In view of the importance of improving the reliability and fatigue life of products, quality of products and services, a lot of attention is given to development of standardization in the field of non-destructive testing (NDT) and technical diagnostics (TD).

International (ISO) and regional European (EN) systems of standardization were developed on the basis of national standards in co-operation of specialists from different countries.

In Ukraine the Technical Committee on Standardization TK-78 “Technical Diagnostics and Non-Destructive Testing” of the State Committee on Technical Regulation and Consumer Policy is the organization authorized to control standardization and harmonization of NDT and TD standards.

Presence at the world market of products and services requires establishing common criteria for assessment of the quality of products produced by different companies, the same methods and means of control and result evaluation.

National and international standards in some cases specify different requirements to the characteristics of NDT systems and criteria of measurement result evaluation, this making economic and trade contacts more complicated. That is why harmonization of NDT standards has currently become urgent.

In keeping with the Agreement of partnership and co-operation between Ukraine and European Communities and their member countries, ratified by the Law of Ukraine No.237/94-VR of 10.11.94, Decree of the President of Ukraine of 24.02.98 No.148 “On ensuring fulfillment of the Agreement on Partnership and Co-operation between Ukraine and European Communities (European Union), and improvement of the mechanism of co-operation with the European Communities (European Union)”, Act of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine “On Measures on step-by-step introduction in Ukraine of the Requirements of European Union Directives, Sanitary, Veterinary, Fitosanitary Norms and International and European standards”, Ukrainian Society for NDT submitted an application to the State Committee on Technical Regulation and Consumer Policy on harmonization of the timely European standards on NDT.

During 2000-2005 USNDT in co-operation with TK-78 “Technical Diagnostics and Non-Destructive Testing”, TK-44 “Welding and Allied Processes” and the E.O.Paton Electric Welding Institute has worked on harmonization in Ukraine of the European and International standards on NDT and TD, as well as making additions and comments to the new standards of the European Community.

At present 18 European and International standards on NDT have been harmonized and became effective, of which 14 have no analogs in Ukraine.

In order to join the World Trade Organization and be integrated into the European Union, Ukraine should adapt all the local standards to their international analogs. This will enable our manufacturers survive under the harsh conditions of competition in the market. When joining the WTO, Ukraine will open its markets, which means that our companies should be making products meeting the world standards.

The 42 already harmonized and effective standards on NDT and those, that are at the final development stage, allow stating that at least in the NDT field, Ukrainian companies making products for the foreign market, are largely provided with the required standards on the main NDT methods, and this is an on-going effort.

Andrey Shekero, E.O.Paton Electric Welding Institute of NASU

The Certification Center (CC) was set up at the Ukrainian Society for NDT by the decision of the Society Board in 2002.

CC of USNDT certifies specialists of qualification levels 1, 2 and 3, performing NDT operations with the following methods: ultrasonic, radiographic, magnetic, penetrant, visual, eddy current, acoustic emission, etc.

Certification is performed in keeping with the International Standard ISO 9712, European Standard EN 473, and USNDT standard STTU USNDT 01-2000 “System of NDT Personnel Certification. General Principles”.

CC of USNDT is accredited in the certification system of the Russian Society for NDT&TD. Specialists certified by this system, can take part in NDT activities both in Ukraine and in Russia.

Over the past years more than 500 specialists from Ukraine have been trained and certified, and more than 20 specialists form the CIS countries, namely Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Moldova have been certified in education and examination centers approved by USNDT.

Training facilities of the CC of USNDT are continuously expanded and upgraded. Training programs and methodology and examination procedures are being improved, the stock of training and examination samples is replenished, and an examination procedure using an automated computerized program is being developed.

The lecturing and methodological staff of the Certification Center consists of highly qualified specialists of level 3 from leading enterprises and organizations of Ukraine, Cand. of Sci. (Eng,), having extensive practical experience of NDT.

11 Bozhenko st., Kiev, 03680, Ukraine

Phone: +38 (044) 287-26-66, Fax: +38 (044) 289-21-66

E-mail: ndt@paton.kiev.ua

A.Donin, USNDT Certification Centre, Kiev

The 4^th International Industrial Forum was held from November 29 to December 2, 2005 in Kiev at the International Exhibition Center. The Forum participants and visitors were of the same opinion that this is #1 exhibition in the field of metal working and mechanical engineering. It should be noted that the Industrial Forum is the only mechanical engineering exhibition of Ukraine, registered in the International Exhibition Association (UFI), which means the highest level of world recognition.

Considering the urgency of the Forum subjects, its government status rises every year: this year it was held by the initiative of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.

This year the Industrial Forum took up the area of 10000 square meters. More than 300 companies from 20 countries of the world presented their newest products and developments. in The booths of the local plants and dealer companies of the world leading machine-tool manufacturers displayed more than 100 units of equipment, the absolute majority of which was demonstrated in Ukraine for the first time. The Forum was visited by 13278 persons.

West European participants of the exhibition have increased their display practically three times, compared to last year, and brought to the Industrial Forum several pieces of equipment, which are unique for Ukraine. It is quite important to note the fact of increased solvency of the local companies, as most of the units of the demonstrated equipment were purchased by the local mechanical engineering enterprises.

One of the exhibition sections was devoted to means for non-destructive testing and diagnostics of industrial equipment.

Ukrainian Society for NDT TD as one of the co-organizers of the subject-oriented exhibition “Samples, standards, reference blocks, instruments” had its own booth in the Exhibition, which displayed the “Technical Diagnostics and NDT”, “NDT-Inform” journals and other material on the Society activity and events organized by it.