MATERIALS TESTING AND QUALITY ASSURANCE
Non-destructive testing is only part of the overall picture. NDT Aura Oy offers hardness testing, ferrite content measurement, elemental analysis and comprehensive QA/QC services — all from a single supplier. We carry out destructive testing through our certified partners, and reports are ready in even less than 24 hours.
NDT Aura Oy carries out all inspections as certified in accordance with SFS-EN ISO 9712 qualification requirements. Fixed locations in Naantali and Porvoo; field services at the customer's premises.
- SFS-EN ISO 9712 certification
- Fixed locations in Naantali and Porvoo
- Completed report in even under 24 hours
Three service packages — one supplier
The complementary services of NDT Aura Oy form three packages that can be ordered separately or in combination with our NDT methods:
Material testing
Hardness testing (HT), ferrite content measurement (FT) and elemental analysis (XRF / PMI)
destructive testing and validation
Breach testing and qualification exam surveillance via our partners
QA/QC services
Quality assurance, delivery inspection, supplier audits and NDT training
FASTEST REPORTING IN THE INDUSTRY
Our reporting system enables a completed inspection report in under 24 hours — even for urgent orders.
FLEXIBLE IMPLEMENTATION
Inspections are carried out at night and at weekends if necessary. Even with twenty-four hours' notice on-site — without production downtime or radiation protection areas.
THREE METHODS – ONE PARTNER
UT, PAUT and UT-TM from the same supplier. We consult on the right combination of methods — no unnecessary inspection rounds or extra subcontractors.
Hardness measurement, ferrite content and elemental analysis
Three complementary methods ensure that the material used matches the design values — before the structure is finished and changes during construction become expensive.
Hardness Testing (HT)
Hardness testing is used to verify the mechanical properties of a material and the suitability of the heat-affected zone (HAZ) of welded structures for the intended application. The measurement is carried out in the field using portable Leeb or UCI methods, or in a laboratory using Vickers, Brinell or Rockwell methods in accordance with EN ISO 6506–6508 standards.
Typical applications include welded joints in pressure equipment and pipework, verification of the effect of PWHT heat treatment, and in-service hardness mapping.
Ferrite content measurement (FT — Ferrite Testing)
In austenitic and duplex stainless steel weld seams, the ferrite content is a critical quality assurance parameter: too low a content increases susceptibility to hot cracking, while too high a content impairs toughness and corrosion resistance. The Ferritescope enables instant field measurement without destructive sampling.
Typical applications include quality assurance of duplex and superduplex structures, process industry pipelines, and chemical industry tanks and reactors.
Elemental analysis — XRF and PMI (Positive Material Identification)
Positive Material Identification (PMI) ensures that the material used actually matches what is promised in the material certificate. A portable XRF (X-ray fluorescence) analyser produces the elemental composition in a few seconds directly in the field — from a welded or unwelded component. The device can also be brought to the customer's premises, even into confined or hard-to-reach locations.
The PMI service covers carbon steels, stainless steels, nickel alloys, aluminiums and other structural metal alloys.
Destructive testing and supervision of qualification & procedure tests
Welding procedure and welder qualification require destructive testing in accordance with EN ISO 15614 and EN ISO 9606 standards. NDT Aura Oy coordinates and supervises these tests in cooperation with our accredited testing laboratories.
Fracture tests and bending tests
Tensile test, bend test and Charpy impact test are standard requirements in the approval of welding procedures. We coordinate the sampling, transport and laboratory analysis through our accredited partner network.
Supervision of PED qualifications and procedure tests
The welder and welding procedure qualification tests required by the Pressure Equipment Directive (PED 2014/68/EU) require an independent examiner. Through us, you can arrange for the supervision of tests by our partners in accredited laboratories.
QA/QC services, vendor inspection and training
Quality assurance is more than a single inspection. NDT Aura Oy's QA/QC services cover the entire supply chain from supervision to personnel training.
QA/QC services
We support your client in the implementation of a quality management system, the design of the NDT programme and the drafting of Inspection and Test Plans (ITPs) in accordance with project-specific standard requirements.
Our AI-assisted reporting system ensures that all inspection documents are audit-ready in under 24 hours — including documents produced by the QA/QC coordinator.
Supplier audits
Auditing of the supplier's quality management system and NDT qualifications prior to contract or as part of an ongoing contractual relationship. The audit covers personnel certifications, equipment calibrations, procedures and the documentation process.
Delivery control
Third Party Inspection (TPI) ensures that the supplier truly fulfils the contract requirements prior to delivery. NDT Aura Oy's inspectors supervise the manufacturing of steel and piping structures at the supplier's premises — both in Finland and internationally.
NDT training
We offer NDT method-specific training for the customer's personnel: method basics, acceptance criteria, and practical interpretation exercises. The training is tailored according to the industry and standards used — can be carried out on the customer's premises or remotely.
