Sonatest, a global leader in portable non-destructive testing (NDT) solutions, has introduced its latest breakthrough in ultrasonic inspection — the Total Focusing Method with Multiple Modes (TFMI) — during the ASNT 2025 Conference. The company’s applications specialist, Renato Nogueira, presented the innovation, highlighting its potential to reshape the accuracy and reliability of ultrasonic evaluations.
Founded in 1958 in the UK, Sonatest has built a reputation for developing cutting-edge NDT equipment designed for precision, durability, and ease of use. The introduction of TFMI technology marks a new chapter in ultrasonic inspection, offering deeper insights and enhanced visualization capabilities.
Technological Innovation for Greater Accuracy
TFMI technology represents a significant leap forward in ultrasonic inspection by combining up to four propagation modes into a single composite image. This enables inspectors to detect and interpret defects with higher visual accuracy compared to conventional amplitude-based analysis.
According to Renato Nogueira, this innovation shifts the basis of evaluation from amplitude to image interpretation, effectively reducing human error and increasing result reliability. The technology is particularly beneficial in inspections involving complex geometries, where hidden or subtle defects are difficult to identify with traditional ultrasonic techniques.
“TFMI technology was developed with the aim of facilitating more intuitive diagnoses and reducing dependence on individual expertise,” Nogueira explained.
Data Integration and Automation Capabilities
In addition to TFMI, Sonatest is advancing its NDT systems through data connectivity and automation. The company’s WAVE portable ultrasonic device now features an integration API that allows users to extract raw A-scan data and deploy it in external applications.
Thanks to this capability, inspectors can seamlessly connect the WAVE device to robotic arms, reporting software, or custom automation systems, enabling automated inspection workflows while maintaining the precision expected in NDT.
“It's a very open tool,” explains Nogueira. “It allows the customer to do whatever integration they need, from report generation to in-line robotic operations.”
This open-platform approach underscores Sonatest’s vision of interoperability and digital integration in modern inspection environments.
Artificial Intelligence in NDT Evaluation
Continuing its focus on innovation, Sonatest is also exploring artificial intelligence (AI) as a supportive tool in NDT data analysis. While the technology remains in the developmental phase, the company aims to create AI-enabled assistants that can suggest defect interpretations, flag anomalies, and reduce subjectivity in inspection results.
Nogueira noted that standardization and training remain important challenges in this journey, emphasizing that AI is intended to complement, not replace, human expertise. The initiative reflects Sonatest’s commitment to enhancing decision-making in the field through intelligent assistance and data-driven accuracy.
New Transducer Designs for Expanded Applications
On the hardware front, Sonatest introduced new inspection tools aimed at improving field productivity. Among them is the Wheel Probe 2, a 128-element transducer optimized for corrosion mapping and the inspection of composite materials. Its larger coverage area enables faster scanning without sacrificing detail.
The company also unveiled a magnetic roller transducer tailored for carbon steel inspection. Designed to adhere directly to curved surfaces such as pipes, this innovation enhances operator convenience, inspection speed, and surface coverage while maintaining high signal integrity.
With TFMI, advanced data integration, and AI-driven development, Sonatest continues to set benchmarks in ultrasonic NDT technology, aligning precision engineering with the evolving needs of the inspection industry.
