laser vision scanning of welds

ASNT and AWS to Expand Welding and NDE Training and Certification in India

The American Society for Nondestructive Testing (ASNT), Columbus, Ohio, and AWS, Miami, Fla., have signed a program agreement formalizing their collaboration to expand, develop, and implement training and certification activities for welding and nondestructive examination (NDE) professionals in India and the Middle East region. This agreement solidifies both organizations’ commitment to address the growing demand for skilled professionals in these critical industries.

“This program agreement marks a significant milestone in our joint efforts to advance the NDT [nondestructive testing] and welding professions in India,” said Neal Couture, ASNT CEO. “By combining our resources and expertise with AWS, we are creating a comprehensive training and certification ecosystem that will empower NDT and welding professionals and contribute to business growth in India.”

This partnership will leverage the strengths of both organizations to provide quality training and certification opportunities. A key element of the agreement is reciprocal access to each other’s authorized training and certification facilities. This will enable ASNT and AWS to conduct qualification and certification training and examination services at each other’s approved locations, significantly increasing accessibility for professionals seeking to advance their careers.

ASNT, through its subsidiary ASNT India, operates a facility in Chennai, India, providing NDE education and certification. This existing presence, combined with AWS’s expertise in welding education and certification, provides a strong foundation for expanding, developing, and implementing a wide range of training and certification activities for welding and NDE professionals in India and the Middle East.

“By combining AWS’s established leadership and expertise in welding education and certification with ASNT’s recognized leadership in NDT, we are creating a powerful platform for professional development in India and the Middle East,” said Richard Arn, AWS vice president of welding and technology. “This collaboration addresses the growing need for highly skilled welding and NDT professionals, ensuring the region’s industries have access to best-in-class training and certification.”

ASNT and AWS will also establish a new training and certification center in Gujarat, India. This facility will serve as a hub for program activities, providing training and examination resources to individuals and organizations in the region.

AWS Hosts CWI Seminar

AWS held a Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) seminar from March 9 to 14 at its World Headquarters in Miami, Fla. Rick Monroe served as the seminar’s instructor. Monroe is a Senior CWI, a Certified Welding Educator, the owner of National Welding Lab & Inspection, and an instructor at CT State Asuntuck.

The seminar attendees were Carlos Almeida Cabrera, Kurt Diehl, Jose Holguin, Ryan Leach, Henry Marcano, John Marousky, Matthew Mason, Jose Palmerin, Sean Sage, and Jaren Stidd.

Wabtec to Acquire Evident’s Inspection Technologies Division

Wabtec Corp., Pittsburgh, Pa., a provider of transportation solutions, has agreed to acquire Evident’s Inspection Technologies division, Waltham, Mass. This division was formerly part of the Scientific Solutions division of Olympus Corp., a global provider of nondestructive examination, remote visual inspection, and analytical instruments solutions for mission-critical assets. Recognized for its brands and reference-standard technologies, Inspection Technologies brings complementary technologies to Wabtec’s Digital Intelligence business.

The acquisition, valued at $1.78 billion (approximately $1.68 billion after tax benefits), is subject to customary adjustments. Wabtec anticipates completing the purchase of Inspection Technologies by the end of the first half of 2025.

With a 50-year history in advancing mission-critical applications, Inspection Technologies serves its global customer base through a geographically distributed sales force and four engineering and production facilities in North America and Japan with more than 1300 team members.

“The addition of Inspection Technologies aligns with our growth strategy to accelerate the innovation of scalable technologies, increase our installed base, expand high-margin recurring revenues, and continuously drive operational performance,” said Rafael Santana, president and CEO of Wabtec.

Inspection Technologies’ industry presence and product portfolio will expand Wabtec’s capabilities with advanced automated inspection products. The integration will also leverage Wabtec’s extensive software development expertise and engineering depth.

“The combination of our two skilled teams and complementary portfolios will accelerate the development of first-class intelligent monitoring solutions to meet the changing needs of the industries we serve,” said Karen Smith, executive vice president of Evident Inspection Technologies.

Baron Mechanical Opens Weld Testing and Certification Center in Texas

Baron Mechanical has launched a new weld testing and certification facility in Port Arthur, Tex. This expansion supports industries that rely on high-quality welding with new and advanced testing equipment.

