NDT and Inspection Market

Updated on : May 8, 2023

[337 Pages Report] The global NDT and Inspection market size is estimated to be USD 10.3 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 18.5 billion by 2028, at a CAGR of 10.1% during the forecast period. Some of the major factors contributing to the high demand for the NDT and Inspection industry includes stringent government regulations regarding public safety and product quality and continuous advancements in electronics, automation, and robotics applications.

NDT and Inspection Market Forecast to 2028

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Market Dynamics

Driver: Increasing demand for artificial intelligence in NDT and Inspection

Factors such as rising demand from the aerospace sector for maintaining a higher standard of material, structure, and strength, along with widening application lists, including finding cracks, flaws, and leaks, will boost the non-destructive testing (NDT) market growth. Additionally, rising demand from various sectors, including oil & gas, automotive, and power, will increase the footprint of the market. Also, increasing awareness regarding improving operational efficiency & reliability will drive the growth of the market.

Restraint: Substantial investments for NDT and Inspection equipment

The high amounts of investments in NDT equipment and technologies such as infrared thermography, computed tomography, radiography technologies, etc., may tend to be a restraining factor in the growth of this market. The high costs of equipment is not affordable in a few of the developing and under-developed countries. This may lead to lesser adoption of NDT equipment by these countries, and hence, this will lead to a dip in equipment adoption.

Opportunity: Increasing demand for NDT in the power generation industry

The global power generation industry is expected to witness the increased adoption of NDT and inspection services. NDT techniques are used in the power industry to inspect pressure systems and steam and gas turbines. The NDT techniques in nuclear power plants are used to inspect rods, small valves, waste containers, and waste management infrastructure. So, this factor creates an opportunity for the growth of the NDT and Inspection market. Several industries in emerging economies, such as China, India, and Mexico, are witnessing large-scale infrastructure development projects, with power generation facilities holding a prominent position.

Challenge: High replacement cost of automated NDT equipment

One of the major drawbacks of NDT and inspection services is the high replacement costs of automated NDT and inspection equipment. Small- and medium-sized enterprises use simple NDT equipment that may not be as reliable as automated NDT and inspection equipment. This prompts some end users, who perceive it to be a burden on their recurring investments, to opt for third-party inspection services. Various companies are focusing on the development of automated NDT and inspection equipment that can offer a high return on investments in the future.

Public Infrastructure segment to hold significant market share throughout the forecast period

High requirements of public safety, especially in public infrastructure, result in a significant market share in the overall NDT and Inspection market in 2022 as well as throughout the forecast period, i.e., between 2023-2028. NDT and inspection techniques are used in thousands of inspections and tests to evaluate the condition, quality, and reliability of construction equipment and new products. Government infrastructures include military bases, defense camps, airports, railways, bridges and tunnels, border-crossing security monitoring centers, nuclear plants, etc. NDT and inspection equipment and techniques are used in all infrastructures during their development. The techniques used in public infrastructures are visual testing, Eddy-current testing, phased array ultrasonic testing, and magnetic and electromagnetic testing.

Ultrasonic testing segment likely to hold largest market share during the forecast period

In 2022, the UT technique segment accounted for the largest share of the overall NDT and inspection market. UT has evolved considerably over the last few decades and is the most important NDT and inspection method for identifying and quantifying surface and subsurface defects. It can be conducted using a wide range of methods, a few of which are manual and cost-effective. In contrast, others require advanced automated equipment to determine critical application faults. UT technique can also be deployed to inspect objects that are not easily accessible through direct contact; for instance, it is used for inspecting piping systems buried under the surface of the earth.

Training Service segment to witness highest CAGR among all NDT and Inspection services market between 2023 and 2028

The market for NDT training services is gaining traction with the growing demand for NDT and inspection equipment. Skilled technicians are required to operate the equipment. Over the past few years, there has been a shortfall of skilled NDT technicians in the market, especially in countries such as the US and Canada, where there has been a shift toward phased array ultrasonic testing (PAUT) from radiography testing for weld inspections. NDT training is offered for magnetic particle inspection, visual inspection, penetrant inspection, radiographic inspection, ultrasonic inspection, and Eddy-current inspection services in a wide range of industries, such as power, aerospace, nuclear, defense, transport, and oil & gas.

Mexico likely to witness highest growth rate for NDT and Inspection Market in North America during the forecast period

NDT and inspection market in Mexico to grow at higher CAGR due to increasing focus on urban mobility, expanding natural gas pipeline network, growing economy, and rapid population growth. The entire road infrastructure is monitored by the Government of Mexico and deployed based on US standards. Mexico uses nuclear power, and according to the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) presentation, Mexico is planning to build almost 10 new reactors by 2028. Mexico is expected to seek private investments of about USD 10 billion in the next five years to expand its natural gas pipeline network; also, the Mexican government has started major infrastructure development projects, with average spending of USD 300–350 million on each project.

