OR3D CT is set to qualify four of its employees to the EN4179 aerospace standard for non-destructive testing (NDT) personnel after receiving an accreditation grant through the Flintshire and Wrexham Investment Zone’s SME Manufacturing Grant scheme.
The investment is expected to enable OR3D CT to become the first company in Wales to apply EN4179 to industrial computed tomography (CT) and the only independent industrial CT services provider in the UK working towards the standard. The company will join a small group of UK organisations, including Rolls-Royce and the RAF, qualifying CT personnel to EN4179.
The grant was awarded under the Accreditation strand of the SME Manufacturing Grant scheme, administered by Wrexham County Borough Council’s Investment Zone Team. The Flintshire and Wrexham Investment Zone is a joint UK Government and Welsh Government advanced manufacturing programme backed by up to £160 million over 10 years.
Four employees to undertake Level 2 CT qualification
The training programme is being delivered by the International School of Aerospace NDT (ISANDT), the training and examination body approved by the British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing (BINDT).
Four OR3D CT employees will work towards Level 2 CT qualification, which requires 80 hours of formal training and 800 hours of logged, industry-scrutinised experience for each individual.
The initiative is aimed at strengthening OR3D CT’s inspection capabilities for advanced manufacturing and aerospace applications, particularly as industrial CT continues to be used for the inspection of complex components produced through additive manufacturing and composite processes.
Industrial computed tomography enables non-destructive inspection of internal structures and defects, making it suitable for components whose geometry or construction can make conventional NDT methods more challenging.
Investment Zone backs aerospace NDT capability
On July 30, OR3D CT welcomed Cllr Nigel Williams, Wrexham County Borough Council's Lead Member for Economy, Business and Tourism, to its facility at Brynkinalt Business Centre in Chirk. During the visit, Cllr Williams met the team, observed industrial CT scanning and reviewed how the accreditation could support the company's growth and the wider UK aerospace supply chain.
“The service provided is revolutionary and will be of benefit to many sectors including aerospace and automotive,” stated Cllr Williams. “The grant funding through the investment zone will allow them to train their staff to become the first in Wales accredited to EN4179 standard, and the only independent company in the UK to be accredited to this standard.”
Cllr Mark Pritchard, leader of Wrexham Council, added: “I would like to offer my congratulations to OR3D CT as the first company in Wales to be working towards this accreditation by investing in their team to qualify in this standard – not only becoming one of a small number in the UK, but the first in Wales. I am proud that they are based in Wrexham.
“This is a great example of how the investment zone grant funding can make a real and long-term, differences to small to medium sized businesses and even put them give them to opportunity to be shoulder to shoulder with other leaders in their industry.”
EN4179 extends into industrial CT
EN4179 is widely adopted across the aerospace and advanced manufacturing sectors for establishing competency requirements for personnel performing NDT. The standard has traditionally applied to techniques including eddy current, ultrasonic and dye penetrant testing, while its application to industrial CT represents a newer development.
The move comes as CT inspection plays an increasing role in evaluating components manufactured using metal additive manufacturing and composite processes. Industrial CT can provide non-destructive volumetric inspection of such components, allowing internal defects and structural characteristics to be identified and quantified.
James Earl, Managing Director at OR3D, said: "We are enormously grateful to Wrexham County Borough Council's Investment Zone Team, and to everyone involved in the Flintshire and Wrexham Investment Zone, for backing our Accreditation grant application under the SME Manufacturing Grant scheme. Their support directly enables a Welsh SME to reach a standard that has, until now, been held only by major primes and the armed forces in the UK. This is exactly the kind of investment the Zone was set up to deliver - an early, tangible example of public investment translating into a UK-first capability being built right here in North Wales."
Rob Wells, Service Manager at OR3D CT, said: "Our customers work at the leading edge of manufacturing, and they need to know that the people inspecting their parts are working to the same standard. EN4179 is that standard for aerospace. As more additive and composite parts move into flight-critical applications, this qualification means we can support the UK aerospace supply chain with the confidence, traceability and repeatability the industry demands — and the Accreditation grant from the Investment Zone is what has made it achievable at this pace and scale."
Expanding inspection opportunities for aerospace supply chains
Once the qualification is achieved, the accreditation is expected to enable OR3D CT to inspect parts and assemblies destined for aircraft. This could support work across aerospace primes, Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers, MRO providers and the wider aerospace supply chain.
The development also represents an expansion of qualified industrial CT capability in North Wales, with the company expecting the investment to support its growth while contributing to the region's advanced manufacturing ecosystem.