The facility is outfitted with the latest welding and mechanical testing equipment, providing fast, accurate, and reliable results for clients in oil and gas, construction, and manufacturing. The investment includes high-precision machining tools for base material preparation, automated testing systems for efficiency, and the latest software for data analysis and reporting.

The facility is equipped to handle a wide range of weld qualification and certification services, including welder and welding operator qualification testing, welding procedure qualification testing, welding procedure specification development, and consulting for compliance and code requirements.

With multiple testing stations designed to accommodate shielded metal, gas tungsten, gas metal, and flux cored arc welding, Baron Mechanical can efficiently process weld tests with full material traceability and certification.

The company has invested in a full range of destructive and nondestructive weld examination equipment. Clients will receive detailed certified test reports to verify compliance with required codes.

Testing services include tensile and bend testing, Charpy impact testing, ferrite content analysis, hardness testing (Brinell, Rockwell, Vickers), metallographic examination, stress relieving (ASME compliant), and elemental analysis.

This investment in advanced equipment enables faster turnaround times, improved accuracy, and greater reliability for clients needing immediate weld certification.

ASNT Champions NDE on Capitol Hill

On March 10, the American Society for Nondestructive Testing (ASNT), Columbus, Ohio, hosted its first Day on the Hill event, bringing together members from across the nation to advocate for the critical role of nondestructive examination (NDE) on Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C. Key priorities included advancing workforce development initiatives to address the growing need for skilled NDE professionals and driving innovation and investment in the NDE industry.

ASNT members met with Congressional representatives and their staffs to discuss the importance of NDE in various sectors, including infrastructure, transportation, manufacturing, and energy. They emphasized the economic and safety benefits of utilizing NDE technologies and the need for continued support from policymakers.

“This event underscores the essential contributions of NDT [nondestructive testing] professionals in ensuring the safety and reliability of our nation’s critical infrastructure, including bridges, pipelines, power plants, and transportation systems,” said ASNT CEO Neal Couture. “We are eager to bring our members’ expertise to Capitol Hill to advocate for policies that enhance public safety, strengthen our skilled workforce, and foster innovation and investment in the NDT field.”

The two-day event began with a comprehensive training session to prepare participants with a thorough understanding of ASNT’s advocacy agenda, legislative priorities, and effective communication strategies for engaging with policymakers. The day concluded with a networking reception.

On March 11, attendees participated in a series of scheduled meetings with members of Congress and relevant committees. These meetings focused on critical issues, including workforce development initiatives, infrastructure safety, and the increased need for skilled NDE professionals to meet the demands of industries such as aerospace, energy, and transportation.

“NDT professionals are at the forefront of protecting lives and ensuring the integrity of critical systems,” said Garra Liming, ASNT director of public relations and government affairs. “ASNT on The Hill is an opportunity to amplify the voices of our members and advocate for the resources and policies that will empower the next generation of NDT.”

ASNT’s Day on The Hill highlights the organization’s commitment to advancing the NDT profession, safeguarding public safety, and proactively addressing the challenges posed by a rapidly evolving workforce landscape.

USA DeBusk Adds CIMA Inspection

USA DeBusk, Deer Park, Tex., a provider of industrial services to energy and infrastructure sectors, has acquired CIMA Inspection, Pasadena, Tex., a nondestructive examination (NDE) services specialist serving customers nationwide. The acquisition enhances USA DeBusk’s NDE inspection capabilities and expands its service offerings while also broadening CIMA Inspection’s geographic reach and creating new opportunities for business growth and collaboration.

“We’re excited to add CIMA’s NDT [nondestructive testing] knowledge, expertise, and resources to our service portfolio,” said USA DeBusk CEO Andrew DeBusk. “Combined with our existing NDT tube inspection capabilities and expansive line of complementary industrial services, we are able to offer customers unparalleled proficiency, efficiency, and value. In CIMA, we found an organization that fits our customer-first approach, and we are eager to bring this new level of synergy and service to the market.”

‘We are excited to join forces with USA DeBusk and unite two workforces that are aligned in both their core values and their commitment to safety, integrity, and customer satisfaction,” said CIMA Inspection CEO William J. Campbell. “Like USA DeBusk, CIMA is culture-driven, growth-oriented, and committed to continual improvement. Both organizations have long histories of service to the same core markets, giving us a combined knowledge base that will benefit customers and expand opportunities for NDT industry leadership.”

The company’s NDE inspection services will be branded as CIMA Inspection, a USA DeBusk Co.