Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing, commonly known as PAUT, stands out as a recent and advanced technique in the field of Non-Destructive Testing (NDT). This method utilizes a specialized set of ultrasonic testing probes, each consisting of multiple small elements that are individually pulsed with precisely calculated timings, creating the phased aspect of the methodology. The term 'array' refers to the arrangement of these multiple elements that collectively form a PAUT technology system.
The PAUT testing method finds its utility in a diverse range of applications within the NDT industry. Some notable applications include probing weld joints, inspecting pipes, assessing storage tanks, measuring thickness, conducting corrosion inspections, validating PAUT methods through demonstration blocks, examining rolling stock wheels and axels, calibrating standard blocks for both PAUT and TOFD (Time-of-Flight Diffraction), and inspecting pressure vessels, among others. The versatility of PAUT extends across various industry verticals, making it a valuable tool for ensuring the integrity and safety of critical components.
One of the significant advantages of PAUT lies in its efficiency and reliability compared to other testing technologies, notably radiographic inspection. Unlike traditional methods, PAUT does not rely on the use of radiation, making it a safer and more environmentally friendly option. This makes it particularly suitable for industries where safety and environmental considerations are paramount.
The core principle behind PAUT involves the phased array probes emitting ultrasonic waves into the material being tested. These waves then travel through the material and are reflected back to the probe, where they are detected and analyzed. The key innovation lies in the ability to control the timing and angles of these ultrasonic waves by manipulating the individual elements within the probe.
One of the primary applications of PAUT is in the inspection of weld joints. Welded structures are prevalent in various industries, and ensuring the quality and integrity of these welds is crucial for structural stability and safety. PAUT allows inspectors to scan welds with precision, detecting potential flaws such as cracks or discontinuities. Its ability to provide detailed imaging and accurate measurements makes PAUT a preferred choice for weld inspections.
In the realm of thickness measurements, PAUT offers a superior alternative to traditional methods. It allows for quick and accurate assessment of material thickness, essential in industries where maintaining specific thickness levels is critical for structural integrity. The non-invasive nature of PAUT makes it particularly advantageous, as it eliminates the need for physical contact with the material.
PAUT is also widely employed in the inspection of storage tanks and pressure vessels. These components, often used in industries such as petrochemicals, require regular assessments to identify potential weaknesses or corrosion. PAUT's ability to provide detailed and real-time imaging aids in the early detection of issues, allowing for timely maintenance and preventing catastrophic failures.
The effectiveness of PAUT is further demonstrated in its application to corrosion inspection. Corrosion is a common concern in various industries, and PAUT enables inspectors to assess the extent and severity of corrosion in a non-destructive manner. This proactive approach to corrosion monitoring helps in implementing preventive measures and maintaining the longevity of structures and equipment.
Moreover, PAUT has proven valuable in the calibration of testing methods such as TOFD. Calibration blocks designed for PAUT and TOFD help ensure the accuracy and reliability of these techniques, contributing to the overall precision of inspections.
Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing has emerged as a transformative technology in the field of Non-Destructive Testing. Its ability to provide precise imaging, versatility in applications, and non-invasive nature make it a preferred choice across diverse industries. As technology continues to advance, PAUT is likely to play an increasingly crucial role in ensuring the safety, integrity, and efficiency of critical components in various sectors.
Report Attribute/Metric | Details |
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Market Opportunities | Emerging advancements in inspection technologies, such as digital radiography, ultrasonic testing, and eddy current testing |
Market Dynamics | Increased demand for non-destructive inspection equipment in aerospace & defense industries for quality assurance and safety purposes |
Non-Destructive Inspection Equipment Market Size was valued at USD 2.99 billion in 2023. The non-destructive inspection equipment market industry is projected to grow from USD 3.19 Billion in 2024 to USD 5.14 billion by 2032, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.11% during the forecast period (2024 - 2032).
The growing focus on safety and reliability, the need for preventive maintenance and asset management, the adoption of advanced technologies, the focus on environmental regulations and sustainability, and the globalization of industries across various sectors are the major market drivers for non-destructive inspection equipment.
Source: Secondary Research, Primary Research, MRFR Database, and Analyst Review
Non-destructive testing (NDT) is a cutting-edge technology for detecting and evaluating material flaws. Destructive testing is used to identify aircraft component qualities such as fracture toughness, tensile strength, and flexibility. NDT is essential in the aerospace sector for designing, manufacturing, and servicing aircraft. It is the most precise approach for testing aircraft components and materials without destroying them. The aircraft sector demands the highest structural, material, and performance standards.
