Inspection Trends

Evident Names New CEO and COO

Evident Corp., Tokyo, Japan, has appointed William Wesley “Wes” Pringle as CEO and Hiroyuki Yoshimoto as president and COO. Effective immediately, Pringle takes over for 
Evident’s interim CEO Eric Anderson.

Pringle has a 30-year career driving growth and business transformation across a variety of industries, including consumer, industrial, healthcare, and software-enabled businesses. Prior to joining Evident, Pringle ran several companies for Danaher including Fluke Corp., a global test and measurement provider, which he led for almost ten years. More recently, he served as head of portfolio operations at the private equity firm Onex Corp., where he helped more than a dozen portfolio companies accelerate performance.

Yoshimoto has led global companies headquartered in Japan and the United States. Prior to joining Evident, Yoshimoto had several senior leadership roles at global manufacturing companies such as Nissan Motor Corp. Group and Nidec Corp. Most recently, he served as senior vice president and Japan representative at American Express.

ASNT India Facility Opens in Chennai

ASNT, Columbus, Ohio, has established ASNT India Private Ltd., known as ASNT India, a new subsidiary for-profit corporation to conduct business operations in India and to serve interests in Asia and the Middle East. Located in Chennai in Tamil Nadu, ASNT India will enable ASNT to expand and improve its certification portfolio and increase its global nondestructive examination (NDE) research and scholarship activities.

Nestled in Ambattur Industrial Estate and spanning 7500 sq ft, the training hub features advanced NDE technology and offers hands-on training that equips participants for the industry. The training hub was inaugurated during the ICENDE-2023 Conference and Exhibition hosted by the ASNT India Section in August 2023. ASNT India is now officially open and provides ASNT-approved training courses, publications, and certification exams (including computer-based and practical lab exams).

This launch aligns with the demand for skilled NDE technicians, notably in Make in India initiatives. The company aspires to certify more than 500 technicians annually, enhancing the workforce across India and the Gulf region.

“The opening of ASNT India further solidifies our position as a global society, benefiting our members in the U.S. and abroad,” said Neal J. Couture, ASNT executive director. “With the launch of our facility, we are excited to focus on delivering the ASNT 9712 program, associated training courses, and expanding our membership in the area. We are committed to providing top-notch services to the NDT community in India, and we look forward to building strong relationships with our members and partners in the region.”

NDTMA and AATA Partner on Nationwide NDE Apprenticeship Program

The Nondestructive Testing Management Association (NDTMA), a nonprofit trade association for the NDE industry, and the American Aerospace Technical Academy (AATA), have partnered on a nationwide apprenticeship program.

In 2016, AATA received approval from the U.S. Department of Labor to establish an NDE apprenticeship program as well as serve as an approved program provider in California. Recently, the company also established a mutual agreement to be a program provider with the state of Texas and has five other state approvals pending. AATA is now partnering with NDTMA to help expand the reach of the program to both apprentices and employers nationwide.

“NDT is a great career that does not require a college degree and has a lot of earning potential. It does require completion of a specific curriculum and work experience for certification and, more importantly, for competency in a job that keeps the public safe,” stated Marybeth Miceli, executive director of NDTMA. “The apprenticeship program that AATA has established over the years is designed to accomplish this, and we are excited to help them expand the program to more companies and apprentices nationwide through our membership and marketing programs.”

AATA’s apprenticeship program currently meets the educational and on-the-job training guidelines of National Aerospace Standard (NAS) 410, NAS Certification & Qualification of Nondestructive Test Personnel, as well as ASNT SNT TC-1A, Personnel Qualification and Certification in Nondestructive Testing. The intention is that the two-year program will be expanded to include specific training for the oil and gas sector so technicians who wish to get additional sector certifications can.

AWS Life Member Carleton A. Richardson Passes Away

AWS Life Member Carleton “Carl” Richardson passed away July 26 at his summer home in Wareham, Mass., after a long illness. He was 88. Richardson enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard and was stationed on the weather cutter USCGC Cook Inlet (WAVP-384) for four years. He later founded ABC Testing Inc., Bridgewater, Mass., a nondestructive examination business that is still in operation by the Richardson family. He joined AWS in 1982 and was active in the Boston Section. He served as secretary from 1990 to 1991, first vice chair from 1991 to 1992, program committee chair from 1991 to 1992, chair from 1992 to 1993, and Section foundation representative from 2017 to 2018 and 2018 to 2019. Richardson was also active in the ASNT and enjoyed his time as a youth hockey coach and a Cub Scout leader. He is survived by his wife, Carol Richardson; his children, Bruce and Robin; five grandchildren; and three great grandchildren.

AINDT Constructs New Training Facility

The American Institute of Nondestructive Testing (AINDT), a provider of nondestructive examination (NDE) education, has begun construction of a 6000-sq-ft training facility in Brainerd, Minn. It’s scheduled for completion by December 2023.

With the construction of the new facility, AINDT aims to further enhance its offerings, now featuring three training formats to cater to all clients’ needs: online courses, blended (online and traditional) training courses, and traditional full-format classroom training.

Donald Booth, CEO of AINDT, expressed his enthusiasm: “We are always looking for ways to enrich our student experience, and this facility is a testament to that commitment. By expanding our campus and providing diverse training formats, we ensure that we cater to the varied needs of our clients in the NDT industry.”

A notable feature of AINDT’s program is the provision of student housing during their training courses at no additional cost. This is anticipated to save clients thousands of dollars.

“This isn’t just about cutting costs,” Booth continued. “It’s about providing a unique and immersive learning environment. Removing the burden of accommodation expenses means our clients can more easily provide their employees with training that will make them better able to provide critical inspection services.”

ASNT Offers New ISQ Ultrasonic Phased Array Qualification

ASNT, Columbus, Ohio, has released a new exam under the Industry Sector Qualification (ISQ) Oil and Gas program. The ultrasonic testing phased array (UTPA) pressure equipment weld examination covers the detection, characterization, and location of manufacturing weld discontinuities found in pressure equipment. Each candidate’s ability to perform UT is assessed through a hands-on, practical examination. They will inspect, locate, interpret, and evaluate discontinuities and properly document test results for a minimum number of specimens containing actual or artificially induced discontinuities that represent those found in the product type and industry sector for which qualification is sought. Candidates must pass the UTPA weld examination using manual and semiautomated scanning techniques. For more information, visit certification.asnt.org/Get_Certified/ISQ/Ultrasonic-Testing-Phased-Array.aspx.

Do You Have a Resistance Welding Question?

Email your submission to the Welding Journal’s Education Editor Roline Pascal at rpascal@aws.org so she can forward it to the RWMA Q&A authors. You may also send it to her attention at

Welding Journal Dept.

8669 NW 36 St., #130

Miami, FL 33166

Your resistance welding question may be chosen for this column and help other individuals better understand how to solve a particular problem.