Nondestructive Testing

Report Highlights

• The U.S. nondestructive testing equipment market was worth some $2.2 billion in 2005, including baggage and cargo inspection systems that use NDT technologies. This market is projected to expand at an average annual growth rate (AAGR) of 5.1% between 2006 and 2011, growing from $2.3 billion in 2006 to nearly $3.1 billion in 2011.
• Transportation security is by far the largest and one of the fastest-growing, markets for NDT equipment and supplies. Other major markets, in order of size, include manufacturing (particularly electronics), power generation, and chemicals/petrochemicals.
• The NDT techniques expected to experience the fastest growth over the next 5 years are x-ray radiography, visual/optical/photonic inspection and infrared/thermal imaging.

INTRODUCTION

Nondestructive testing (NDT) continues to play a leading role in a number of key industries. Core NDT technologies are evolving in important ways and are becoming increasingly user friendly. Applications for NDT also are expanding rapidly.

New industries that only recently have begun to use NDT techniques are becoming significant consumers of this technology. The potential market for nondestructive testing equipment continues to expand with emphasis on product quality, lean manufacturing, just-in-time inventory practices, advances in nanomaterials and related manufacturing and testing. This report identifies major industry movements and trends, and describes the present state of the NDT industry and the direction in which it is headed.

SCOPE OF STUDY

This report:

• Provides an overview of Nondestructive Testing (NDT) equipment, including a general overview and definitions
• Offers a detailed five-year market forecast discussing projected values and trends in the U.S.
• Profiles the major companies actively engaged in the development and manufacture of NDT equipment
• Analyzes recent and historical patent activity in order to provide the most up-to-date details on technology trends.

METHODOLOGY AND INFORMATION SOURCES

BCC Research obtained the information presented in this report from interviews with manufacturers, universities and government laboratories, as well as from reviews of secondary sources such as company literature, conference proceedings and related government data. Almost 300 companies in the U.S. were contacted for input.

The cooperation of private companies was limited but sufficient to develop confident projections, trends, directions and sophistication of the NDT market. BCC Research based its data projections on a variety of factors, including technology developments and industry issues, among other conditions. These are discussed where appropriate. All dollar projections are in 2005 constant dollars.

ANALYSTS CREDENTIALS

This report is an update of an earlier report prepared by Balaji (Bal) V. Patil. Dr. Patil received his Bachelor of Technology degree in metallurgical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, and an M.S. in Mineral Engineering and a Ph.D. in Chemical Metallurgy from Columbia University. He later joined Allegheny Ludlum Steel Corp., where he worked in the company's R&D Center and received five corporate technical awards.

The analyst responsible for updating the report is Andrew McWilliams, a partner in the Boston-based international technology and marketing consulting firm, 43rd Parallel LLC. Mr. McWilliams is the author of several BCC Research studies, including a number related to NDT such as Materials Characterization Instruments and Microscopy. In all, Mr. McWilliams has authored more than 30 reports for BCC Research.