Public Funding for Peak Ndt Limited

To embed expertise in new and novel in-process ultrasonic inspection application technique knowledge into the business.

Landing-Gear Industrial Breakthroughs "I-Break" will develop and manufacture major components with innovative techniques such as powder hot isostatic pressing, additive manufacture and composites. The Landing-Gear major components; main fitting, sliding piston and actuation are drivers of the aircraft key competitiveness factors; * Development time and cost (NRC), * Recurring cost (RC) * Industrial environmental impact Manufacture has changed little over time, relying on large forgings with no UK footprint. I-Break will develop solutions to be applied on the Next-Generation and Zero Emissions aircraft ready for exploitation. Innovative industrial means are essential to secure breakthrough improvements in the key competitiveness factors.

Landing-Gear Industrial Breakthroughs "I-Break" will develop and manufacture major components with innovative techniques such as powder hot isostatic pressing, additive manufacture and composites. The Landing-Gear major components; main fitting, sliding piston and actuation are drivers of the aircraft key competitiveness factors; * Development time and cost (NRC), * Recurring cost (RC) * Industrial environmental impact Manufacture has changed little over time, relying on large forgings with no UK footprint. I-Break will develop solutions to be applied on the Next-Generation and Zero Emissions aircraft ready for exploitation. Innovative industrial means are essential to secure breakthrough improvements in the key competitiveness factors.

To embed expertise in focal law calculator development in order to create an innovative and sophisticated non-destructive testing capability.

This project seeks to solve the current compromise between information and speed existing within phased array ultrasonic testing, which is restricting uptake of technological advancements in non-destructive testing applications. This project will develop a system which offers users maximum flexibility, to improve productivity and help prevent against unplanned shutdowns.

Ultrasonic Testing (UT) is widely used in industry to interrogate components, plant and products for flaws; to make sure that they are fit for purpose and to reduce the risk of failure in service, which, depending on the nature of the failure, may be catastrophic for the environment and for the local population. Relatively recent advances in technology have seen the introduction of Phased Array (PA) technology, similar to a hospital baby scanner, to the industrial UT world. With the ability to present the operator with a more readily interpretable display than that from a conventional ultrasonic unit, phased arrays are becoming increasingly popular for the ultrasonic non-destructive inspection of many industrial components. The present market is polarised between high specification high cost units and less capable low cost portable units. Currently the middle-ground, where compact but high specification PA units may be needed to integrate into in-line testing systems, is not adequately served. Additionally, where the component being inspected is highly attenuating to ultrasound or where very small defects are being sought in close proximity to some large geometric feature then the dynamic range of existing systems may be inadequate and the operator may need to view the responses at two different sensitivity levels. This development project seeks to address not only the requirement for a mid-priced compact but high performance PA UT unit but also the need for an instantaneous increase in dynamic range, Dynamic Range Enhancement (DRE). The technical challenges posed not only in ‘shoehorning’ the PA electronics into a smaller enclosure but also at the same time increasing the dynamic range of the system are not insignificant and have prompted Queen’s Award for Innovation Winners, Peak NDT to apply for SMART funding so that a product can be brought to market in a reasonable time-frame.

Technical Solutions 24 Seven and Peak NDT are undertaking a collaborative project to develop a novel method for the complete inspection of stage one metallic billets, eliminating the requirement for the pre-inspection machining phase. This project joins the programming and motion control expertise of the Stoke-On-Trent based engineering firm with the award winning Phased Array capabilities of Derby based Peak. The detection of flaws in metallic billets is of crucial importance to supply businesses within the energy and rapidly gowing aerospace supply sector as a result of the critical impact of the installation of inadequate equipment. A successful project will enable the elimination of a considerable cost for producers to these industries by ensuring flaws are detected at the earliest possible stage. This also has positive impacts for supply firms, aerospace manufacturers and the environment - through reduced wastage and energy use in raw material production.

Awaiting Public Summary

Awaiting Public Summary