The 2013 Annual Conference was held on February12-14, 2013 at the Golden Nugget Hotel in Las Vegas, NV. The program content was as follows. Selecting the presentation of interest after “DOWNLOAD” will download that presentation.
NDT Managers Should Also Be Motivators
Chuck Hellier, The Summit Group
This presentation is intended to motivate attendees to become more effective managers and leaders by the motivation of others, primarily their reports. There are many ways to motivate people and a number of these approaches will be addressed. It is well known that effective motivation can result in successful management. Examples of motivational success stories will be included.
DOWNLOAD A – 1.2 MB Presentation A.pdf
Hydraulic Fracturing – A Major Opportunity for the NDT Industry
George Rhodes, Coal Flow Consultants LLC
Greg Kessler, Calfrac Well Services
Hydraulic fracturing has become a major worldwide industry, unlocking vast reserves of gas and oil not recoverable by other means. The associated mechanical stresses are responsible for material failures not seen in other arenas due to enormous pressures intrinsic to the process. For example, pumps, transmissions and field piping all fail on a routine basis, sometimes catastrophically. If failures could be anticipated and monitored, equipment reliability and safety would improve. This is a valid role for many different NDT methods. George and Greg will reveal some of the common mechanical failures and approaches being taken to improve operations.
DOWNLOAD B – 1.9 MB Presentation B.pdf
Signing Your Life Away - A Risk Management View on How to Handle Contracts
Mark Tedford, Tedford Insurance
The companies working in the testing industry are regularly asked to sign unilateral contracts that contain a myriad of indemnity agreement and insurance requirements. Some of these are not automatically covered by insurance. Do you know what the problem areas are in reviewing contracts? This session will explore how the commonly purchased insurance policies respond to contract specific contract wording and will discuss what to look for when negotiating contracts.
DOWNLOAD C – 319 KB Presentation C.pdf
Understanding Structured Light 3-D Technology as a New NDT Technique
Joseph Summa, Technical Toolboxes, Inc.
The companies working in the testing industry are regularly asked to sign unilateral contracts that contain a myriad of indemnity agreement and insurance requirements. Some of these are not automatically covered by insurance. Do you know what the problem areas are in reviewing contracts? This session will explore how the commonly purchased insurance policies respond to contract specific contract wording and will discuss what to look for when negotiating contracts.
DOWNLOAD D – 2.1 MB Presentation D.pdf
UV LED Technology – History, Present and Future Challenges for UV LED Luminaries
Lisel Rehn, Labino AB
UV LED technology – History, present and future challenges for UV LED luminaries.
- Get to know more about the factors that influence lifetime, performance and reliability of a UV LED lamp.
- Get to know the difference in quality between various UV LED luminaries.
- Get to know more about the key factors in UV LED drive electronics.
- Get to know more about how to choose the right beam and intensity for your application.
- Get to know more about what distinguishes the LED technology from the Xenon and Mercury technology – positives and negatives within each technology.
DOWNLOAD E – 1.4 MB Presentation E.pdf
Multi-Directional Magnetic Particle Testing Facts and Fallacies
Brenda Collins, Magnaflux
This presentation will give a brief synopsis of when a multi-directional unit should and should not be the recommended piece of equipment used in magnetic particle inspection. It will also give some advice on how best to set up a test on a multi-directional machine and what you can and cannot expect the equipment to do.
DOWNLOAD F – 889 KB Presentation F.pdf
Recent Developments in Pulse Reflectometry for Non-Invasive Tube Inspection
Yoav Harel, AcousticEye Ltd.
Pulse reflectometry is a noninvasive technique for probing the properties of cavities and materials. In recent years the acoustic version of pulse reflectometry has been applied successfully to tube inspection, by sending acoustic pulses into the air enclosed within the tubes and analyzing the reflections created by defects on the internal diameter. This method enables detection of defects such as blockages, holes and ID wall loss. In this paper we present advances in signal processing and transduction techniques that enable enhanced accuracy and detection of a larger range of defects, along with several case studies exemplifying the performance of this technique in the field.
