Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Technique (Ultrasonic Testing, Visual Inspection Testing, Magnetic Particle Testing, Liquid Penetrant Testing, Eddy-Current Testing), By Method (Visual Inspection, Surface Inspection), By Service ( Ultrasonic Inspection, Equipment Rental Services), By Vertical (Manufacturing, Oil & Gas, Aerospace, Public Infrastructure) and Regional Forecasts, 2021-2028

The global non-destructive testing market size was USD 7,160.0 million in 2020. The global impact of COVID-19 has been unprecedented and staggering, with NDT witnessing a negative demand shock across all regions amid the pandemic. Based on our analysis, the global market exhibited a huge decline of -14.96% in 2020 as compared to the average year-on-year growth during 2017-2019. The market is projected to grow from USD 6,300.0 million in 2021 to USD 14,800.0 million in 2028 at a CAGR of 12.98% in the 2021-2028 period. The sudden rise in CAGR is attributable to this market’s demand and growth, returning to pre-pandemic levels once the pandemic is over.

Non-destructive testing is a technologically advanced methodology to detect and evaluate defects in materials. In the aerospace industry it plays a primary role in designing, manufacturing, and maintenance of an aircraft. It is the most accurate methodology to test the aircraft component and materials without any destruction. Destructive testing is used to identify the characteristics of aircraft components, including tensile strength, fracture toughness, and flexibility.

Economic Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Aviation Industry is Hampering Market Growth

The COVID-19 pandemic initiated from the Wuhan city, China, in December 2019 affected over 1 million people across the globe. Strict lockdowns have been announced in several European countries from February 2020. According to the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), in 2019, around 4.3 million air passengers were carried around all over the world. The air passenger count has been hampered due to the ban on international traveling. The rapid spread of coronavirus in the U.S. and European countries had a major impact on the global aviation industry.

The aviation industry is facing major challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as the oil crisis, economic recessions, and the declining graph of air passenger traffic. According to a Bloomberg (2020) report, the U.S. aerospace industry has lost USD 190 million market value. Teal Group (the U.S.) stated that the Boeing Company did not receive a single order in January 2020. Airbus S.A.S. has registered zero orders in the first quarter of 2020. Non-destructive testing is used to decrease the risk of any potential catastrophic failure of the aircraft parts, components, and materials. There has been a direct impact on the market owing to the declining delivery of commercial aircraft worldwide.

LATEST TRENDS

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Innovation and Integration of Artificial Intelligence Algorithm to Enhance Accuracy Significantly

Non-destructive testing methods are involved in the use of complex types of machinery and equipment for excellent results in flaw detections. The technological advancement in sensors, the Internet of Things, and wireless sensors are fueling the demand for NDT due to the exceptional accuracy in the testing results. The highest accuracy is provided by various testing methods involved in the usage of ultrasonic testing tomography of rebar. The testing is well equipped with the optical positioning system and A.I.-supported software algorithm. The analysis algorithm allows precise identification of probe positioning in the measurement procedure.

In 2018, Lynx Inspection Company launched Predictive 3D Radiography for flaw detection and analysis. The company combined 3D technology and X-ray imaging technology to analyze both internal and external structures of complex parts. The company is changing machine vision solutions for part manufacturing companies at affordable prices.

DRIVING FACTORS

Surging Demand in Aerospace Industry will Boost Market Growth During the Forecast Period

The aerospace industry maintains the highest quality standards regarding material, structure, and strength. The technique is also called non-destructive examination (NDE), nondestructive evaluation (NDE), and nondestructive inspection (NDI). The failure in strength, surface, cracks may lead to several risks for fatal accidents and loss of lives.

According to the report by an aviation consulting firm, in 2018, the rate of fatal accidents for large commercial planes was 0.3 accidents per million flights and was decreased to 0.18 accidents per million flights in 2019.  NDT is a regularly used testing method in which aircraft parts and components are inspected before they are assembled. Aircraft components are highly prone to fatigue cracks that can grow after a certain period.

According to Oliver Wyman, the global fleet maintenance, repair, and overhaul market was US$ 81.9 million in 2019 and is expected to surpass US$ 116 million by 2029. Almost 80% of inspection is performed through the visual inspection testing method in aircraft across the globe to identify signs of damages. However, several testing methods and techniques, such as liquid penetration, acoustic emission testing, electromagnetic testing, ground penetration, radiographic, magnetic particle, and eddy current testing, are gaining traction in the inspection of an aircraft component. The availability of excellent methods for finding cracks, flaws, and leaks in the system, components, and parts of an aircraft will boost market growth in the future.