According to a survey by an aviation consulting business, the rate of fatal accidents for large commercial jets was 0.3 per million flights in 2018, and it has since dropped to 0.18 accidents per million flights in 2019. NDT is a common testing method for inspecting aircraft parts and components before assembly. Aircraft components are especially susceptible to fatigue cracks, which can expand over time.
Almost 80% of inspections in aircraft worldwide are performed using the visual inspecting testing approach to find damage symptoms. However, various testing methods and procedures are gaining momentum in examining an aircraft component, including acoustic emission testing, liquid penetration, electromagnetic testing, radiography, ground penetration, magnetic particle, and eddy-current testing. The availability and increased usage of excellent non-destructive inspection technologies for detecting fractures, faults, and leaks in an aircraft's system, components, and parts will drive future market CAGR growth.
The NDT approach incorporates R&D processes, training, and service-based supply chains in the oil, gas, automotive, and power industries. This technology is used in the oil & gas industry to inspect pipeline internal and external corrosion. NDT inspects pressure systems and steam and gas turbines in the power sector. In nuclear power plants, this approach is utilized to inspect fuel rods, tiny valves, waste containers, and waste management equipment.
As a result, increased demand for NDT methods in the oil, gas, and power industries further boosts the non-destructive inspection equipment market revenue. For example, in October 2020, Novosound introduced new advanced NDT product series such as Belenus, Kelpie, and Nebula. These devices simplify NDT inspections and save downtime in the oil & gas, energy, aerospace, and renewables industries.
Based on industry vertical, the Non-Destructive Inspection Equipment Market segmentation includes railways & transportation, aerospace & defense, oil & gas, power & energy, healthcare, and others. The oil & gas segment dominated the global market, accounting for 32% of market revenue (0.9 billion). Non-destructive inspection solutions like ultrasonic and eddy currents are frequently used in the oil and gas industry to inspect welds and metals for faults and corrosion. This helps keep highly hazardous chemicals and fluids properly contained inside pipes and pressure vessels. Besides, oil & gas contain carbon, hydrogen, and sulfides, which tend to corrode steel unpredictably and unanticipatedly.
Non-destructive testing efficiently evaluates these materials and detects corrosion before it becomes a greater problem. Another driver is the strict regulatory frameworks, which are mostly implemented to limit the frequency of personnel safety events in the oil & gas industry. Recent infrastructure failures, such as refinery blasts, nuclear reactor leakages, and pipeline explosions, have pushed governments worldwide to impose stringent safety standards, resulting in increased usage of non-destructive inspection equipment.
Source: Secondary Research, Primary Research, MRFR Database, and Analyst Review
Further, the railways & transportation segment is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR in the non-destructive inspection equipment industry over the projected period. The growing global focus on safety and dependability in railways and transportation networks drives the demand for nondestructive inspection equipment. Railways and transportation infrastructure, such as tracks, bridges, tunnels, and rolling stock, must be inspected regularly to guarantee their integrity, performance, and compliance with safety regulations.
The requirement for preventative maintenance and asset management in railways and transportation networks drives the need for nondestructive inspection equipment. Non-destructive inspection techniques can help prevent costly breakdowns, delays, and accidents in crucial components such as rail tracks, wheels, and engines, enhancing operating efficiency and reducing downtime.
By Region, the study provides market insights into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Rest of the World. The North American non-destructive inspection equipment market accounted for USD 1.28 billion in 2022 and will likely exhibit a significant CAGR growth in the study period. The region dominates due to increased demand for advanced material testing from the United States, Canada, and Mexico. In the United States, established industry players such as Acuren Inspection Inc, Fischer Technology Inc, and Magnaflux Corporation drive the market.
These end users are primarily from the transportation, manufacturing, aviation, oil & gas, maritime, and power generation industries. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), over 200,000 airplanes in the United States undergo yearly periodic safety inspections using non-destructive testing equipment. In addition, the U.S. government is increasing its investments in oil & natural gas to support the establishment of the biotech supercluster.
Also, the major countries studied in the market report are the U.S., German, Canada, the UK, France, Italy, Japan, China, Spain, Australia, India, South Korea, and Brazil.
Source: Secondary Research, Primary Research, MRFR Database, and Analyst Review
The European non-destructive inspection equipment market accounts for the second-largest global market share. In European industries, stringent rules and standards about quality, safety, and performance criteria drive the adoption of non-destructive inspection technology to comply with these regulations.
In addition, technological advancements such as improved imaging techniques, robots, and artificial intelligence (AI) applications are improving the capabilities and accuracy of non-destructive inspection equipment, boosting their use in multiple sectors across Europe. Further, the German non-destructive inspection equipment market held the largest market share, and the UK non-destructive inspection equipment market was the fastest growing market in the European region.