DOWNLOAD G – 2.2 MB Presentation G.pdf
CMOS Digital Detector Technology for Corrosion Assessment of Pipelines
Fraser Kiddle, QSA Global
Corrosion assessment of pipelines in the Arctic presents some unusual challenges. A robotic crawler system was developed, implementing the latest advancements in CMOS digital X-ray technology. Unique design functions were needed to meet the technique requirements of this challenging application in one of the harshest environments on the planet. From stationary hardware to an automated robotic crawler system evolved the ideal solution of efficient corrosion inspection.
DOWNLOAD H – 2.7 MB Presentation H.pdf
Acquisitions as a Strategic Growth Driver
Mark Armistead, SGS
Rick Pfannenstiel, SGS PfiNDE
SGS has been one of the most active acquirers in the Testing, Inspection & Certification sector, having spent approximately $900 million since 2006 acquiring over 60 small and mid-sized service companies including FTS Inspection & Engineering Services, and PfiNDE, an NDE company specializing in the pipeline sector. As an entrepreneurial driven company a large part of growth is driven by add-on acquisitions, and harnessing the entrepreneurial spirit of the small company owners who become part of SGS post acquisition. This paper focuses on the SGS acquisition process, subsequent integration and opportunities for entrepreneurial owners of NDT service businesses.
DOWNLOAD I – 809 KB Presentation I.pdf
Private Equity I: Building Value in Preparation of a Secondary Sale
Peter Calamari, Platte River Equity
Platte River Equity invests in small and middle market operating companies, with revenues generally between $10 million and $150 million. In 2010, PRE recapitalized Global X-Ray & Testing, a provider of NDT services for oil and gas producers, and Car-Ber Testing Services Inc., a provider of technical support and maintenance services to the petrochemical industry worldwide. PRE is actively looking for add-on acquisitions for these portfolio companies.
The presentation will focus on the value added by PRE including framing strategic direction, developing operating and capital budgets, evaluating and integrating complementary add-on acquisitions, recruiting key managers, and executing on six sigma, LEAN or other operating performance improvement initiatives.
DOWNLOAD J – 482 KB Presentation J.pdf
Confidentiality Agreements, Letters of Intent and Engagement Letters
Jeff Rothschild, McDermott Will & Emery LLP
The most common purposes of a letter of intent (“LOI”) in an acquisition or joint venture proposal are to clarify the key points of a complex transaction, declare officially that the parties are currently negotiating, and to provide safeguards in case a deal collapses during negotiation. Jeffrey Rothschild is a partner in the New York office of law firm of McDermott Will & Emery LLP. In this capacity Jeff has represented selling shareholders of privately owned companies as well as public and private companies in connection with dispositions, equity investments, and public and private offerings of securities. Jeff is intimately familiar with transaction pitfalls and this paper will focus on how a carefully crafted LOI can protect parties during the negotiation process.
DOWNLOAD K – 549 KB Presentation K.pdf
Using a Balanced Score Model for High Level Business Metrics
John Cristman, Integrity Aerospace Group
The Balanced Scorecard Methodology used at Integrity Aerospace Group was developed by Robert Kaplan & David Norton, professors at the Harvard Business School.
The concept behind the Scoreboard is to translate Strategic Planning into an actionable model to monitor and measure an organizations performance as it relates to their strategic business planning.
DOWNLOAD L – 1.5 MB Presentation L.pdf
Private Equity II: Building Value in Preparation of a Secondary Sale
Paul Seppanen & Doug Frey, Desert NDT, and
David Ezzell, Midwest Inspection Services
At NDTMA 2012 Paul Seppanen, Vice President Business Development, Desert NDT (and formerly Executive in Residence: Sterling Partners), presented his experience leading the search for a suitable private equity investment target in the NDT sector. Under Paul’s guidance Sterling’s search culminated in a majority recapitalization of Desert NDT in April 2012. Desert, is an independent NDT provider with over 200 staff. With Sterling’s support, Desert acquired the assets of Midwest Inspection Services in September 2012, increasing headcount to over 500 employees. Desert is currently evaluating the acquisition of complimentary firms in the US and Canada. This presentation will focus on updating the Sterling growth story, and with comments from Doug Frey, CEO Desert NDT and former co-owner, and David Ezzell, President of Midwest, of their experiences under private equity ownership.
DOWNLOAD M – 1.4 MB Presentation M.pdf
AUT (Automated Ultrasonic Testing) – Black Magic or a Cost-Effective Alternative to Radiography?
