New high-tech equipment helps Stafford firm to expand its testing capabilities

New high-tech equipment installed at a Stafford firm has helped staff to expand their testing capabilities.

PTS Group, which is based on Common Road Industrial Estate, has bought new ultrasonic cleaning tanks which have enabled the firm to meet customer demand for the passivation of stainless steel.

The Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) company will now be able to offer corrosion protection for components in the nuclear, marine and defence sectors - work they had previously missed out on.

Adam Bates, quality director at PTS Group, said the five-figure investment was a huge step for the family-run firm.

He said: “There were many companies we already work with who were asking us if we offered steel passivation. It’s a vital step in many sectors as it restores the natural corrosion resistance of stainless steel, but it is not something we offered before and we were losing additional potential work because of it.

“Our customers relied on us for Dye Penetrant Testing on stainless steel parts, but then had to contract out for passivation. Even though these two processes naturally go hand in hand, with passivation restoring corrosion resistance immediately following inspection, we simply didn’t have the equipment or certifications to offer it in-house yet.

“We looked at subbing it out, but soon realised we could do it ourselves and had an in-house expert already too. We got the equipment and trained more staff on both the health and safety qualifications of dealing with this equipment and the technique too.

“We have already seen the work load increase as loyal existing customers who trust our work have jumped at the chance of working with us on steel passivation too and we expect this to grow once again as soon as we start to advertise this added service.”

Leanne Thompson is leading the operation as the company’s environmental specialist, so PTS Group is fully equipped to manage these chemical finishing processes safely and compliantly in-house.

To ensure the new tanks operate as environmentally friendly as possible, the business is using citric acid instead of nitric acid. They have been installed in a new lab area, which was developed at their headquarters last year to further expand the type of testing they are able to offer companies from across the UK as well as in France, Germany, Belgium, and Bahrain.

PTS Group also works with businesses in the oil and gas, and construction sectors, as well as many more industries, and it carries out testing from its Stafford base in Verulam Road as well as on site for customers.

The company was started by technical director Steve Baldwin’s dad in 1995 and is currently experiencing a period of growth, doubling its workforce to cope with demand.