Ultrasonic Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) Market Size - By Application (Weld Inspection, Thickness Measurement, Defect Detection, Bond Integrity Testing, Corrosion Monitoring), By Method, By Testing, By End Use & Forecast, 2024 - 2032

Ultrasonic Non-Destructive Testing Market Size

Ultrasonic Non-Destructive Testing Market size was valued at USD 3.8 billion in 2023 and is estimated to register a CAGR of over 13% between 2024 and 2032. The increasing adoption of continuous monitoring techniques to prevent sudden failure across various industries is driving growth in the market. Ultrasonic NDT is very effective in detecting developing fractures, voids, and other flaws in materials. Industries may detect these faults early, before they become serious problems, by regularly monitoring crucial components using ultrasonic technology.
 

Early detection allows for scheduled repairs or replacements during planned downtime, reducing disturbance and expenses when compared to unexpected equipment failure. Furthermore, detecting problems early decreases the danger of catastrophic failures, which might result in accidents or casualties. Continuous monitoring with ultrasonic NDT helps to prevent unexpected equipment failures, resulting in less downtime for repairs and replacements. This results in enhanced production efficiency and cost savings.
 

Governments often mandate the use of NDT for specific applications in critical industries. This includes nuclear power plants where strict regulations ensure regular NDT inspections of reactor components to identify potential cracks or weaknesses that could lead to catastrophic accidents. Similarly, in oil & gas pipelines, regulations often stipulate NDT inspections during pipeline construction and at regular intervals throughout their lifespan to ensure pipeline integrity and prevent leaks or explosions. The regulatory environment creates a robust demand for NDT services in these industries, driving market growth for ultrasonic NDT equipment and qualified personnel.
 

The high initial investment in ultrasonic non-destructive testing (NDT) is a major challenge for the market, potentially slowing down its growth. Ultrasonic NDT equipment, particularly sophisticated procedures such as Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing (PAUT), may be rather costly. These systems can cost from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars.
 

Smaller enterprises may lack the funds to invest in advanced NDT equipment, restricting their capacity to use ultrasonic NDT and possibly compromising their competitiveness in some industries. Along with this, qualified staff is essential to efficiently operate ultrasonic NDT equipment. The training and certification procedure for NDT technicians is costly and time consuming, increasing the total financial burden for firms striving to employ ultrasonic NDT.
 

Ultrasonic Non-Destructive Testing Market Trends

The ultrasonic non-destructive testing (NDT) industry has witnessed significant technological advancements. Advancements in transducer design, signal processing, and data analysis are resulting in the creation of increasingly complex ultrasonic NDT equipment. Advanced signal processing and automated data analysis may drastically cut inspection times, hence increasing efficiency and throughput. Advancement in phased array and multi-crystal probe technology enable improved examination of complicated shapes and welds, surpassing the limits of prior approaches.
 

Advancements in miniaturization and user interface design are resulting in more portable and user-friendly ultrasonic NDT equipment. Portable equipment enables inspections in remote places or on-site at client sites, broadening the scope of NDT services. Remote or automated inspections can reduce worker exposure to potentially dangerous surroundings or goods under examination.
 

For instance, in January 2024, Voliro introduced a high-temperature Ultrasonic Testing (UT) payload for the Voliro T drone, revolutionizing the NDT sector. This innovation enables inspectors to perform inspections on hot surfaces, including those still in operation, thereby eliminating costly downtime. Technology is particularly beneficial for industries where downtime can be extremely expensive, such as petrochemicals, where safety is paramount, and inspections can be conducted with minimal disruption to plant operations.
 

Ultrasonic Non-Destructive Testing Market Analysis

Based on methods, the market is divided into volumetric inspection, surface inspection, and visual inspection. The volumetric inspection segment is expected to cross over USD 5 billion by 2032. Ultrasonic testing is particularly effective in detecting internal faults in materials, such as fractures, voids, inclusions, and porosity. These interior faults can considerably affect a component's strength and integrity; therefore, volumetric examination is critical to confirming their absence.
 

Oil and gas, power generating, and aerospace industries all place a high value on component structural integrity. Volumetric ultrasonic NDT is an essential tool for these sectors in ensuring the safety and dependability of their equipment and infrastructure. Furthermore, volumetric ultrasonic NDT is more versatile than other NDT procedures, which are often confined to surface examinations or certain material kinds.

Based on testing, the ultrasonic non-destructive testing market is categorized into straight beam testing, angle beam testing, immersion testing, guided wave testing, phased array testing, and time-of-flight diffraction (TOFD). The straight beam testing segment accounted for around 29% of the market share in 2023. Straight beam testing is the most basic type of ultrasonic NDT; it employs a single transducer, which transmits and receives sound waves directly through the material under test.
 

This straightforward strategy is simple to learn and use since straight beam testing equipment requires no training, making it accessible to a broader variety of workers as compared to more sophisticated procedures. Straight beam testing equipment is typically less expensive than other ultrasonic NDT technologies like phased array or TOFD (Time-of-Flight Diffraction). This lower initial investment makes it an attractive option for companies with budget constraints or those new to NDT.
 