Michael Moles, Olympus NDT
While radiography (RT) has been the original choice for weld inspections for decades, it is now being challenged very strongly by Automated Ultrasonic Testing (AUT). The ASME Pressure Vessel and Piping Code Committee has published a series of AUT Mandatory Appendices to replace Code Case 2235 – but without the acceptance criteria. In addition, there are two new Mandatory Appendices on phased arrays for manual raster scanning and encoded linear scanning. All these Appendices were published in July 2010. A recent Code Case also makes pipe calibrations much more flexible.
Performing an AUT inspection offers major advantages over RT. RT doesn’t size defects, is subjective and is poor at detecting vertical planar defects. RT suffers from safety issues, licensing, work disruption, environmental issues, and film storage, while AUT has none of these problems. With the arrival of phased arrays and encoded scanners, AUT offers full data storage, rapid and repeatable scanning, tailored inspections, auditable results and accurate sizing. The presentation will illustrate these aspects from pressure vessels, piping and small diameter pipes.
DOWNLOAD N – 2.4 MB Presentation N.pdf
A Review and Update on the Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration (PHMSA) Pipeline Safety Regulations
Tom Finch, USDOT
Overview of Pipeline Safety
• Regulations
• Construction and Design
• Integrity Management
• Operator Qualifications
• Public Awareness Rule
• PHMSA Initiatives and Resources
DOWNLOAD P – 2.5 MB Presentation P.pdf
Maintaining a Positive Safety Culture – A Very Important USNRC Regulatory Consideration & Concern
June Cai, USNRC
The Safety Culture Policy Statement defines nuclear safety culture as the core values and behaviors resulting from a collective commitment by leaders and individuals to emphasize safety over competing goals to ensure protection of people and the environment. The Policy Statement clearly communicates the Commission’s expectations that individuals at organizations performing or overseeing regulated activities establish and monitor a positive safety culture commensurate with the safety and security significance of their activities and the nature and complexity of their organizations and functions. The presentation will provide attendees an opportunity to express concerns and relate experiences from a variety of job site situations and conditions.
DOWNLOAD Q – 549 KB Presentation Q.pdf
Digital Radiography – Rethinking Safety Barriers
Brian Anderson, Acuren Inspection
Technology is moving at a relentless pace in the world of NDT, none more so than digital radiography. This discussion will highlight the unseen safety/quality and production benefits associated with this new emerging method.
DOWNLOAD R – 1.6 MB Presentation R.pdf
Advanced Management Training Seminar - Becoming an Effective and Successful Manager
Conducted by Chuck Hellier, The Summit Group
An effective manager should be able to understand how to prepare budgets, read and understand financial reports, and understand the use of business metrics. Emphasis will be placed on the development of leadership and management skills, as well as establishing goals and evaluating employee performance. Attendees will be presented with the techniques of how to motivate personnel and to understand the importance of a positive attitude. Dealing with conflicts and difficult people in the workplace and the importance of proper business ethics and personal integrity will also be stressed.
DOWNLOAD S – 4.2 MB Presentation S.pdf
A Management Overview - Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing (PAUT) Workshop - Inspection of Welds Using Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing (PAUT)
Conducted by Tim Armitt, Lavender International NDT USA, LLC
This workshop covers the use of PAUT in a variety of weld inspection applications. Advantages and disadvantages over other NDT methods will be outlined. Included will be the set-up and calibration of a typical Phased Array (PA) system followed by scanning and subsequent data analysis of a demonstration weld. The workshop will address selection of appropriate equipment, design of the inspection set-up, criteria for testing welds from one side only (when forced) and reliability of PAUT sizing. A basic set-up guide will be provided for attendees summarizing key issues including equipment calibration checks and methodical data analysis sequence. Consideration will also be given to complementary Time of Flight Data (TOFD) simultaneously acquired with PA in one scan. Attendees will come away from the workshop with a better overall understanding of PAUT from a management perspective so that they will be better equipped to oversee PAUT inspections in their organization.
DOWNLOAD T – PART 1 – 2.8 MB Presentation T.pdf
DOWNLOAD U – PART 2 – 3.8 MB Presentation U.pdf
