In the intricate world of Non-Destructive Testing (NDT), where precision meets innovation, Mr. Paul Holloway stands as a seasoned veteran. With over two decades of experience, his journey from a Project Engineer to the helm of Holloway NDT & Engineering Inc. epitomizes resilience, adaptability, and an unyielding passion for excellence.
Hailing from Toronto, Canada, Mr. Holloway's foray into NDT was not a planned one; rather, it was a fortuitous detour that led him to discover a place where science intersects with practical application in profound ways.
In this exclusive interview with OnestopNDT, Mr. Holloway delves into the nuances of his professional odyssey, reflecting on both the triumphs and tribulations that have shaped his trajectory. From navigating challenging projects to advocating for greater awareness of NDT's potential, his insights illuminate not only the technical intricacies of the field but also its profound human dimension.
Beyond the daily confines of his corporate role, Mr. Holloway's multifaceted interests, from music composition to his foray into YouTube, underscore a holistic approach to life and learning.
Let’s get started with the engaging, insightful conversation underway without any further do.
Hello Mr. Paul, greetings of the day. Let’s begin, shall we? Could you introduce yourself to our amazing audience?
Sure, thank you for the opportunity to speak with you! I am a UT Level 3 and Professional Engineer located just outside Toronto Canada. I grew up in Western Canada, and have a Masters Degree in Applied Science (Mechanical Engineering) from the University of Waterloo.
... let’s briefly chat about your journey into the NDT world. You started as a Project Engineer and currently, you are the President of Holloway NDT & Engineering Inc. So how has the entire journey been for you?
I think many people get into NDT completely by accident, and I am no exception. I was laid off from my job in hydraulics, which is how I went back to school to pursue my Masters and ended up, somehow, in this crazy world of NDT. My current work is about 50% field and 50% office and looks nothing like what I envisioned for myself when I was 25. But I wouldn’t have it any other way.
… you might have had so many amazing experiences in your professional life. Could you share one positive and one negative experience with our audience?
I’ve had many positives and negatives. Usually, the negatives are short-lived and come with a lesson that leads to more positive experiences. That being said, in a former position I once got an underwater robot stuck in a tank in the middle of winter. We deployed the robot to the interior of the shell through a hole in the roof. The water was slowly circulating (presumably to keep it from freezing), and was cloudy so we had very little visual from the camera, but the UT signal on the immersion probe was fantastic. Deploying the system took all morning so we decided to break for 30 minutes for lunch. While we were gone, the circulating water slowly pulled in some of the umbilical cable, which wrapped around some internal piping. Trying to drive the robot back out, with no visuals, eventually caused it to basically “tie knots” around everything.
After 3 weeks, the robot was recovered by a very expensive diving team, which they accomplished in all of about 7 minutes. I learned that stretching capabilities and growing doesn’t come without risks, and I should have anticipated more and planned better. We closed that job with my tail between my legs, but they did give us a pretty sweet DVD of the underwater rescue mission, so there’s that.
As far as positive experiences, there are far more of those! It’s always really satisfying to come into a situation as a tiebreaker, whether it’s crack-sizing or simply rescanning a weld to see which of the previous three inspection companies found what they were supposed to. It really gives you an appreciation for doing things right. In these situations, the client is very concerned about inspection quality, so all eyes are on you! I enjoy supplementing results with imaging techniques like encoded scans and TFM to make it easy for any non-UT people reviewing the reports to appreciate the capabilities of the technology. The clients appreciate this, as it helps alleviate some of the mystery behind ultrasonic testing.
… you have been active in the NDT industry for well over 20 years, what is one most challenging projects you worked on? And how did you navigate through the challenges in the project?
