News Bulletin

Ray Wilsdorf Honored with CWI Lifetime Achievement Award

Ray Wilsdorf received the Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) Lifetime Achievement Award on September 8 during the AWS 106^th Annual Business Meeting at FABTECH in Chicago, Ill. He was recognized with a plaque and a medallion.

“I’m humbled and very honored to receive the award,” Wilsdorf said. “It’s very special and probably the most significant award I’ve received in my entire career. So, thank you very much.”

Wilsdorf was recognized for nearly 50 years of distinguished service as a CWI. His accomplishments include pioneering quality control initiatives at Flint Steel Corp. and contributing to the development of the electro-slag and strip-overlay welding processes. He joined AWS as a Student Member while attending LeTourneau University in Longview, Tex. He has been an active member of the AWS Tulsa Section for 58 years and has supported the welding industry through mentoring, teaching, publishing, and board service.

He taught CWI classes at the Tulsa Technology Center, Tulsa, Okla., for five years and currently serves as an Oklahoma state welding inspector. In that role, he oversees witness and testing for students certifying for their Oklahoma Welder Certification License at Indian Capital Technology Center in Muskogee, Okla.

Wilsdorf is also a consulting quality control manager for Zentech, Tulsa, Okla., and provides welding engineering consulting services to the petrochemical and heavy metal industries throughout the region.

AWS Holds CWI Seminar

AWS hosted a Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) seminar July 13–28 at its World Headquarters in Miami, Fla. Tim O’Neill, a Senior Certified Welding Inspector and owner of O’Neill Technical Services, led the course.

Attendees included Kyle Albrecht, Asdru Arana, Damen Bircher, Jason Geldner, John Ingram, Travis King, Quinton Llewellyn, Jesse Memmott, Erik Pfief, Felix Robles, Leonardo Roque, and Adrian Steele.

ASNT Foundation Invests in NDE’s Future through Research and STEM Outreach

The American Society for Nondestructive Testing (ASNT) Foundation, Columbus, Ohio, is advancing nondestructive examination (NDE) through a dual effort: launching a national study to quantify NDE’s economic impact and expanding STEM outreach with hands-on learning for middle school students.

The research initiative will measure and communicate the economic value of NDE across U.S. industries. In partnership with the global research firm Frost & Sullivan, the study will assess NDE’s role in job creation, cost savings, risk mitigation, and workforce needs in sectors such as aerospace, energy, manufacturing, construction, and transportation.

“By putting hard data behind NDT’s [nondestructive testing’s] impact, we can show its vital role in safety, innovation, and workforce growth,” said Heather Cowles, executive director of the ASNT Foundation. “This study will provide industry leaders, educators, and policymakers with the insights they need to prepare for the future.”

This research will impact workforce development, funding, and policy decisions that shape the U.S. NDE industry. The foundation views this project as a critical step in elevating awareness of the NDE industry and ensuring the industry’s contributions in the United States are fully recognized. The findings will offer valuable insights to guide workforce initiatives, industry advocacy, and long-term strategic planning by providing the first comprehensive picture of NDE’s economic and workforce impact. A final report will be released in early 2026.

The ASNT Foundation has also been awarded a STEM Innovation Grant from Battelle, which recently announced a $1.2 million investment in Central Ohio nonprofit organizations dedicated to STEM education.

The grant will help the foundation expand educational programs in NDE. This pilot initiative will distribute 500 Ultrasound in a Box kits to after-school and weekend clubs, giving middle school students, particularly first-generation and underserved learners, an early introduction to NDE and its in-demand career opportunities.

“This grant provides the resources to expand our reach, introducing students and educators to a critical and in-
demand career pathway in NDT,” said Alex Rios, fundraising manager at the ASNT Foundation. “It’s an investment in the future of a highly skilled NDT workforce essential to keeping our world safe.”

Previan Restructures Eddyfi Technologies and NDT Global as Independent Companies

Previan, Quebec, Canada, has initiated a strategic realignment that will establish Eddyfi Technologies and NDT Global as two independent and autonomous entities. The move is intended to support each organization’s distinct business model, industry focus, and operational needs.

