NON-DESTRUCTIVE TESTING MARKET ANALYSIS

Non-Destructive Testing Market Size and Trends

The non-destructive testing market is estimated to be valued at US$ 17.33 Bn in 2024 and is expected to reach US$ 33.21 Bn by 2031, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.7% from 2024 to 2031.

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The market is witnessing positive trends such as rising focus on safety inspections, stringent government regulations supporting adoption, increasing investments in monitoring aging infrastructure, and heavy industries. The growing need for superior quality control and technological advancements in testing equipment are driving increased spend on non-destructive testing. New and innovative testing solutions are being developed to detect hard-to-find defects, boosting the demand. Adoption is high across industries such as oil and gas, power generation, aerospace, and automotive where non-destructive testing helps ensure operational integrity and reduces maintenance costs. Increased spending on infrastructure projects worldwide augurs well for sustained market opportunity over the next few years.

Market Drivers: Regulatory standards and quality control

With the growing recognition of the importance of quality control and safety across industries, regulatory standards for non-destructive testing have become much more stringent over the years. Governments and industry bodies around the world now mandate regular inspections and quality checks for critical infrastructure, equipment, and components. This is especially true for industries like oil and gas, aerospace, manufacturing, power generation, etc. where even the smallest of defects or damages could result in hazardous consequences. Modern aircraft need to clear dozens of Non Destructive (ND) tests during their production cycle as well as regular examinations to continue safe operations. Oil and gas pipelines traversing large distances and operating under high pressure require close monitoring to assert integrity. Growing emphases on workplace safety and accident prevention have also elevated the role of Non Destructive testing (NDT). With tougher compliance norms coming into effect, operators have little choice but to adopt sophisticated ND testing techniques to meet regulatory obligations. The market is poised to gain further as regulatory oversight expands into new domains and inspection standards become more rigorous over time with advancing test methodologies.

Market Concentration and Competitive Landscape

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The Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) market is on the cusp of a transformation led by the deployment of digitalization and advanced data analytics tools. Traditionally ND tests involved manual examinations that were labor intensive, time consuming and difficult to standardize. However the integration of innovative technologies like Artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, predictive maintenance solutions, remote visual inspection devices, and portable sensors is automating inspection processes and making them more accurate and reliable. Vast amounts of test results data that was earlier unanalyzed is now being fed into analytical models helping predict defects, schedule proactive maintenance, and reduce total inspection costs. Remote data monitoring allows round the clock surveillance of critical assets from any location. These advantages have spurred many organizations across industries to embrace smart NDT solutions. Also, analytics driven insights are raising the value proposition of NDT by transforming it from a pure compliance activity to a strategic asset management and risk prevention tool. The growing digitization of ND inspections will be a defining trend that is likely to expand market opportunities tremendously in the coming years.

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Traditional non-destructive testing methods can be time-consuming and expensive, hindering market growth. Additionally, a lack of standardization makes it difficult to compare results across different techniques. Younger generations also show less interest in industrial careers, creating skills shortages for specialized testing roles. Strict regulations surrounding certain applications, for aerospace and oil and gas, drive up costs. Additionally, intellectual property issues around new technologies hamper innovation.

Market Opportunities: Growing demand for inspection and maintenance of aging critical infrastructure

The growing demand for the inspection and maintenance of aging critical infrastructure will drive market expansion. Advancements in digitalization and automated inspection offer significant efficiency gains. This includes the integration of non-destructive testing into additive manufacturing workflows. The market is also seeing increasing adoption of remote and portable testing solutions. New applications in fields such

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In terms of offering, service contributes the highest share of the non-destructive testing market owing 64.7% in 2024 to their expertise and cost efficiency. As equipment requires significant capital investments and regular upgrades, many companies prefer outsourcing their NDT needs to specialized service providers. These service providers have decades of experience in executing various types of tests using the latest equipment and analysis techniques. They also continuously train their technicians on new standards and technologies. This expertise and experience enables them to quickly and accurately inspect components for defects without causing any damage.

