Test & Inspection

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In many laboratories, confidence in physical testing is based on the assumption that results are consistent and that, if a method works once, it can be repeated. However, shifts in operator technique, environmental conditions, or instrument calibration can undermine that confidence. 

Across the oil & gas sector and wider energy industries, weld integrity remains a cornerstone of asset safety, operational reliability, and regulatory compliance.

Manufacturing teams continue to use handheld gages during daily quality work, even as they expand their automated inspection systems and adopt more software-driven processes.

Aerospace manufacturers face constant pressure to increase precision, reduce lead times, yet stay adaptable as designs and production volumes change.

I’m fond of the phrase “These words say this. These words don’t.” I first encountered it in the marketing of the company Pig Newton, the production company of comedian Louis C. K.

Aircraft lap joints can be fast-screened for surface deformation caused by hidden corrosion using visual inspection or an automated machine vision system. 

For decades, the metals testing industry has relied on extensometers to measure material deformation and ensure product quality.

Any conversation about automation and quality has to start with an acknowledgment that robots inherently improve quality. Robots produce more consistent work than humans. 

X-ray inspection has long been one of the most trusted methods for inspecting a part without cutting it open. Within the broader field of nondestructive testing (NDT), radiography remains a remarkably flexible tool—able to reveal hidden flaws, confirm weld quality, or verify internal structures that can’t be seen by eye. It’s used everywhere from aerospace and defense to energy, electronics, and manufacturing.

Over the past decade, global data-center infrastructure has evolved faster than at any other time in history. AI clusters, cloud computing, and digital services have driven unprecedented increases in power needs and thermal loads.