=Internat iona l n e w s Ultrasonic systems for Sizewell to be evaluated Inspection and validation of the design and manufacture of automatic ultrasonic systems, which wil l be used to test a pressure vessel, will be carried out by Lloyd's Register Industrial Division (LRID) of Croydon, UK. The vessel, currently being built, wil l be installed at the UK Sizewell 'B" nuclear power station.

This work forms part of Lloyd's

Register's N DT services for major components of the Sizewell 'B" primary circuit, including the 6 mm-thick steel liner for the containment vessel.

To meet the requirements of the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate, N DT procedures and operators must be validated for designated components. LR surveyors will ensure that these procedures, approved by the UK Atomic

Energy Authority for the pressure vessel components, will be performed to similar standards on the pressure vessel. For items other than the pressure vessel, LR has established an Ultrasonic Operator Validation Unit.

Inspection of other items, being manufactured worldwide, will be coordinated by LRID. Lloyd's Register, 71 Fenchurch Street, London EC3M 4BS, UK

Three UK power stations to be tested Inspection and NDT of three UK power stations at Cottham, Radcliffe and Fiddler's Ferry wil l be undertaken by Metal and Pipeline Endurance Limited (MAPEL) of Biggleswade, UK.

Ultrasonics, and magnetic particle and dye penetrant techniques will be used to test refurbished and modified structures, including turbines and pipework.

The work will be performed on behalf of the Central Electricity Generating Board, who have approved MAPEL's quality assurance services.

The contracts, initially for one year, are worth £30000.

Metal and Pipeline Endurance Limited, 7-8 Eldon Way, Biggleswade, Bedford SG 18 8NH, UK

High-speed ultrasonic system on sale A high-speed ultrasonic inspection system used to determine the residual life of heat exchanger tubes is now on sale to plant operators. Previously the system was used only by Rolls- Royce MatEval of Warrington, UK, for contract work.

The Internal Rotary Inspection System (IRIS) measures the wall thickness of tubes to reveal the

extent of internal and external corrosion.

IRIS is said to detect pits of diameter 1.5 mm in a 25 mm- diameter tube and to make 300 000 measurements along a 9 m-long tube in four minutes.

Rolls-Royce MatEval, 245 246 Europa Boulevard, Gemini Business Park, West Brook, Warrington WA5 5TN, UK

Offshore fabrication yard to be inspected A £0.5 million contract has been won by Metal and Pipeline Endurance Limited (MAPEL) of Biggleswade, UK, for NDT services at the offshore fabrication yard in Nigg Bay, UK.

MAPEL's recently introduced computerized ultrasonic inspection system, together with radiography and magnetic particle inspection, will be used to test newly welded structures in a programme scheduled to run until

April 1989. This is the fourteenth consecutive year that MAPEL has been engaged as NDT specialist at the yard.

This contract forms part of MAPEL's NDT inspection campaign in three UK offshore fabrication yards.

Metal and Pipeline Endurance Ltd, 7 8 E/don Way, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire S G 18 8NH, UK

Advanced real-time X-ray facility is opened

An advanced real-time X-ray facility has been opened by OIS Engineering of Great Yarmouth, UK.

A system that operates at 15-320 kV will be used to inspect castings and components. Full image processing and enhancement facilities wil l be available and image storage on optical laser disc or video tape wil l be provided.

OIS Engineering now operates independently, having been bought from its parent company, Oilfield Inspection Services (OIS), by an OIS management team.

OIS Engineering, Bessemer Way, Harfreys Industrial Estate, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk NR31 OLX, UK

Turnover at Inspectorate increased during 1987

Turnover more than doubled during 1987 at the NDT and quality services company, I nspectorate International.

Acquisition of the Griffith Group, a major inspection company, played an important role in Inspectorate's growth, 24% of which was derived from the UK, says the company's annual report.

Inspectorate UK p/c, Loddon House, Loddon, Norfolk NRI4 6JQ, UK

350 NDT International October 1988