Non-destructive testing (NDT) is really important if you want to effectively evaluate materials, components, or structures. It’s a vital piece of the engineering landscape. Impressively, the whole field continues to improve. This provides positive benefits for various stakeholders. As the top ERW steel tube supplier in the West Midlands, we want to have a closer look at NDT so you know how it helps our industry and applications.
What is it?
For those who don’t know, non-destructive testing is the term for assessing something without damaging it. Just think about crash tests for vehicles. They test what happens in different crashes, but require the sacrifice of a vehicle each time. NDT can use a series of techniques to determine the properties without destroying anything. They don’t require pushing a product to the failure point.
NDT provides a number of significant benefits. Firstly, you save resources and reduce costs by not having to physically destroy any products. Secondly, you get easy repeatability. Plus, non-destructive testing is dynamic; the variety of techniques means you can test different things, including welds.
It’s also important to note that NDT is fantastic from a safety perspective. It reduces the risk to operators because you don’t need to push materials to breaking point. The only caveat is some methods like radiographic testing have very strict requirements to protect technicians. For example, you can only use x-rays or gamma rays under the right conditions.
Benefits for ERW tubes
Our goal as the leading ERW steel tube supplier in the West Midlands is to ensure that clients get the best products every time. So, things like NDT are really important.
Notably, recent improvements in non-destructive testing means techniques like ultrasonic inspection (UI) and eddy current (EC) are more effective than ever. So, they can provide a better assessment of products like ERW tubing. For example, UI can check for defects and variations in thickness. EC on the other hand can test for things like corrosion and pitting (although only in conductive materials).
More effective NDT means it is easier to confirm that ERW tube will comply with different regulations. This is crucial for various industries and specific applications in them. Significantly, it can improve safety.
Beyond all of that, improvements in NDT support green goals. More effective testing can improve the service life of structures and systems. It also reduces scrap and waste. Overall, it can help to save energy and resources, and reduce emissions.
Talk to a leading ERW steel tube supplier in the West Midlands
Union Steel Tubes is one of the most reputable steel tube suppliers in the UK. We work to the highest standards, with the certifications to prove it. So, you can rely on us to offer great tubing for various applications.
If you have any questions, please get in touch. We’re happy to advise, providing exceptional customer service and showcasing why we are the best ERW steel tube supplier in the West Midlands. Then, if you order, we’ll work hard to supply your tubing as quickly as we can.
