West Penn Testing News

West Penn Testing Group Expands Operations By Purchasing New Building For Spectrochemical Labs

09/08 (New Kensington, Pennsylvania) West Penn Testing Group, one of the nation’s leading independent non-destructive, chemical and material testing organizations, recently enhanced its evaluation capabilities with the purchase of a new building. Located at 155 Prominence Drive in Upper Burrell, Pennsylvania, the building will provide 9,800 square-foot of immediate expansion space for the company’s Spectrochemical Testing group, as well as up to 11,000 square feet of space for the planned growth of the firm’s Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) and Material Evaluation operations.

According To N. David Campbell, President of West Penn Testing Group, “We have been planning on expanding our Spectrochemical Testing capabilities for quite some time. The additional space provides us with the opportunity to reconfigure our lab space, which will support more efficient operations and shorter turn-around times for our customers. The new building will also allow us to add a Scanning Electron Microscope, which will broaden our testing capabilities.”

In addition, the new space supports the immediate and future expansion plans of West Penn Testing Group’s staff.  In the coming year, Spectrochemical Testing will add at least one new degreed technician, and will continue to expand staff with more degreed technicians as business needs dictate.

Campbell expects that the new location will help grow business across the company. “When the Spectrochemical Testing group moves into the new space, our NDT operations will move into their former area and add additional inspection tanks. This will shorten throughput times and allow multiple testing operations to be conducted simultaneously. Similarly, our Material Evaluation operations will also gain additional space for new equipment that will broaden our testing options.”

West Penn Testing Group provides an extensive array of reliable, independent non-destructive testing, chemical testing and material testing services. The company serves clients in the metals, aerospace, nuclear, commercial manufacturing, military and automotive industries. For more information about the company or its services, visit www.westpenntesting.com.

New Business Manager for Spectrochemical and Material Evaluation

07/07 (New Kensington, Pennsylvania) Robert D. Ross recently joined West Penn Testing Group as Business Manager for its Spectrochemical Testing and Material Evaluation business units.

Mr. Ross is responsible for leading sales and marketing efforts, as well as overseeing operations for both departments. He arrives at West Penn Testing Group with 21 years of metals industry and metallurgy experience, including 17 years at ATI/Allegheny Ludlum where his roles included process control, quality assurance, technical service, customer relationship management, and management of the electrical steels business unit. He holds a BS in Metallurgy from Penn State University.

Based in New Kensington, PA, West Penn Testing Group provides an extensive array of reliable, independent non-destructive testing, chemical testing and material testing services. As a leading testing and evaluation organization, West Penn Testing Group serves customers in the metals, aerospace, nuclear, commercial manufacturing, military and automotive industries.

West Penn Testing Group Selected As A Winner Of Progressive Manufacturing 50 Awards

06/07 (New Kensington, Pennsylvania) West Penn Testing Group, one of the nation’s leading independent non-destructive, chemical and material testing organizations, has been named a winner of a Progressive Manufacturing 50 Award for integrating Lean Manufacturing and 5S protocols into its testing operations. Presented by Managing Automation, a publication that highlights technology solutions for progressive manufacturers, the award positions the company as a candidate for the publication’s upcoming High Achiever Awards. The award recognizes manufacturers that are being progressive in their businesses, in the management of their operations and in their use of advanced technology.

West Penn Testing was honored with the award for its successful development and application of Doing Lean LEAN. The program was designed to substantially increase throughput in the forgings immersion testing process over a six-month period, without compromising quality. Drawing on proven Lean Manufacturing and Six-Sigma concepts, the Doing Lean LEAN process pinpoints strategies for implementing cost-effective manufacturing and management protocols that quickly generate meaningful results for small- and medium-sized businesses.

By undertaking Lean LEAN initiatives, West Penn Testing was able to:

Reduce cycle times by 25%

Achieve return on investment within 2 months

Increase throughput by 15%

Through the Lean LEAN initiative, West Penn Testing Group’s clients experienced the following:

Increased frequency of on-time delivery

Decreased process times

More predictable process protocols

More accurate forecasting

Implementation of the program also increased company revenue and profitability, decreased part retention times and enhanced client satisfaction ratings. The program required a minimal initial investment of $50,000 to cover equipment, materials and internal time.

“We are pleased to have our efforts recognized by Managing Automation,” remarked N. David Campbell, President of West Penn Testing Group. “The Doing Lean LEAN program confirms that small or mid-sized manufacturing and service businesses can achieve significant, bottom-line enhancing benefits in a compressed timeframe. The initiative has made a significant contribution to our business, and has positioned us to deliver exceptional, timely results to our wide range of clients.”