One of the most challenging was a pipe inspection job that I was involved in a few years ago out in Western Canada. It involved new construction at an old plant, and some of the pipe they used was thermo-mechanically controlled process, or TMCP, steel. This is a type of material which has improved properties but the way it’s made results in a degree of anisotropy. The term anisotropic means “different depending on the direction”, which can complicate things as far as the refracted angle is concerned. In regular shear waves, we enter one value for a velocity of around 3250 m/s at room temperature. And this value is supposed to be the same for all angles. But TMCP steels tend to exhibit increasing velocity as the refracted angle increases. This can result in major plotting errors when it comes to discriminating between geometric and flaw indications. I noticed the “melting S-scan” effect, as the upper angles seemed to plot far too deep in the material. I then attempted a basic pitch-catch with a 60-degree probe pair and noticed the surface distance spacing was far too great. We were gifted a section of pipe from the excellent welding crew, with which myself and Ed Ginzel wrote three papers about and published them on NDT.net. Anisotropic steels, and ultrasonic inspection thereof, were not new, but it was new to me. And I like to think the papers we publish will eventually help lead to improved inspection techniques.
… well, Mr. Paul, what is that one thing that you think needs to be changed in the NDT industry?
NDT is an industry in need of good people, and it also pays very well. But for many, it remains an unknown industry. You can probably go to any high school in Canada and talk about trades like carpentry, plumbing, or electrical that students will recognize, but very few know about NDT. We need to shine a light on the opportunities in the industry because it’s a fascinating and valuable occupation that is very closely knit and can take you to very interesting places.
Let's talk a bit about your organization. Can you briefly describe what your org does?
Holloway NDT & Engineering Inc. is primarily a niche NDT service company focused on ultrasonic testing. We have Level 2 and Level 3 technicians and our goal is to provide expert services in advanced testing and consulting. On the engineering side, we have several R&D projects in development and completed related to ultrasonic testing. Some of the completed ones include the intermodal total focus method (TFMi) with Sonatest, and the Extended Range Variable Wall (ERVW) calibration blocks with PH Tool.
… how does your organization measure success, and what metrics do you use to evaluate your performance?
Reputation is our measure of success. We base this on our relationships with existing clients and our introductions to new clients. It’s important for us, with an engineering backbone, to be inventive and practical… balancing the inspiration that comes from creativity with tangible usefulness in the field.
After working so many years in the industry, what keeps you motivated?
The industry is incredibly rewarding because there is such a strong human connection. I give, and get a lot of thankyous. These are the sorts of things that can really fill up your batteries and make you feel appreciated and encouraged to keep going.
… you have been the President of Holloway NDT & Engineering Inc. for the past 10 years, do you have any mantras for people who are new to the management role?
To be honest, I am not keen on building an empire. I enjoy the freedom being in a small company provides, and I am lucky I have very little technical managing to do. Being a manager means balancing a lot of details all at once, and I’m fortunate to have an excellent young employee to hand some technical things to, and my wife who takes care of absolutely everything under 20kHz.
Too many questions about work. Let's take a break. So, how does life look for you outside of work, Mr. Paul?
I have a wonderful family at home, good neighbours, and in my spare time (if I can find any), I write music with a friend in Brazil. We used to play in a band in Edmonton many years ago, and now we have a prog-adjacent project called Skeptosphere.
… your YouTube channel is quite popular among the masses. What made you start with a YouTube channel? Also, any tips for any NDT aspirant who wants to begin with YouTube?
I’m probably not the best to solicit advice about beginning on YouTube. There are plenty of 8-year-olds doing toy reviews that are much more popular than me! I wanted to start with YouTube because I thought there was a lack of explanation out there for technical things related to NDT. And with my short attention span (“squirrel!”), I gravitate towards shorter bits of information. Making a video 4-6 minutes long and being able to describe something in that time is good practice for me as a Level 3, and if I’m able to help someone else out along the way, even better.
… got any advice for the newbies who are going to enter the NDT industry? Any specific skill that you think every NDT aspirant should possess before entering the industry?
I mentioned that the industry needs people, but not just warm bodies. The best NDT technicians are always eager to learn… and that never ends. You can be next to retirement and still have to change gears to get things right. As well, much of the time we work in teams. So being agreeable and approachable really helps.
And finally, how do you plan to scale your org to newer heights?
I don’t! ☺ Holloway NDT, as well as the sister company PA-CAT Inc. (cloud analysis of phased array data for touch point corrosion), are designed to remain “lean and mean”. Growing in numbers means more management time for me and less time on tools. That doesn’t sound like fun. And life is supposed to be fun.