TYPICAL APPLICATIONS
01
Prefabrication of piping and pressure equipment — quality assurance of material and welds prior to installation (PED 2014/68/EU)
02
Qualification of welders and welding procedures — coordination of destructive and bend testing packages from a single supplier
03
Verification of the ferrite content of duplex and superduplex structures in the process industry
04
Manufacturing surveillance and PMI inspections for shipyard and marine industry components prior to installation
05
In-service hardness testing, e.g. for monitoring material degradation in power plant equipment
06
QA/QC support for project organisations: ITP plans, audits and NDT training
AUDIT PROCESS STEP BY STEP
Let's determine the object to be inspected, the applicable standards and the documentation requirements. If necessary, we will coordinate destructive testing with our partners.
HT, FT and XRF/PMI measurements are carried out in the field or in the laboratory. Destructive tests are sent to a partner laboratory. The inspector can be on site if required with even 24 hours' notice.
The inspector analyses the measurement results in accordance with the criteria of the applicable standard. Deviations are documented and reported to the customer immediately.
Our reporting system generates an inspection report containing all measurement results, parameters and the approval decision — ready to be attached to the QA/QC documentation.
The digital archive enables tracking of results throughout the lifecycle and supports predictive maintenance.
SUITABILITY OF METHODS
The following comparison helps to select the most suitable method or combination of methods for the situation:
| Feature / requirement | HT (Hardness) | Ferrite | XRF / PMI | Faulty exams |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Field-deployable | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✗ Laboratory |
| Destroys the paragraph | ✓ No | ✓ No | ✓ No | ✗ Yes |
| Mechanical properties | ✓ Excellent | Partly | ✗ No | ✓ Excellent |
| Elemental composition | ✗ No | Partly | ✓ Excellent | Partly |
| Ferrite content (duplex) | ✗ No | ✓ Excellent | Partly | Partly |
| PED standard requirement | ✓ Often | ✓ Often | ✓ Often | ✓ Mandatory |
| Suitable for stainless steel | ✓ Yes | ✓ Especially | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
FC — Hardness
FT — Ferrite
XRF / PMI
Faulty exams
Note: Material testing complements non-destructive testing — RT or UT reveals internal defects, but does not indicate material grade or mechanical properties. Comprehensive quality assurance combines both.
Customer benefits
ONE JOURNALIST
NDT, hardness testing, PMI, destructive testing and QA/QC from a single supplier. Project coordination is simplified, responsibility is clear and documentation is consistent.
SAFETY AND COMPLIANCE
PMI and hardness testing prevent critical material defects. Reporting meets the requirements of the PED, SFS-EN ISO 9712 and project-specific requirements.
SPEED AND FLEXIBILITY
The AI-assisted reporting system produces an audit-ready report in even under 24 hours. Field measurements with 24 hours' notice if required — including nights and weekends.
LIFE CYCLE DATA
The digital measurement archive enables the monitoring of material ageing over its lifecycle — supporting predictive maintenance.
HSE AND OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY
Field measurements (HT, FT, XRF) are safe to perform in an active production environment with only minimal protection zones.
TRAINING AND KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER
NDT training ensures that the customer's personnel understand the significance of inspection results — high-quality client management improves the entire supply chain.
QUALIFICATION
STANDARDS AND CERTIFICATION
NDT Aura Oy's inspectors operate in accordance with the standards listed below — a technically competent and legally acceptable inspection result.
NDT programme
START A COMPREHENSIVE NDT PROGRAMME
Material testing and QA/QC complement the range of non-destructive testing methods. NDT Aura Oy can consult on the formation of the most suitable inspection and quality assurance programme based on the risk level of the object and standard requirements:
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)
A material certificate is a document prepared by the manufacturer or supplier. PMI/XRF is a physical field measurement that verifies the elemental composition of the material on-site, independently of the documentation. PMI reveals any potential material defects that have occurred in the supply chain after the documentation was drawn up.
Measurement of ferrite content is typically mandatory or recommended in duplex and superduplex stainless steel weld seams as well as in process industry piping. Many project-specific standards and customer requirements — particularly in the oil and gas industry — require documentation of ferrite measurement as part of the quality assurance package.
Field measurements (HT, FT, XRF) yield results on the same day and reports in under 24 hours. Destructive tests require laboratory processing, which typically takes 3 to 7 working days. In urgent cases, we are able to prioritise samples with our partner laboratory.
Not necessarily. A portable XRF analyser is a fast and safe field device that does not produce a significant radiation area in the environment. Measurement takes a few seconds per point, and a single PMI round for dozens of items can be carried out within an hour alongside production.
During a Third Party Inspection, an NDT Aura Oy inspector visits the supplier's premises to verify that the manufacturing process, materials used, welds and documentation comply with the requirements of the contract and standards — before the goods are dispatched to the customer. The inspector can also carry out on-site field measurements, and the report is completed in under 24 hours.
NDT aura shall provide the client with an order form, which provides a description of the object: service type (MT, PT, XRF, destructive testing or QA/QC), material and size of the object, applicable standard or project-specific requirement, and the desired schedule. For QA/QC and expediting tasks, a project plan or ITP draft speeds up the preparation of the quotation.
Request for quotation
Request a quote for material testing or QA/QC services
Tell us about the inspection target, service type, applicable standard and schedule — we will respond to your quote request promptly. In urgent situations, call directly: we can dispatch an inspector with as little as 24 hours' notice.