African Fusion November 2015

in an object under examination. Second, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) can be measured in a given region of interest in a digital image to represent how well a system is able to display or discern object features against random background noise. And finally, clear guidance is given on when and what image quality indicators (IQIs) are to be used to verify the quality and acceptability of an image. These image quality measures and well- defined procedures make digital radiography a standardised methodology – and move it beyond the ‘art’ and guesswork it once was. Market overview Frost & Sullivan research finds that the global industrial digital X-ray inspection systems market generated between US$350-million and $400-million in 2014. Within this, the com- puted tomography (CT) segment accounted

A resolution calculation of 152.4 µmmeets the requirement of being below 160 µm.

for the maximum revenue, followed by DR and then CR. All these three market segments are experiencing incremental change in product development and end-user adoption. An increase in end-user productivity is the key driver across all product segments in the industrial digital radiographymar- ket. With operational costs increasing and a lack of qualified NDT technicians, especially in digital radiography, products that can simplify the workflow and offer easy-to-use instru- ments without compromising the quality of inspection will experience the greatest success. Conclusion Over the past five years, the industrial digital radiography market has experienced significant development and change, which is driving greater adoption of this technology over film-based radiography. While the advantages are apparent, the evolution of standards, training, and products has taken longer than expected, inhibiting its adoption. Now, the technology has matured, with products be- ing competitively priced and offering productivity gains. In addition, the process is a greener alternative to film-based radiography. Conservative industries such as aerospace, oil and gas, and power generation, which initially resisted the transition from film to digital radiography, are now more accommodating and are, in fact, driving the adoption of this technology. Although, film radiography continues to be the preferred choice in emerging economieswhere the operational costs are lower than in developed economies, it is expected that, over the next three to five years, the evolution of digital technology will render film-based radiography unattractive. Mega trends, such as the Industrial Internet of Things, Big Data, and Industry 4.0, demand the adoption of smart digital solutions that will progressively phase out radiography on film. Growth opportunities in the industrial digital radiography market are nowavailable to South Africa’s NDT service provid- ers. Carestream, together with GammaTec NDT Supplies, are fully committed and prepared to assist in training the industry in this technique in order tomake the transition from conven- tional films to digital radiography easier.

Reference 1 Nikhil Jain , Frost And Sullivan report. 2 BS EN ISO 17636-2:2013, Non-destructive testing of welds — Radiographic testing. 3 Steven A. Mango , Qualification of a Computed Radiography System’s Exposure Range for Optimum Image Quality.

37

November 2015

AFRICAN FUSION