High Demand for NDT Methodology in Oil & Gas and Power Industries to Boost Market Growth

The NDT technique involves research & development (R&D) methods, training, and service-based supply chains used in the oil & gas, automotive, and power industries. In the oil & gas industry, this technique is used to inspect the internal & external corrosion of the oil & gas pipeline. Several methods are used in it, such as visual inspection, liquid penetrant inspection, magnetic particle inspection, and ultrasonic inspection. In the power industry, the technique is used to inspect pressure systems, steam & gas turbines. In the nuclear power plant, this technique is used to inspect fuel rods, small valves, waste containers, and waste management infrastructure. Therefore, the rising demand for this methodology in the oil & gas industry and power industry is propelling the market growth.

RESTRAINING FACTORS

Lack of Skilled & Qualified Personnel for Inspection Services May Limit Market Growth

Nondestructive testing is used in several industrial, private, and commercial applications. The array of end-use industries around the world, owing to the excellent evaluation output, is projected to fuel the demand in the near future.

The testing and analysis method has certain limitations faced by several users across the globe. NDT can be done only with high-value advanced instrumentations. The operation of analysis to find cracks, flaws, and leakages and troubleshooting requires advanced machinery and instrumentations for the highest accuracy. Thus, a shortage of qualified and skilled workforce to operate the testing instruments is anticipated to restrain the market growth.

The equipment usage requires a high level of training and several certifications to handle instrumentations which incur high costs for service providers operating in the market.

SEGMENTATION

By Technique Analysis

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Ultrasonic Testing (UT) Segment Dominated the Market in 2020

Based on the technique, the market is divided into ultrasonic testing, visual inspection testing, magnetic particle testing, liquid penetrant testing, eddy current testing, radiographic testing, and acoustic emission testing. The ultrasonic testing segment held a dominant share of the market in 2020. The dominance is attributable to the increasing use of UT techniques for composites and pipeline corrosion, mapping applications, weld inspection, and the overall screening coverage of the pipe.

The radiographic testing segment is projected to register a higher CAGR by 2028 due to its increasing use in X-ray testing, gamma-ray testing, and computed radiography. Visual inspection is used to inspect aircraft engines, diesel-based marine engines, and automotive engineering. The growing transportation sector is anticipated to fuel the market of the visual inspection segment. Liquid penetrant testing is majorly used to inspect surface-breaking defects in non-porous materials. Eddy current testing is used for the inspections of the magnetic and non-magnetic components. Acoustic emission testing is majorly used in the metal fabrication industry. Growing industrialization and increasing manufacturing infrastructure are expected to boost the growth of liquid penetrant, eddy current testing, and acoustic emission testing segments.

By Method Analysis

Surface Inspection Segment to Register a Higher CAGR during the Forecast Period

Based on the method, the market is classified as visual inspection, surface inspection, volumetric inspection, and others. The volumetric inspection segment held the largest share of the market during the forecast period. This dominance is due to the increasing use of this inspection in the automotive industry and the rail industry to test the volumetric integrity of critical welding components. Visual inspection is a cost-effective method for surface inspection. The surface inspection segment is projected to register a higher CAGR during the forecast period. This growth is attributed to the increasing use of this method to detect cracks and discontinuities on the surface of the aircraft component.

By Service Analysis

Increasing Use of Ultrasonic Inspection in Aerospace & Automobile Industries to Propel the Segment

Based on the service, the market is classified as ultrasonic inspection, equipment rental services, calibration services, and training services. The ultrasonic inspection segment is predicted to grow at the highest CAGR from 2021 to 2028. The growth is attributed to its increasing use in the aerospace & automobile industries. The ultrasonic inspection is used to inspect the internal defects of the component with high-end accuracy. Equipment rental services, calibration services, and training services improve the error reduction in testing equipment and inspection & monitoring of complex shapes. The rising use of these services is expected to drive the growth of equipment rental services, calibration services, and training services segment, which, in turn, will contribute to the market growth.  

