The judging panel included repre-
sentatives from FRC-SE and the Joint
Technology Exchange Group (JTEG),
which reviewed all 35 entries and
selected finalists based on maintenance
relevance, originality, technical maturity,
cross-service applicability, and practical
feasibility.
AI TAKES ON KEY
ROLE IN QUALIFIED
ULTRASONIC
TESTING AT SWEDISH
NUCLEAR PLANT
Artificial intelligence and machine
learning (AI/ML) were used for the first
time to evaluate data in a qualified ultra-
sonic inspection during an outage at the
Ringhals nuclear power plant, Sweden’s
second-largest power station, on 3 June.
The system, developed by Trueflaw
(Espoo, Finland) and EPRI (Palo Alto,
CA), recently received qualification for
use in ultrasonic inspection of pressure
vessel head penetrations. The inspection
vendor was Wesdyne (Täby, Sweden),
and the qualification was issued by the
Swedish Qualification Centre (SQC).
Critical components in power plants
are inspected during scheduled outages
using various nondestructive tech-
niques, including ultrasonic testing (UT).
These inspections are used to detect
possible service-induced degradation
and generate vast amounts of data
that must be reviewed by highly skilled
human experts—a critical task that’s
time-consuming and demanding.
Automated data analysis with AI works
alongside human experts to make the
inspections more efficient and reliable.
AI is used to prescreen the data and
highlight any potential defects found.
The human experts then review these
areas of interest and make the final deci-
sions. Analysis that would take a human
inspector hours can be completed in
minutes with AI support. At the same
time, evaluations become more consis-
tent, and the risk of human error is
reduced. Human experts still have the
final say, with the AI helping to focus their
efforts to make data analysis faster and
more dependable.
“AI/ML has proven itself as a reliable
and valuable tool for nondestructive eval-
uation. The first use in qualified nuclear
inspection is an important milestone and
shows AI can meet the highest of reli-
ability and regulatory requirements,” said
Trueflaw CEO Iikka Virkkunen.
ASNT ANNOUNCES
PARTNERSHIP
WITH INSPECTION
TECHNOLOGY AND
QUALITY ASSURANCE
NATIONAL INSTITUTE
In June, the American Society for
Nondestructive Testing (ASNT) signed
a partnership agreement with the
Inspection Technology and Quality
Assurance National Institute (ITQAN), a
training institute in Saudi Arabia focused
on meeting industry needs and devel-
oping the local workforce. This collabo-
ration aims to support the growth of the
nondestructive testing (NDT) field in the
region by providing access to internation-
ally recognized training and certification.
This partnership agreement estab-
lishes a cooperative relationship to
promote NDT through ITQAN’s educa-
tion and training programs along
with ASNT’s training and certification
schemes. As part of this alliance, ASNT
and ASNT Certification Services LLC will
provide ITQAN with the ability to provide
ASNT-approved training courses, certi-
fication preparatory courses, and ASNT
certifications.
“Our goal is to collaborate with a
local, well-established organization to
deliver ASNT products and services
to the region. This will enhance local
INDUSTRYNEWS
|
SCANNER
DATAFACTS |
INDUSTRIAL RADIOGRAPHY MARKET GROWTH
The industrial radiography market is experiencing significant transformation, driven
by heightened demand across sectors such as oil and gas, aerospace, and construction.
Innovations in testing techniques and evolving regulations for safety inspections are
fueling this industry’s evolution.
Market trends emphasize digital transformation, with over 40% of new equipment sales
featuring digital detectors versus traditional film-based systems. The integration of
cloud-based data analytics for remote inspection monitoring is also expanding rapidly.
Additionally, the adoption of portable industrial radiography devices rose by 22% in
2024, enabling onsite inspections in challenging terrains.
Sustainability-focused innovations, such as low-radiation-emission devices, are becoming
mainstream in response to stringent environmental regulations. Cross-industry collab-
orations and aftermarket service offerings are also consolidating market positions,
reflecting shifts in competitive strategies among key players.
Source: Industrial Radiography Market: An Analysis of Size, Shares, Business Growth, and Upcoming Trends
Forecast 2025–2032 coherentmarketinsights.com
4.0
3.5
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
0
2025 2032
US$1.89 billion
US$3.45 billion
Compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.0%
A U G U S T 2 0 2 5 • M AT E R I A L S E V A L U AT I O N 9
Revenue
(Billion
USD)

workforce development, assist in
upskilling personnel, and elevate the
quality and education of NDT personnel
in Saudi Arabia,” said Paul Lang, ASNT
Chief Global Strategy Officer.
