Introduction

Alternating Current Field Measurement (ACFM) was originally developed to depth size defects underwater on offshore oil and gas platforms in the North Sea. From this initial application the use of ACFM spread to detection and sizing on offshore installations, both underwater and topside, and into numerous and diverse onshore applications.

ACFM inspection technology has been taken up by many specialised industry sectors, where solutions have generally been sought after for specific inspection requirements. Civil engineering and steelwork construction, rail tracks and rail vehicles, gas, coal and nuclear power generation industries, steel mills, paper mills, naval and merchant shipping and marine engineering are all examples.

U19 AMIGO instrument

Standard weld probe 5KHz

A major international company began by manufacturing 810mm wide anodised aluminium coil in 1976. This was the first production by the company and the start of its successful growth. Due to increasing world demand the company quickly became the leading European manufacturer of anodised coil in widths up to 1250mm.
 
Most of the company's continuous manufactured surfaces are used primarily in the lighting industry. At the same time, the company has developed special finishes for domestic appliances, computer, television, construction and automotive industries.

For anodised aluminium continuous coil and PVD (physical vapour deposition) coil products the company is now a world market leader.

TSC have provided an ACFM solution for inspection of welds on roller bearing shafts at the Milton Keynes facility, many of the rollers being inspected on the production line, removing the requirement for costly shutdown.

U19 AMIGO instrument

40mm 8 channel flat array probe 5KHz

Standard weld probe 5KHz

Encoder weld probe 5KHz

TSC has worked with one of the UK’s largest suppliers of newsprint to the paper industry, producing nearly 300,000 tonnes per annum.

The £50 million CHP plant at Bridgewater replaced the existing utility plant and provides the mill with all its energy equirements.

ACFM inspection was carried out on dryer cylinder ends subsequent to magnetic particle inspection. The cylinders were cast and manufactured in 1955. ACFM was used alongside ACPD to determine the depth of cracks found in the ends of the rollers and enable the client to assess whether replacement was necessary. ACFM was able to be used without any cleaning on the oxidized surface.