Thu, 19 February, 2026
We’re excited to announce the launch of two new Core Research Programme (CRP) projects that will advance inspection and automation for industry.
The TWI Core Research Programme (CRP) is designed to meet the needs of our Industrial Member companies, with projects selected to address the most significant challenges currently faced by our Industrial Members in relation to specific technology areas and/or industry sectors that have been identified as being of critical interest to future operations. Each project has a duration of 1-3 years, depending on its scope, and is focused on either engineering, materials or manufacturing technologies.
The CRP also serves to expand on TWI and Industrial Members’ existing knowledge, harnessing innovative thinking and approaches to develop new skills, products and services, systems, and processes, leading to reduced costs and improved quality, safety and reliability.
The details of the two new non-destructive testing (NDT) projects are as follows:
- Ultrasonic System to Automate Assessment of Welds during Fabrication (Project Leader: Channa Nageswaran)
This project focuses on validating equipment for assessing welds during the build process at elevated temperatures. It evaluates available technologies, industrial challenges, and best practices - paving the way for artificial intelligence /machine learning-driven automated evaluation to boost welding quality and productivity.
Highlights:
- Assembling and validating off-the-shelf equipment for collecting data at the elevated temperature conditions during welding
- Supporting smarter quality monitoring for embedded flaws during welding
Ultrasonic inspection generating datasets for AI/ML analysis
- Microwave Inspection of GRE Samples (Project Leader: Sam Hurrell)
This project will develop a calibration process for microwave inspection of glass reinforced epoxy (GRE) used in the Oil and Gas sector. Machined defects and parametric studies will define optimal inspection settings and analysis methods, supporting robotic NDT integration.
Highlights:
- Automated microwave inspection of GRE samples
- Enabling consistent and reliable evaluation of in-service flaws
Automated microwave inspection system
Both projects showcase our commitment to smarter, automated inspection solutions - improving quality, safety, and efficiency across industries.
For more information or to explore collaboration opportunities, please email contactus@twi.co.uk.