The Asia-Pacific Non-Destructive Inspection Equipment Market is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR from 2023 to 2032. Rapid urbanization and industrialization in India and China are boosting demand for nondestructive inspection equipment in the manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, and infrastructure construction industries.
Increased expenditures in infrastructure development projects in the region, such as railways, bridges, and power plants, are increasing the demand for nondestructive inspection technology to maintain the efficacy and safety of these essential facilities. Moreover, China’s non-destructive inspection equipment market held the largest market share, and the Indian non-destructive inspection equipment market was the fastest-growing market in the Asia-Pacific region.
Leading market players in the Non-Destructive Inspection Equipment Market are actively investing in R&D activities to expand their products and services portfolios and drive market growth. These market leaders also participate in proactive measures such as new product releases, mergers & acquisitions, increased investments, contractual agreements, and collaborations with other organizations to grow their global footprint and achieve a competitive advantage. Key market developments in the global non-destructive inspection equipment industry include technical breakthroughs, increased demand from numerous end-use industries, and an increasing focus on safety requirements and quality control.
Major players in the non-destructive inspection equipment market, such as Baker Hughes, GE Inspection Technologies, Olympus Corporation, YXLON International GmbH, Sonatest Ltd, and Zetec Inc, are investing extensively in research and development operations to enhance global market demand.
Key companies in the non-destructive inspection equipment industry also focus on customization and application-specific solutions to meet the unique requirements of various sectors, including aerospace, automotive, oil & gas, manufacturing, and construction, all of which are major end-users of non-destructive inspection equipment. These businesses leverage local product manufacturing to reduce operational costs, increase consumer value, and gain an edge in the non-destructive inspection equipment industry.
Baker Hughes Company is a leading energy and industrial solutions provider. The company's product range comprises drilling equipment, compressors, subsea production systems, electricity generators, pipe systems, energy recovery & storage systems, control systems, regulators, valves, pumps, and process control technologies. It also provides sensor-based process measurement, non-destructive testing & inspection, plant controls, and pipeline integrity solutions. It caters to independent oil & gas enterprises and national or state-owned oil companies. It has research and manufacturing centers in India, Singapore, Australia, Malaysia, Dubai, Italy, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Germany, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Missouri, among other places.
Baker Hughes is based in Houston, Texas, in the United States. Baker Hughes announced the introduction of Veo+ Edge, a next-generation ultrasonic phased array testing system for non-destructive inspection, in September 2021. This cutting-edge inspection equipment allows for faster, more precise, and more efficient inspections of essential assets such as pipelines, vessels, and tanks. Veo+ Edge has increased imaging capabilities and data analysis features, allowing operators to discover faults and abnormalities more precisely, save inspection time, and optimize asset integrity management techniques.
Olympus Corporation is a Japanese firm that manufactures optical and digital precision equipment and instruments. The company designs, manufactures, and sells healthcare, medical, imaging, information, and other industrial equipment. It also provides services for biological materials and system development. The corporation operates across the Americas, Europe, and Asia-Pacific through its subsidiaries and facilities.
Olympus Corporation introduced the 72DL PLUS ultrasonic thickness gauge in March 2022. It provides high-speed, precise thickness measurements in a portable, user-friendly device. The gauge can measure the thickness of very thin layers for complex applications across various industries to its rapid scanning, advanced algorithms, and lowest-ever minimum thickness capability from Olympus.
Promag Technologies Development Limited
MFE Inspection Solutions
Labquip (Ireland) Limited
Stanlay
TWI Ltd
Baker Hughes Company
Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) Products Limited
Olympus Corporation
Zetec Inc
October 2022: Ectane 3, a potent non-destructive testing (NDT) equipment for surface and tubing inspections, was introduced by Eddyfi. The next-generation Ectane 3 includes remote-field array (RFA) technology for improved carbon steel heat exchanger examinations.
February 2022: Olympus Corporation has introduced the OmniScan X3 64 defect detector, which has increased power and performance. The pulse capacity of this 64-channel instrument allows it to drive phased array (PA) probes with more elements, enhancing data acquisition speed for total focusing method (TFM) imaging. Users can use its expanded features to diversify and expand their application portfolio.
March 2021: Zetec Inc launched the ElbowFlex scanner for quick, manual ultrasonic inspection of pipe elbows in the petrochemical, manufacturing, and oil & gas industries. ElbowFlex is primarily used to assess pipe wall thickness and identify flow-accelerated corrosion on elbows.
Railways & Transportation
Aerospace & Defense
Oil & Gas
Power & Energy
Healthcare
Others
North America
US
Canada
Europe
Germany
France
UK
Italy
Spain
Rest of Europe
Asia-Pacific
China
Japan
India
Australia
South Korea
Australia
Rest of Asia-Pacific
Rest of the World
Middle East
Africa
Latin America
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