XARION Laser Acoustics, the Vienna-based pioneer in contact-free ultrasonic inspection, is showcasing its latest advancements at the ASNT Annual Conference in Orlando (October 6-9, 2025 | Booth 125). With its patented Laser-Excited Acoustics (LEA) technology, XARION provides a dry, fully automatable solution that eliminates the need for traditional coupling media like water or gels, a critical step forward for non-destructive testing (NDT) in advanced manufacturing.
In industries such as aerospace, where even minor defects can have significant consequences, traditional NDT methods often rely on cumbersome setups, including immersion tanks and waterjet systems. These approaches complicate workflows and restrict the types of materials that can be effectively tested. XARION’s LEA system is engineered to overcome these limitations, delivering fast, high-resolution testing without physical contact.
The LEA system uses a pulsed laser to directly excite ultrasonic waves within the material being inspected. The company’s proprietary, matchbox-sized optical microphone then detects these waves without any contact. “Our solution offers enough flexibility to inspect a wide range of material combinations - from carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRP) and adhesives to metals like steel and aluminum to ceramics,” said Dr. Balthasar Fischer, founder of XARION Laser Acoustics.
This technology offers unparalleled precision, providing high-resolution images at scan speeds of up to 1 meter per second—a crucial feature for modern production lines. The system can even detect single-cell flaws in honeycomb-core CFRP structures. With its novel Pulse-Echo sensor head, the technology provides information on not just the defect’s size and position, but also its depth.
To facilitate adoption, XARION provides LEAsys, a turnkey inspection system for research and development (R&D) environments. This enables manufacturers to test the technology's capabilities before committing to large-scale integration. “Customers appreciate the ability to validate performance in-house before committing to system-wide changes,” explained Dr. Josef Pörnbacher, Head of Application Development. For full production lines, the LEA sensor can be mounted on a robotic arm to provide seamless automation, ensuring that quality control in industries where failure is not an option is more robust than ever.
