NDT Research And Development
Research & Development is a critical part of any industry and the non-destructive testing (NDT) industry is no exception. The structural integrity of pipelines is vital to the safe transport of petroleum and other liquids around the world and the ageing pipeline infrastructure is necessitating the need for better, more frequent, more effective, and more cost-efficient inspection techniques.
R&D helps improve existing techniques and create new ways to inspect for corrosion, damage, and wear. Without past R&D efforts we’d never have progressed beyond visual inspections! X-rays, computer and digital radiography, and PMI are just three examples of non-destructive testing methods that owe their existence to R&D researchers who learned how to apply them to pipeline inspections.
In the petroleum and energy sectors, Research & Development engineers are vitally important to safety, environmental protection, regulatory compliance, and the efficient use of systems and infrastructure.
Standard R&D Divisions
There are two primary areas in which R&D personnel work: Current Product Improvement (CPI) and New Product Development (NPD).
- Current Product Improvement (CPI). Researchers in this division focus on improving existing NDT methods. They may look for ways to make the technique less costly, quicker, more accurate, or easier to manage. They might also research ways to use existing techniques on different products and materials.
- New Product Development (NPD). Advances in technology make new and innovative product development possible in all industries, including NDT. Research is always needed in the NDT sector to make tools that are easier to use in the field – which usually includes some extremely harsh environments.
R&D Personnel
What kind of people work in R&D? People who are dedicated to making things better; to improving the existing. R&D researchers are very highly educated. Master’s Degrees and PhDs are all but required in some fields. Special certifications, experience, and knowledge may be required beyond university education.
These professionals analyze current and future market and industrial needs to develop solutions. They work in a variety of locations; (in the office; in the lab, and in the field). They are at the forefront of technology and always learning something new.
They design prototypes, improve existing methods and techniques, and develop new techniques. A big part of R&D is to monitor technology developments and figure out ways that new technology can be applied to NDT inspection techniques. R&D engineers may be responsible for writing technical papers and providing written procedures and specifications.
R&D Careers At Amerapex
Amerapex is a worldwide leader in NDT methods. Our motto is “Efficiency Through Innovation” and that is exactly what we do. We are constantly investing in and researching the latest technologies to develop NDT methods that are highly accurate and cost-effective. Our proprietary Guided Wave System CML/TML has been proven to save time and money over traditional UT inspection techniques. This is just one example of how Amerapex is advancing the NDT industry through an investment in Research & Development. We are confident that the future will bring many more opportunities to improve existing processes as well as open the door to new, as yet unheard-of techniques.
To learn more about our company and our services contact us at 1-713-263-0900.