Europe dominate the global ultrasonic non-destructive testing market with a major share of around 34% in 2023. Europe market growth is driven by its strong manufacturing base, high quality requirements, and emphasis on industrial safety and asset integrity. The regional market is predicted to rise steadily, owing to increased expenditures in infrastructure development, aerospace, automotive, energy, and manufacturing.
 

Additionally, UK is at the forefront of technological advancements in ultrasonic NDT, with firms investing in R&D to create breakthrough ultrasonic testing equipment, software, and procedures. Overall, the UK region presents significant opportunities for growth and innovation, fueled by technological advancements, regulatory compliance requirements, and strong demand from key industries for reliable and efficient testing solutions.
 

The U.S. ultrasonic NDT market is propelled by continuous advancements in ultrasonic NDT technology, including the development of high-resolution imaging systems, phased array ultrasonics, and automated inspection solutions, are driving market growth. These technological innovations enhance inspection accuracy, efficiency, and reliability, thereby expanding the application scope of ultrasonic testing across various industries.
 

Europe countries such as France, Germany, and Italy have stringent regulatory standards and quality requirements for safety and product reliability. Ultrasonic NDT techniques play a vital role in meeting these standards by detecting defects, cracks, and flaws in materials and structures. The need for compliance with regulations fuels the adoption of ultrasonic NDT solutions across various industries.
 

Additionally, industries in China and Japan are increasingly adopting predictive and preventive maintenance strategies to minimize downtime, improve operational efficiency, and extend the lifespan of assets. Ultrasonic NDT plays a significant role in preventive maintenance by detecting defects and anomalies early, allowing proactive repairs and maintenance interventions, thus driving ultrasonic non-destructive testing market growth.
 

The UAE has a significant oil and gas sector, with extensive exploration, production, refining, and distribution activities. Ultrasonic NDT is widely used in the oil and gas industry for inspecting pipelines, tanks, pressure vessels, and other critical equipment to detect defects and ensure operational safety and reliability.
 

Ultrasonic Non-Destructive Testing Market Share

Bureau Veritas and TEAM Industrial Services dominate the market with around 10% market share. Bureau Veritas designs customized ultrasonic NDT solutions for various sectors like aerospace, automotive, oil and gas, and manufacturing, addressing unique industry challenges and regulatory mandates to fulfill clients' varied requirements. Additionally, they offer certification and compliance services to verify that clients' equipment, components, and structures align with industry norms and regulations, thereby improving safety, dependability, and adherence to relevant standards.
 

TEAM Industrial Services places paramount importance on safety and quality assurance during ultrasonic NDT operations, enforcing stringent safety protocols, quality control procedures, and compliance with industry standards and best practices to uphold the reliability and integrity of inspection outcomes.
 

Ultrasonic Non-Destructive Testing Market Companies

Major companies operating in the ultrasonic non-destructive testing (NDT) industry are:

• Applus+
• Bureau Veritas
• Eddyfi NDT Inc.
• Intertek Group PLC
• Mistras Group
• Olympus Corporation
• SGS
• TEAM Industrial Services
• TUV Nord
• TUV Rheinland
   

Ultrasonic Non-Destructive Testing Industry News

• In August 2023, Waygate Technologies, a Baker Hughes business, launched Krautkrämer RotoArray comPAct, a portable roller probe for manual phased array (PA) ultrasonic inspection of large-scale composite materials. This aims to make phased array ultrasonic inspection easier, more cost-efficient, and accessible.
   
• In September 2023, Waygate Technologies, a Baker Hughes business and world leader in non-destructive testing (NDT) solutions for industrial inspection, launched a new ultrasonic inspection solution called SpotVision. This innovative phased array ultrasonic solution is designed specifically for spot weld inspection, offering a comprehensive and efficient method for inspecting various types of materials, including metals, plastics, and composites.
   

The ultrasonic non-destructive testing (NDT) market research report includes in-depth coverage of the industry with estimates & forecasts in terms of revenue (USD Billion) from 2021 to 2032, for the following segments:

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Market, By Method

• Volumetric inspection
• Surface inspection
• Visual inspection

Market, By Testing

• Straight beam testing
• Angle beam testing
• Immersion testing
• Guided wave testing
• Phased array testing
• Time-of-flight diffraction (TOFD)

Market, By Application

• Weld inspection
• Thickness measurement
• Defect detection
• Bond integrity testing
• Corrosion monitoring

Market, By End use

• Oil & Gas
• Manufacturing
• Government
• Automobile
• Energy
• Aerospace
• Others

The above information is provided for the following regions and countries:

• North America
  • U.S.
  • Canada
• Europe
  • UK
  • Germany
  • France
  • Italy
  • Spain
  • Russia
  • Nordics
  • Rest of Europe
• Asia Pacific
  • China
  • India
  • Japan
  • South Korea
  • ANZ
  • Southeast Asia
  • Rest of Asia Pacific 
• Latin America
  • Brazil
  • Mexico
  • Argentina
  • Rest of Latin America
• MEA
  • South Africa
  • UAE
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Rest of MEA