NEW BRITISH DETECTOR

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 16, 26 August 1946, Page 6

NEW BRITISH DETECTOR

PICKING FLAWS IN STEEL ADVANTAGE OVER X-RAY EQUIPMENT A United Kingdom firm has produced the most wonderful flaw-de-tector in the world—it is so powerful that it can detect hairline cracks in steel at a depth of 25 feet. This detector is operated by means of supersonic waves, a system which has the immense advantage over X-ray equipment (also employed for examination of steel) of easy installation. For example the British United Press recently reported from America that a United States Arsenal had installed specially designed X-ray equipment for the examination of shells. The detector was stated to be able to penetrate twelve inches, but the equipment, which had the power of 20 million volts, must be surrounded by a two feet thick wall of concrete. The new British detector can be easily installed in any moderately sized workshop. Apart from its amazing accuracy, this apparatus has the main assets that it tests the quality of steel positively, that is, without having to destroy it first. In thus achieving economy in time and labour, it is already saving the United Kingdom steel industry thousands of pounds annually. This flaw-detection apparatus is already being used by a number of territories. Overseas customers include the U.S.A., Canada, Sweden, Holland, France, Switzerland and Turkey. It is also to form part of a consignment of British equipment to be sent to South Africa.