Criterion NDT Press Release

AUBURN, WA--(February 3, 2010) - Criterion NDT, Inc., a non-destructive eddy current testing company, announces the launch of their company which will focus on testing of critical components in the automotive market such as gears and bearing, and components in the medical market such as hypodermic needles .  Criterion NDT’s Eddy Current Testing solutions helps component manufacturers check newly manufactured parts and raw materials for cracks, and material anomalies, and heat treat anomalies.  As the use of induction heat treating continues to increase, the need for eddy current heat treat testing will increase as well.

Criterion NDT is a former business division of Uson, L.P. and is the sole distributor of Zetec's InSite and MIZ® 23 Eddy Current Component Testing instruments.  Criterion NDT’s senior staff has over 30 years of eddy current component testing experience.  In addition to selling component testing instruments, Criterion NDT provides standard and custom eddy current probes, and the engineering services to design the proper testing solution interfaced to material handling stations.  With the properly designed test, manufacturers have the ability to check very specific areas on a component such a bearing race or flange.

"We are very excited about the launch of our company that is completely focused on component and material testing," says Joe Jessop, President of Criterion NDT.  "In addition to offering testing solutions for new manufacturing applications, Criterion NDT continues to work with customers who have existing Zetec and Uson eddy current component testing equipment.  By working closely with US and offshore OEMs and suppliers, we understand their quality requirements and the challenges of modern manufacturing."

Eddy current testing offers OEMs the ability to reduce scrap, warranty, and liability costs by millions of dollars, while helping with factory continuous process improvements.  OEMs are now able to test 100% of their products at production rates which greatly improves quality yields.  The Criterion NDT instruments are all able to interface to material handling solutions so that out-of-tolerance parts can be automatically identified and sent to a reject area.

Eddy current testing has emerged as a green technology which does not use chemicals, as does dye penetrant and magnetic particle inspection techniques.  Eddy current testing also lowers the costs associated with off-line testing and takes human error and fatigue of the testing process.  Plus, eddy current tests are repeatable and do not damage the component being tested.

About Criterion NDT

Criterion NDT is a USA based company proving single and multi-frequency eddy current test solutions for validation of heat treat processes and material structure, and finding manufacturing and material flaws such as cracks and voids.  Criterion NDT serves the needs of automotive and medical component manufactures as well as manufacturers of raw materials such as bar, tubing, and wire.