NDT and Inspection Market by Region

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Key Market Players

General Electric (US),  MISTRAS Group (US), Olympus Corporation (Japan), Ashtead Technology  (Scotland), Nikon Metrology NV (US) are among the major players in the NDT and Inspection companies.

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Scope of the Report

NDT and Inspection Market Highlights

This research report categorizes the NDT and Inspection market by technique, method, services, application, vertical, and region

Recent Developments

• In October 2022, Laser Radar stations from Nikon Industrial Metrology offer a powerful new alternative against traditional CMMs for manufacturers seeking to measure the geometry of medium-to-large parts – from a car door, casting, or fabrication to a whole car chassis or airframe structure.
• In October 2022, Eddyfi launched Ectane 3, a powerful non-destructive testing (NDT) instrument for surface and tubing inspections. The next-generation Ectane 3 supports remote-field array (RFA) technology for advanced carbon steel heat exchanger inspections.
• In April 2022, Ashtead Technology developed a new optical chain measurement system (CMS) to provide highly accurate and repeatable mooring chain measurements to track chain corrosion, wear, and elongation between surveys, combined with inclination measurement to verify chain tension. Using high-resolution video combined with machine vision algorithms, Ashtead Technology’s new optical CMS reduces chain measurement time by more than 50% and provides real-time results.
• In March 2022, Olympus Corporation launched 72DL PLUS ultrasonic thickness gauge. It delivers precision thickness measurements at high speed in a portable, easy-to-use device. With fast scanning, advanced algorithms, and Olympus’ lowest-ever minimum thickness capability, the gauge can measure the thickness of very thin layers for challenging applications across industries.
• In February 2022, Olympus Corporation launched the OmniScan X3 64 flaw detector, which delivers improved power and performance. This 64-channel instrument has the pulse capacity to drive phased array (PA) probes with a larger number of elements, increasing the data acquisition speed for total focusing method (TFM) imaging. Users can exploit its increased capabilities to expand and diversify their application portfolio.  
• In November 2021, Eddyfi launched Sonyks, a piece of equipment for guided wave testing to identify and detect defects in pipework applications and examination of high attenuation of pipelines, which are buried or flanged.
• In July 2021, General Electric’s inspection company – Waygate Technologies – launched a new service – BRIC, which uses robotics to provide the safe and efficient inspection and cleaning of industrial boilers. This will reduce physical risks to inspectors as well as provide more precise data and reduce inspection costs.
• In March 2021, Eddyfi launched Capture 3.2, a data acquisition and analysis software which enables the technicians or inspectors to use multiple phased array (PAUT) probes at the same time on each side of the weld for better defect detection and characterization.
• In January 2021, Eddyfi launched Spyne, an efficient tool for hard spot detection on pipelines. It is pre-configured to deliver unprecedented scanning speed and coverage. An entire pipe surface can be examined in a substantially shorter period.
• In December 2020, General Electric’s inspection company – Waygate Technologies, launched an extended version of its flagship ecosystem for inspection data management, InspectionWorks. The upgrade includes an easy-to-use and customer-centric user interface and user experience design, as well as new features, including fleet management, remote monitoring diagnostics, inspection data storage, and advanced analytics.
•  In September 2020, General Electric’s inspection company – Waygate Technologies launched two new portable X-ray detectors from its digital X-ray family DXR to ensure the safety, quality, and productivity of its customers’ complex products and processes. The direct radiography detectors DXR140P-HC and DXR75P-HR combine the latest technological advances with extensive customer feedback and guarantee high-quality, efficient imaging as well as thorough protection for use in harsh environments.
• In June 2020, Nikon Metrology launched an advanced MCAx S articulated arm that augments the ModelMaker H120 with improved precision and connectivity. It is a go-to portable handheld laser scanning solution that provides supreme detail and productivity.
• In March 2020, Sonatest launched the NEW X6B Phased Array Probe Series. This new B model comes with an irrigation port and has a lower frequency spectrum offering. The C-scan covers a wide area quickly, even on large components, without compromising the mapping resolution.
• In October 2019, Olympus Corporation launched OmniScan instruments that are recognized globally as the benchmark for portable phased array ultrasonic testing (PAUT). The new OmniScan X3 flaw detector elevates the standard with innovations that improve the entire inspection workflow.

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