With separate leadership teams, tailored strategies, and individual balance sheets, both companies will operate independently while continuing to serve their respective markets in advanced inspection and nondestructive examination technologies.

“This is an exciting moment for our group,” said Martin Thériault, founder and CEO of Previan. “By empowering Eddyfi Technologies and NDT Global to operate independently, we are enabling each to pursue their own focused growth strategies, including executing on their attractive innovation pipelines, capitalizing on M&A opportunities, and better serving their respective customers and markets.”

Most of Previan’s corporate staff will remain with Eddyfi Technologies or NDT Global. Both businesses are expected to be fully standalone by the end of 2025.

Turner Industries Expands with New Facility in Salt Lake City, Utah

Turner Industries has opened a new operations facility in Salt Lake City, Utah, to support regional projects and client services.

The office will serve as a strategic base for expanding the company’s industrial services, including rope access and nondestructive examination and inspections. The facility will also support ongoing site and project operations and serve as a center for hiring and training to improve efficiency and provide dedicated local resources.

“We are excited to officially open our doors in Salt Lake City,” said Stephen Toups, CEO of Turner Industries. “This new facility represents a natural progression of our long-standing presence in the Midcontinent region. It allows us to further strengthen our partnerships, better respond to the unique needs of this market, and deliver even greater value to our clients by providing a permanent local presence and dedicated support.”

NDI Team Expedites B-52 Inspection at Edwards Air Force Base

The 412^th Maintenance Squadron’s nondestructive inspection (NDI) team at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., recently finished an x-ray evaluation of a B-52 Stratofortress 17 days ahead of schedule, demonstrating the unit’s ability to support high-priority aircraft readiness with precision and speed.

NDI technicians applied multiple evaluation methods, including radiography, ultrasonic testing, and oil analysis, to assess the bomber’s structural integrity without disassembly. The B-52’s size and complexity required coordination, with teams working across shifts to complete the inspection safely and effectively.

Staff Sgt. Brandon Tate noted that the project provided rare hands-on experience with a legacy platform. “It’s not every day you get to perform this type of in-depth inspection on a B-52. It was a great opportunity to hone our skills and contribute directly to the aircraft’s continued operational readiness,” he said.

By completing the inspection ahead of schedule, the NDI team enabled the aircraft’s early return to service for ongoing test and mission operations, reinforcing the unit’s critical role in sustaining the Air Force’s bomber fleet.

AIMM Center Launches, Offering Advanced Aerospace NDE Services

The Advanced Inspection Methods and Materials (AIMM) Center has opened in Ogden, Utah, focused on next-generation nondestructive examination (NDE) services for aerospace and defense manufacturing.

Formed through a partnership between Composite Inspection Consulting and Non-Destructive Testing (CICNDT) and Omni NDE, the AIMM Center provides inspection capabilities emphasizing automation, digital imaging, and scalable service delivery.

The center’s offerings include cobot-assisted inspections for data collection; digital x-ray and computed tomography for internal structural evaluation; ultrasonic and laser shearography testing for composites and bonded assemblies; bond testing to identify delamination, disbonds, and adhesion failures; phased array for multiangle inspection of complex geometries; laser ultrasonic testing for high-resolution, noncontact evaluation of large parts; and a Scan-as-a-Service (SaaS) model providing on-demand inspection without in-house NDE staffing.

These services help manufacturers detect defects early and maintain production schedules without compromising quality.

The facility combines CICNDT’s decades of NDE expertise with Omni NDE’s applied knowledge in robotics and inspection integration. Their collaboration has resulted in a facility that not only performs inspections but also advances modern NDE methods. Through training offerings and integrated inspection systems, AIMM supports evolving industry needs in aerospace manufacturing.

Located near Hill Air Force Base, AIMM benefits from Utah’s established aerospace infrastructure and innovation ecosystem, including support from 47G, the state’s deep tech development network. Through collaboration with defense contractors, startups, and educational institutions, AIMM makes high-end inspection services accessible to small suppliers, enabling quality control without large capital investment.