland Rail Sciences, has greatly expanded the scope of services each of our companies can offer to its clients.”

The new laboratory is located at 35 Refreshment Place in Decatur and will be managed by Blake Whiteside, operations manager for TRIS.