By Vertical Analysis

Manufacturing Segment to Register Higher CAGR Owing to Increasing Investment by Industrial Companies

Based on the vertical, the market is classified into manufacturing, oil & gas, aerospace, public infrastructure, power generation, and others. The public infrastructure segment is set to hold the largest share of the market during the forecast period. The growth of the segment is attributable to the adoption of this technology in airport security, railway, bridges & tunnels, nuclear waste storage, and decommissioning. In the oil & gas industry, these techniques are used in refineries, including radiography testing, visual inspection, x-ray testing, and ultrasonic testing.

In the aerospace sector, eddy-current testing is used to test aircraft engine parts. The manufacturing segment is predicted to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The growth of the segment is attributed to the increasing use of electromagnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT) techniques for industrial applications. Moreover, rising investment for advanced inspection instruments by industrial companies is anticipated to fuel the segment growth.

In the automotive sector, the non-destructive testing technique improves the overall inspection quality of an automotive component. In the power generation industry, this technique is used for maintenance and inspection services in wind turbines. In other segments, the NDT technique is majorly used in marine, medical, and health, and plastics & polymers.

REGIONAL INSIGHTS

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The market size in North America stood at USD 2,759.2 million in 2020. The dominance of this region is attributable to the growing demand for advanced material testing from the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. The presence of key players, such as Fischer Technology Inc., Acuren Inspection Inc., and Magnaflux Corporation, would drive the market in the U.S. The market in Europe is set to register remarkable growth in the market due to the rising aerospace vertical in France and the surging automobile vertical in Germany.

Asia Pacific is expected to register the fastest growth rate during the forecast period owing to the expansion of the power generation vertical in China and India. In addition to this, the domestic manufacturing industry in Japan is attributed to boosting market growth. The rest of the world would register significant growth during the forecast period. This growth is attributed to the increasing spending on NDT inspection for commercial aircraft from Latin America and the Middle East & Africa.

KEY INDUSTRY PLAYERS

Technological Advancements in NDT Technique Implemented by Key Players to Propel Market Growth

The designing of technologically advanced non-destructive testing techniques, using a combination of techniques, and the development of new materials are the upcoming trends in the market. Key players such as General Electric Company adopt strategies such as acquisition, agreements, partnerships for the company's growth. Moreover, investment in the research and development of new technologies is adopted by several key players to sustain their position in the market. A diversified product portfolio of non-destructive testing, along with innovative concepts accepted by key players, is the major factor in boosting the market.

LIST OF KEY COMPANIES PROFILED:

• Acuren Inspection Inc.( The U.S.)


• Ashtead Technology (The U.K.)


• Bosello High Technology Srl (Italy)


• Eddyfi (Canada)


• Fischer Technology Inc. (The U.S.)


• Fprimec Solutions Inc. (Canada)


• General Electric Company (The U.S.)


• Labquip NDT Limited (The U.K.)


• LynX Inspection (Canada)


• Magnaflux Corporation (The U.S.)


• Mistras Group (The U.S.)


• NDT Global GmbH & Co. Kg (The U.S.)


•  Nikon Metrology (Japan)


• Olympus Corporation (Japan)


• Sonatest Ltd. (The U.K.)


•  TD Williamson, Inc. (The U.S.)


• YXLON International GmbH (Denmark)

KEY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS:

• March 2021 – Zetec Inc. introduced the ElbowFlex scanner for quick, manual ultrasonic inspections of pipe elbows in the petrochemical, manufacturing, and oil and gas industry. ElbowFlex is majorly used for measuring the wall thickness of pipes and detecting flow accelerated corrosion on elbows.


• February 2021 – NDT Global acquired Halfwave inspection services into the NDT Global business. Halfwave inspection services are majorly providing ultrasound-based non-destructive testing techniques for high-precision measurement of gas pipelines. The acquisition is set to propel the growth of the company in the NDT segment.

REPORT COVERAGE

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The non-destructive testing market research report provides an in-depth technical analysis of the market. It majorly focuses on key aspects such as leading market players of the market, COVID-19 effect on the market, in-depth non-destructive testing techniques, and research ideology of the product. Besides this, the report offers insights into the market trends and highlights key industry developments & trends. In addition to the aforesaid factors, it provides multiple key factors that will contribute towards the growth of the market during the forecast period.

Report Scope & Segmentation