Advanced Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) & Rope Access Services

Data-Driven Asset Integrity Solutions for South Africa’s Industrial Giants

What is NDT in a High-Access Context?

Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) is the process of inspecting, testing, or evaluating materials, components, or assemblies for discontinuities and differences in characteristics without destroying the serviceability of the part or system.

When combined with Industrial Rope Access, NDT becomes the most powerful tool in a maintenance manager’s arsenal. At On Point Skyriders, we eliminate the need for costly scaffolding or cranes, allowing our certified Confined space access technicians to get “hands-on” with your infrastructure to detect internal flaws, corrosion, and fatigue that are invisible to the naked eye.

Our Specialized NDT Methods

We utilize a suite of sophisticated testing methods to ensure your silos, oil rigs, mines, and pressure vessels remain compliant and safe.

  1. Ultrasonic Thickness Testing (UT)
  • The Process: Using high-frequency sound waves to measure the wall thickness of steel plates and pipes.
  • Applications: Critical for monitoring Corrosion Under Insulation (CUI) in refineries or wear-and-tear on mining chutes and storage silos.
  • Benefit: Identifies thinning metal before a catastrophic burst or leak occurs.
  1. Magnetic Particle Inspection (MPI)
  • The Process: Applying a magnetic field and iron particles to detect surface and near-surface discontinuities in ferromagnetic materials.
  • Applications: Inspecting structural welds on headgears, cranes, and offshore platform jackets.
  • Benefit: Highly sensitive and provides immediate results for crack detection.
  1. Dye Penetrant Inspection (DPI)
  • The Process: A low-cost, highly effective method using liquid dye to reveal surface-breaking flaws in non-porous materials (metals, plastics, or ceramics).
  • Applications: Checking for fatigue cracks in turbine blades, stainless steel tanks, and aircraft components.
  • Benefit: Essential for non-magnetic alloys where MPI cannot be used.
  1. Eddy Current Testing (ECT)
  • The Process: Using electromagnetic induction to detect flaws in conductive materials.
  • Applications: Specialized inspections of heat exchanger tubes and surface cracks through paint or coatings.
  • Benefit: No need to strip expensive protective coatings to perform the test, saving time and money.
  1. Visual Inspection (VT) & Drone Surveys
  • The Process: Professional visual assessment by experienced inspectors, often augmented by SkyEye Drone Technology.
  • Applications: General structural integrity checks of flare tips, chimney stacks, and cooling towers.

Benefit: Rapidly covers vast surface areas to identify obvious points of failure.

Why OnPoint Skyriders is the Leader in NDT Access

Performing NDT at height or in confined spaces requires a unique dual-qualification: technical testing expertise and elite rope access skills.

  • IRATA & SANS 10333 Compliance: Our technicians are trained to the highest international and South African safety standards, ensuring 100% fall protection and redundant safety systems.
  • Certified NDT Technicians: We don’t just “climb”; our team includes personnel certified to ISO 9712 / PCN standards, ensuring that the data we collect is accurate, traceable, and audit-ready.
  • Elimination of “Blind Spots”: Unlike ground-based cameras, our rope technicians can reach “dead zones” behind pipes, under decks, and inside internal silo cones.
  • Cost-Efficient Data Collection: By removing the logistical nightmare of scaffolding, we can perform NDT inspections during shorter windows, reducing your facility’s downtime by up to 70%.

Industries We Serve with NDT

  • Oil & Gas: Inspection of pressure vessels, piping, and offshore structural welds.
  • Mining: Monitoring wall thickness on bins, chutes, and headframes.
  • Power Generation: Testing boiler tubes, cooling towers, and wind turbine blades.
  • Marine: Hull gauging and structural surveys for vessels and FPSOs.
  • Manufacturing: Checking heavy-duty overhead cranes and storage tanks.

The On Point Skyriders Guarantee

We provide more than just a “pass/fail” report. Our team delivers a Comprehensive Asset Integrity Report, including:

  1. High-Definition Photographic Evidence of all identified flaws.
  2. Mapping of Corrosion Rates to help you predict future maintenance budgets.
  3. Actionable Repair Recommendations based on the severity of the findings.