IMechE Fife NDT has now opened, offering a full range of non-destructive testing (NDT) training courses, including Magnetic Particle Inspection, Radiographic Interpretation, Weld Inspection, Liquid Penetrant, Visual and Ultrasonic testing.
Based in Dunfermline, it is also the first training school in Scotland to offer the advanced courses of Phased Array, Ultrasonic Testing and Time of Flight Diffraction.
NDT training in Scotland has been threatened when Covid-19 caused the NDT school at Fife College to close its doors in 2020 after more than 30 years in operation. Scotland was left with no NDT training school in the central belt of the country where there is significant manufacturing, marine and defence industries that depend on skilled, certified NDT technicians.
IMechE Argyll Ruane, based in Sheffield, had supported Fife College for many years by providing NDT examination services for their PCN courses as an authorised qualifying body (AQB) with the British Institute of Non-destructive Testing (BINDT). IMechE Argyll Ruane convinced its parent, the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), to step in to save the jobs of the training staff and commit to establishing a new training school.
After determining the optimum location for the new training centre, IMechE Fife NDT Ltd was incorporated and established in a modern building to the south of Dunfermline. There are a range of hotels nearby and the training school is easily accessible from the M90 motorway or from Rosyth railway station. The facility has extensive car parking and has been fully refurbished with modern classrooms and a comfortable student breakout area where free student lunches are provided. Most importantly, the training centre has excellent equipment and an extensive range of training and exam samples.
IMechE Fife NDT is headed by Training Manager, Peter McPherson, who has been training NDT technicians for over 20 years. Peter is supported by Graeme Innes who has a full lifetime’s experience in NDT, including 7 years as a trainer at Fife College, and Stewart Gray who has 6 years’ training experience in a variety of methods. IMechE Fife NDT is fully supported by IMechE Argyll Ruane and teaches using IMechE Argyll Ruane’s best-in-class training material that is used around the world by numerous affiliated training schools.
Ultrasonic Phased Array and Time of Flight Diffraction (TOFD) are challenging NDT inspection techniques that are frequently used in Scottish industries as varied as oil & gas, defence and aerospace. IMechE Fife NDT offers regular scheduled courses in these methods using the latest equipment and representative training samples.
Additionally, the training school offers training at Level 3, the highest and most difficult to achieve certification level. This is provided by specialist tutors and Level 3 consultants from IMechE Argyll Ruane who are now happy to deliver training in Scotland. Also offered, is a full range of Level 3 consultancy services, from procedure writing to employer-based training and examinations under ASNT SNT-TC-1A and EN4179 certification schemes.
Peter McPherson said, “These are difficult times, but I am delighted that the Institution of Mechanical Engineers supported us, and myself and my colleagues invite Scottish NDT Technicians to experience our expanded services and first-class facilities in Dunfermline”.
Chris Kirby, IMechE Argyll Ruane General Manager, said, “This has been a major investment in the current climate, but the IMechE felt it was important to support the Scottish NDT sector. Our new colleagues have worked hard to create an excellent training centre and continue to offer the friendly and efficient service that Fife College was known for, with the benefit of now being able to provide a significantly expanded service that includes advanced methods and Level 3 training and consultancy”.
Make a booking at FifeNDT@imeche.org or call +44 1383 669004.
w: FifeNDT.imeche.org