What we inspect
Non-destructive testing is usually described by method — radiographic, ultrasonic, magnetic particle, dye penetrant. What matters on site is the job in front of you: a thermit weld that has to be signed off before the line reopens, a rail head showing fatigue, a pipe wall thinning from the inside. These pages cover the specific inspection work we carry out, and the method behind each.
Radiographic Testing (RT)
Conventional and reliable radiography with on-site digital capture.
Thermit Weld Inspection
Radiographic inspection of thermit (aluminothermic) rail welds — porosity, shrinkage cavities, inclusions and lack of fusion detected before a weld enters service.
On-Site Digital Radiography
Digital radiographic capture on site, giving inspection results in real time instead of waiting for film processing — faster decisions during possessions.
Pipeline Radiography
Radiographic inspection of pipeline girth welds and pipework — porosity, lack of penetration, undercut and inclusions assessed against the governing code.
Ultrasonic Testing (UT)
Internal flaw detection via high-frequency pulse-echo techniques.
Rail Running Surface Inspection
Ultrasonic inspection of the rail running surface and head — rolling contact fatigue, squats, shelling and internal head defects detected before rail failure.
Weld Integrity Mapping
Phased array and TOFD ultrasonic weld mapping — defects located, sized and plotted through the weld volume for repeat-comparable inspection records.
Wall Thickness Measurement
Ultrasonic wall thickness measurement and corrosion mapping for pipework, vessels and tanks — remaining wall quantified from one side, without shutdown.
Sub-Surface Flaw Detection
Ultrasonic detection of sub-surface flaws — laminations, inclusions and internal cracking found inside material where surface methods cannot reach.
Magnetic Particle (MT)
Surface and near-surface defect detection in ferromagnetic components.
Rail Head Crack Detection
Magnetic particle inspection for surface and near-surface cracking in the rail head — fatigue cracks made visible before they propagate.
Wheelset Inspection
Magnetic particle inspection of wheelsets, axles and wheel flanges — fatigue cracking detected during overhaul before a component returns to service.
Structural Weld Examination
Magnetic particle examination of structural steel welds — toe cracking, undercut and surface defects found in bridges, gantries and fabricated steelwork.
Dye Penetrant (PT)
Sensitive surface-breaking flaw identification in non-porous materials.
Non-Ferromagnetic Component Testing
Dye penetrant testing for stainless steel, aluminium and other non-magnetic components — surface-breaking cracks revealed where magnetic methods cannot be used.
Rail Joint Surface Inspection
Dye penetrant inspection of rail joints and joint assemblies — surface-breaking cracks identified at bolt holes, fishplates and joint welds.
Component Quality Control
Dye penetrant inspection as a manufacturing quality control step — surface defects caught at production before components are assembled or dispatched.
Weld Inspection & Certification
Comprehensive assessment and official Certificate of Conformance.
New-Build Weld Certification
Weld certification for new rail construction — C1, C2 and C3 classification reporting to the asset owner's specification, issued as a formal record.
Refurbishment Quality Assurance
Quality assurance inspection for rail refurbishment and repair — verifying repair welds and returning assets to service with documented evidence.
Regulatory Compliance Inspection
NDT inspection for regulatory and specification compliance — documented evidence that assets have been examined to the standard required by the authority.
Not sure which method you need?
Describe the asset and what you need to demonstrate. We will tell you which inspection method applies and what it will involve.
TALK TO AN INSPECTOR