Evident Ultrasonic Inspection Equipment
TWI and Lloyd’s Register Launch Fullagar Technologies
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TWI has joined with Lloyd’s Register, one of the world’s leading providers of professional services for engineering and technology, to launch Fullagar Technologies.

The venture will see TWI and Lloyd’s Register working together to deliver innovative new inspection systems, products and services. This global launch draws upon the latest industry research from the National Structural Integrity Research Centre (NSIRC) alongside TWI’s advanced welding and non-destructive testing (NDT) expertise and Lloyd’s Register’s technical inspection and verification experience.

This collaborative venture has already saw the publication of the first industry guidelines on Additive Manufacturing back in 2016, with Fullagar Technologies now set to continue developing this with the inclusion of in-process (rather than end-product) verification and certification.
Fullagar Technologies will use the latest developments in digital technology to focus on three areas:

- The Remote Inspection of surface and subsurface integrity, using remote technologies and smart sensors for the remote inspection of new and in-service components and assets in hazardous environments.
- The commercialisation of Additive Manufacturing tools and processes, including in-process verification and certification.
- Using data-driven automation of fabrication methods to replace existing manual operations through a Digital (IOT 4.0) Manufacturing drive.

Speaking on the venture, TWI Technology Director, Aamir Khalid said, ‘The technologies being taken to market are being developed by the National Structural Integrity Research Centre (NSIRC) sponsored by LRF, TWI and BP. These technologies will be marketed and developed into products by Fullagar Technologies Ltd, which is a JV between TWI and LRG.’

Meanwhile, Simon Reeve, VP Technology and Innovation at Lloyd’s Register noted, ‘Technology is advancing rapidly and there is a significant opportunity for new, remote, digital inspection solutions across different industry sectors to reduce cost, improve efficiency and improve safety. We are very pleased to continue our long-standing partnership with TWI in meeting the needs of our clients through this JV.’

The joint venture is named after the first fully-welded ocean-going ship, The Fullagar, which was built at Cammell Laird shipyard in Birkenhead in 1920. The Fullagar successfully showed the deployment of new technology in traditional industry.

Fullagar Technologies is currently delivering three products to market; the Acoustic Emission Hydrogen Cracking detection system (AEHIC), the Beam Assure electron beam welding QA system, and the Corrosion monitoring non-destructive testing system.

Fullagar Technologies is pleased to announce a first sale of the AEHIC product. A $60K sale to Saudi Aramco is now confirmed as part of Saudi Aramco strategy to adopt AEHIC as the main technology for their GOSPs condition based maintenance plan.

AEHIC will allow Saudi Aramco to identify instances where hydrogen cracking may occur or is already in progress. This will allow Saudi Aramco to manage the risk of potential unexpected failure, offering them greater control over the operation and performance of their assets.

This first sale comes as Fullagar Technologies continues to undertake pilot testing and laboratory trials of future products, which are now open for interested companies to enter into collaborative agreements as part of joint industry projects.

Curtiss Wright Nuclear