Jul 10 2013
The Houston laboratory operated by the leading global testing group, Exova, has been awarded the prestigious Nadcap accreditation for aerospace materials testing.
Exova’s Houston laboratory, one of the Gulf of Mexico’s (GoM) leading oil & gas metallurgical laboratories, has now passed a stringent audit of its testing methods for the aerospace and related industries.
The accreditation includes testing of aircraft components supplied for structural frames and rotating engine parts.
This expansion of testing services has been in response to an increased demand from the regional aerospace market. Exova Houston can now provide Nadcap accredited services for mechanical testing including tensile, charpy and hardness; chemical analysis including hydrogen in metals; and metallography such as macro/micro examination.
Houston’s accreditation adds to Exova's eight other aerospace laboratories in the US, Canada and Mexico that hold Nadcap approval for metallic materials and / or composite testing.
Globally, Exova's facilities include a network of 17 aerospace testing facilities, all of which are Nadcap approved.
Bobby Archibald, Vice President, US Materials at Exova commented on the award. He said: “Exova is recognised for metallurgical testing in the GoM oil & gas and energy markets. However, we have experienced significant growth in the demand from aerospace customers in the Houston area, so local expansion was the answer.”
“Exova laboratories carry out work across the supply chain from early stages of research and development through production control verifications. By investing in our facility and equipment we can provide customers with an increased range of capabilities, as well as greater capacity and increased output.”
Exova's Nadcap accredited services date back to 1994, when the Santa Fe Springs facility became the fourth laboratory in the world to be Nadcap accredited. The Glendale Heights site followed with accreditation in 1996. Exova's aerospace labs have also been approved by most aerospace Primes.
To achieve accreditation, sites must undergo rigorous evaluation including interviews, inspections and reviews of all procedures.