Given their scale and expertise, service providers are also able to perform tests more cost-efficiently compared to in-house testing facilities of clients. They spread equipment and personnel costs across multiple clients, offering competitive pricing. This has increased the adoption of services for regular mandatory inspections required in industries like oil & gas, manufacturing, and aerospace. Asset intensive companies prefer outsourcing to avoid expensive capital expenditures and can focus on their core business. On-demand services also provide more flexibility than operating an in-house testing set-up.

Mobile NDT services have further boosted the segment. These services can inspect components on-site, eliminating the time and cost of transporting them to a lab. This is ideal for large and heavy industrial components that are difficult to move. The ability to perform tests anywhere has boosted the services segment across sectors.

Insights By, Technique- Ultrasonic testing leads due to wide applications and maturity

In terms of technique, ultrasonic testing contributes the highest share of the non-destructive testing market owing 23.4% in 2024 to its diverse industrial applications and technological maturity. Ultrasonic technology uses high frequency sound waves to detect and characterize flaws inside a test material. It can detect both surface and internal defects in metals, composites and other solid materials and has been widely used since the 1950s.

Ultrasonic testing is extremely versatile and suitable for inspecting heavy engineering components in industries like power generation, oil & gas and manufacturing where safety is critical. It is well-proven in identifying cracks, voids, porosity and other material inconsistencies in welds, cast parts, forgings and more. Advances in transducer designs, inspection algorithms and data analysis tools have expanded its capabilities into new application areas over time.

Being a mature technology, equipment is highly optimized for automation and reliability. Technicians do not require extensive training to operate ultrasonic systems, reducing testing costs. Standardized inspection procedures also make it faster, safer and more consistent compared to visual testing which relies heavily on human interpretation.

Moreover, manufacturing sectors increasingly use ultrasonic array systems for 100% inspection of parts during production. The ability to automate inspections and integrate it into production lines boosts quality control and reduces defects from reaching customers. This has further cemented ultrasonic testing's leadership position.

Insights By, Vertical- Regulations and Component Complexity drive the Adoption of Manufacturing

In terms of vertical, manufacturing contributes the highest share of the non-destructive testing market owing 29.4% in 2024 to strict quality regulations and increasing component complexity.

Advanced machined or 3D printed parts used in sectors like aerospace, defense, and medical devices are subjected to stringent quality certifications. Even minor defects can cause catastrophic failures. Regulatory bodies mandate 100% inspection of critical parts using techniques like ultrasonic, radiography, or eddy current testing. Complying with these mandates through in-house testing teams or outsourced services is critical for manufacturers to gain approvals.

Additionally, increasing use of multi-material designs, narrow tolerances, and miniature features in components make visual inspection ineffective. This has boosted adoption of automated NDT techniques like ultrasonics and eddy current that provide high resolution digital data for analysis. Manufacturers rely on quantitative measurements for quality assurance as part rejection costs are very high.

Regulatory pressures and the emphasis on zero-defect manufacturing have prompted more industries beyond aerospace to incorporate NDT. Automotive, industrial machinery and discrete manufacturing sectors are increasing testing of large assemblies, castings, and welded structures. As components become smarter with embedded electronics, NDT techniques are being developed to validate embedded sensor performance as well.

This drives the manufacturing vertical's lead, as non-destructive testing evolves from a compliance activity to enabling complex, high-quality production. Service providers and equipment OEMs continue to innovate solutions tailored for the evolving manufacturing landscape.

Regional Insights

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North America has been the dominant region in the non-destructive testing market with 35.6% in 2024 or many years. The U.S. in particular accounts for the largest share due to strong aerospace and defense industries in the country. Many leading Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) equipment manufacturers such as GE Inspection Technologies and Olympus NDT are headquartered in the U.S., giving them an advantage in terms of supplying cutting-edge technological solutions. Additionally, strict quality control and safety standards mandated by regulatory bodies like the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) have propelled the greater adoption of NDT methods across various industries. The pricing of NDT services and equipment is also comparatively higher in North America owing to advanced available technologies and expertise of technicians.

