International tech show reveals the ‘unsung hero’ transforming industry
With inspection and monitoring technologies set to play a key role in the transition to Industry 4.0, a major interrnational exhibition in the Midlands will showcase the latest developments.
Materials Testing 2019 which takes place from 3-5 September in Telford, is the world’s most comprehensive exhibition of its type, featuring over 70 exhibitors from countries worldwide plus a wide range of seminars and workshops.
The event, which is free to attend, is organised by the British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing (BINDT). It believes NDT has played a critical role in helping to improve safety in everything from cars and aircraft to shopping malls and power stations. Now new techniques are opening up new possibilities, for example the use of sensors to monitor aircraft engines during flights and identify potential faults or check the safety of wind turbines in remote locations.
New inspection techniques will be critical to the future of the auto and other industries, as lightweight composites increasingly replace metals in cars, aircraft, boats and even buildings and bridges. Inspection and monitoring technologies will also have a key role in the Internet of Things as installed sensors will provide much of the data to make the ‘fourth industrial revolution’ possible.
Amongst those taking part is the UK Research Centre for NDE (RCNDE), which will be showcasing new technologies. Its Director, Professor Robert Smith, says: “NDT is the ‘unsung hero’ of the modern world. Not only has it helped to improve safety in industries including air travel, but it will help make greener air, land and sea travel possible and affordable in the future by increasing confidence in structural design, allowing lighter-weight structures and reducing fuel consumption.”
Materials Testing 2019 is open from 9.30am to 4.30pm on Tuesday 3 and Wednesday 4 September and from 9.30am to 2.30pm on Thursday 5 September and takes place at the International Centre in Telford. It will run alongside the NDT 2019 conference.
On 3 September the show will host the launch of a new book by nuclear experts Tony Wooldridge and Stephen Druce. Golden Egg or Poisoned Chalice? The Story of Nuclear Power in the UK reveals how secret Cabinet reports set the scene for the early phases on the UK’s nuclear power programme and the lessons for future major engineering projects.
For further information, visit www.materialstesting.org. Picture courtesy of Rolls-Royce.