Through the partnership, ASNT will
enable ITQAN to offer a wide range of
ASNT educational and training content at
their facility, including in-person and online
options. Once ITQAN achieves ASNT
Authorized Examination Center status, it will
also administer ASNT certification exams.
“This strategic alliance empowers
Saudi talent with globally recognized
skills and certifications—enabling them
to thrive in high-demand sectors and
contribute meaningfully to the Kingdom’s
industrial transformation,” said Tariq
Alamer, Managing Director of ITQAN
Institute. “Together with ASNT, we are
shaping a future where ITQAN graduates
are not just [ASNT] certified, but trusted,
valued, and ready to lead across the
Kingdom’s most vital industries.”
This collaboration will promote and
deliver ASNT courses to ITQAN’s student
body and the public. The courses will
cover general and advanced NDT
knowledge as well as specific training to
support the ASNT 9712 and ASNT NDT
certification programs.
BIDEN-ERA PIPELINE
INSPECTION RULE
RESCINDED
The US Department of Transportation’s
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety
Administration (PHMSA) has withdrawn
a Biden-era advisory bulletin tied to the
2020 PIPES Act, citing federal overreach
and excessive regulatory burdens on the
pipeline industry.
The bulletin, originally intended
to guide operators in implementing
Section 114 of the PIPES Act, had been
criticized for extending beyond the
law’s scope and introducing costly new
requirements. In a notice transmitted to
the Federal Register, PHMSA formally
rescinded the guidance.
Pipeline operators are now instructed
to follow the original language of
Section 114 and Section 60108(a) of the
Pipeline Safety Act in drafting inspection
and maintenance plans. Regulators will
use those standards during future audits
and inspections.
VAST SPACE USING
FLEXIBLE DIGITAL X-RAY
DETECTORS ON SPACE
STATION PROJECT
NASA’s International Space Station (ISS)
has dominated low Earth orbit for more
than 25 years, serving as a microgravity
laboratory and home to rotating crews
of astronauts. But with the ISS nearing the
end of its operational life, NASA is looking
for a replacement. One contender is
Vast Space, a California-based aerospace
startup founded by former crypto entre-
preneur Jed McCaleb, which recently
unveiled plans for a successor to the ISS as
part of a broader push to commercialize
low Earth orbit.
Vast has revealed the design of
Haven-2, a private space station it
hopes to launch as part of the second
phase of NASA’s Commercial Low Earth
Orbit Destinations (CLD) program.
According to the company, the first
module of Haven-2 could launch as
early as 2028. Before that, Vast plans
to launch Haven-1—a smaller, single-
module station—in 2026. The company
says Haven-1 will support short-term
missions for up to four astronauts at
a time. But even before its first space
station launches, Vast is eyeing the
NASA contract to build another one as a
commercial successor to the ISS.
To support fabrication and inspection
of its space station components, Vast
has adopted digital radiography (DR)
systems from Dürr NDT. Dan Guerrero at
Willick Engineering, a Pinnacle company,
collaborated closely with John Stewart,
founder of ATAA and Radiation Safety
Officer/Responsible Level 3 at VAST,
to implement the use of Dürr NDT’s
D-DR 1025B NDT and D-DR 1043B NDT
flexible panels. Vast is also using the
19 µm DR 7 NDT panel for applications
requiring very high resolution. The panels
and Dürr’s D-Tect X software are being
used to inspect welds on the exterior of
Haven’s structural components.
PENN STATE
ESTABLISHES CENTER
FOR DIRECTED
ENERGY RESEARCH
AND WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT
Pennsylvania State University has
launched the Center of Excellence in
Directed Energy (CEDE), a university-
wide initiative focused on advancing
basic research in focused energy tech-
nologies—such as lasers and micro-
waves—to drive new applications and
cultivate a skilled workforce in directed
SCANNER
|
INDUSTRYNEWS
A vision for the future of low Earth orbit: Vast Space’s Haven-1 station and the inspection
technology helping bring it to life.
10
M AT E R I A L S E V A L U AT I O N • A U G U S T 2 0 2 5
CREDIT:
VAST
SPACE