Asia Pacific has emerged as the fastest growing market for non-destructive testing in recent times on the back of expanding manufacturing sectors, especially in China, India, Japan, and South Korea. There is a massive presence of automotive, electronics, and industrial machinery production in Aisa Pacific, driving the demand for real-time quality inspections to minimize defects. The region is witnessing significant infrastructure growth as well through mega projects in the transport, power, and construction industries. This has boosted the need for NDT to certify structural integrity and ensure safety. At the same time, countries like China and India also export large volumes of manufactured goods, necessitating proper inspection techniques. While the Asia Pacific market has lower pricing than North America, costs have been moving upward gradually with increasing investments in R&D by regional and global players aiming to tap into the region's lucrative opportunities.

Market Report Scope

Non-Destructive Testing Industry News

• In May 2023, Waygate Technologies, a leading provider of solutions for industrial inspection without damaging the object, introduced a new top-of-the-line Computed Tomography (CT) solution called Phoenix V|tome|x M Omni. This advanced system is designed to replace the company's well-known CT system, offering better flexibility, speed, and quality of detection. This versatile CT solution can be used for various purposes, including precise measurement in 3D, research, and evaluation in labs, as well as accurate automated inspection in manufacturing settings.
• In May 2023, Previan Technologies, Inc. acquired Sensor Networks, Inc. (SNI), a well-known provider of tools and technologies for improved inspection and remote monitoring of critical safety components. This acquisition brings SNI into the Previan Group, allowing it to benefit from NDT solutions offered by Eddyfi Technologies.
• In February 2023, The American Society for Nondestructive Testing (ASNT), the largest global organization for NDT professionals, acquired NDT Classroom, a reputable provider of online training programs for non-destructive testing. This strategic move aims to improve the educational offerings available to NDT professionals by providing them with a comprehensive and easily accessible collection of online training courses.
• In October 2022, United Western Technologies Corp, a U.S.-based manufacturer and service provider specializing in non-damaging testing, unveiled the new EddyView II portable Eddy Current flaw detector. The innovative EddyView II features a large 8-inch touch screen display that allows for easy adjustments of important parameters like gain and rotation through simple gestures. With the ability to support both traditional probes and array probes, EddyView II offers flexibility in testing applications. Additionally, it includes a separate channel dedicated to monitoring probes to part coupling, ensuring accurate results.

*Definition: The non-destructive testing market involves equipment and services used to evaluate the properties of a material, component, or system without causing damage. Non-destructive testing allows products and structures to be examined for flaws or weaknesses without impairing their future usefulness. Key techniques include ultrasonic, radiographic, liquid penetrant, magnetic particle, eddy-current testing, and visual testing methods. This market serves industries such as aerospace, oil and gas, manufacturing, automotive, defense, and infrastructure.

Market Segmentation

•  Offering Insights (Revenue, US$ BN, 2019 - 2031)
  • Equipment
  • Service
•  Technique Insights (Revenue, US$ BN, 2019 - 2031)
  • Ultrasonic Testing
  • Visual Inspection Testing
  • Magnetic Particle Testing
  • Liquid Penetrant Testing
  • Eddy-Current Testing
  • Radiographic Testing
  • Acoustic Emission Testing
  • Others
•  Vertical Insights (Revenue, US$ BN, 2019 - 2031)
  • Manufacturing
  • Oil & Gas
  • Aerospace
  • Public Infrastructure
  • Automotive
  • Power Generation
  • Others
• Regional Insights (Revenue, US$ BN, 2019 - 2031)
  • North America
    • U.S.
    • Canada
  • Latin America
    • Brazil
    • Argentina
    • Mexico
    • Rest of Latin America
  • Europe
    • Germany
    • U.K.
    • France
    • Italy
    • Russia
    • Rest of Europe
  • Asia Pacific
    • China
    • India
    • Japan
    • Australia
    • South Korea
    • ASEAN
    • Rest of Asia Pacific
  • Middle East & Africa
    • GCC Countries
    • South Africa
    • Rest of Middle East & Africa
• Key Players
  • Previan Technologies, Inc.
  • Bureau Veritas
  • Fischer Technology Inc. (Helmut Fischer)
  • MISTRAS Group
  • Comet Group (YXLON International)
  • MME Group
  • TWI Ltd.
  • Nikon Corporation
  • Olympus Corporation
  • Sonatest
  • Acuren
  • Intertek Group plc
  • CREAFORM
  • Vidisco Ltd.
  • SGS S.A.
  • General Electric