The awards program recognizes manufacturers that are being progressive in their businesses, in the management of their operations, and in their use of advanced technologies. The Progressive Manufacturing 50 Awards Program annually recognizes 50 companies that have achieved distinction in at least one of eight core disciplines defined by Managing Automation as critical to business success in years ahead. The disciplines include business Model Mastery, Customer Mastery, Supply Network Mastery, Data & integration Mastery, Innovation Mastery, Training and Education Mastery, Leadership and Operational Excellence. An independent judging panel, chaired by Daniel Brousell, Editor-in-Chief of Managing Automation, reviewed all project nominations.

West Penn Testing Group provides an extensive array of reliable, independent non-destructive testing, chemical testing and material testing services. The company serves clients in the metals, aerospace, nuclear, commercial manufacturing, military and automotive industries. For more information about the company or its services, visit www.westpenntesting.com.

West Penn Testing Group Presents at the CerMA Conference

05/07 West Penn Testing Group presented at the 2007 CerMA Conference on May 23, 2007. The Ceramic Manufacturers Association serves as a training and information resource for plant operators to ensure the viability of the ceramic industries information resource for plant operators to ensure the viability of the ceramic industries. “Getting the Most from Your Testing Dollars” was the focus of West Penn Testing’s presentation. The presentation as well received. For more information on this subject, contact us at 724.334.1900.

West Penn Testing Group Promotes Jeanine M. Saunders To Quality Assurance Manager

02/07 (New Kensington, Pennsylvania) West Penn Testing Group recently appointed Jeanine M. Saunders Quality Assurance Manager. A 17-year employee of the company, Ms. Saunders will perform internal audits and implement corrective actions to maintain quality system standards in West Penn Testing Group’s NDT, Spectrochemical and Materials Testing areas. In addition, she will counsel senior management on quality issues, and play a central role in implementing lean manufacturing strategies.

West Penn Testing Group Applies Lean Manufacturing And 5S Techniques To Testing Operations

01/07 (New Kensington, Pennsylvania) West Penn Testing Group, one of the nation’s leading independent non-destructive, chemical and material testing organizations, has integrated Lean Manufacturing and 5S protocols into its testing operations. Designed to enhance the quality of individual testing operations while reinforcing exceptional customer service, Lean Manufacturing utilize 5S strategies to streamline evaluation procedures and operations in all areas of the organization.

Originating in Japan, 5S is built around the ideas of organization, orderliness, cleanliness, standards and discipline. In combination, these concepts form the structure of Lean Manufacturing. Lean Manufacturing procedures have been utilized by many of the world’s most successful manufacturing operations, and have played key roles in improving throughput, enhancing communication, reinforcing morale and productivity and bolstering safety. West Penn Testing Group is one of the first independent testing organizations in the country to apply Lean Manufacturing and 5S to its operations.

West Penn Testing Group provides an extensive array of reliable, independent non-destructive testing, chemical testing and material testing services. As a leading testing and evaluation organization, the company serves customers in the metals, aerospace, nuclear, commercial manufacturing, military and automotive industries.

West Penn Testing Group Enhances Large Billet And Forging NDT Capabilities

01/07(New Kensington, Pennsylvania) West Penn Testing Group has significantly upgraded its immersion ultrasonic C-scan capabilities by renovating the company’s large billet and forging evaluation system. The enhanced equipment is unique in both its capacity and capabilities. The system’s electro-hydraulic billet and forging rotator has a capacity exceeding 17,000 lbs and can support lengths up to 32 feet and diameters up to 55 inches. This fully automated system allows customers to transition from the limitations of contact ultrasonic testing to the increased sensitivity and resolution of immersion ultrasonic testing. The recently completed upgrade has improved the mechanical precision of the Scanner, and has added state of the art multi-channel C-scan image acquisition capabilities.

This system can be used for immersion ultrasonic inspection of billet and long forgings typically used in jet engine shafts, submarine sonar, oil platform stress joints, aerospace and ground-based turbines, and large heat exchanger plates.

West Penn Testing Group Expands Spectrochemical Evaluation Capabilities With New Microwave Digester

01/07 (New Kensington, Pennsylvania) West Penn Testing Group has augmented its spectrochemical testing operations by integrating a new microwave digester into its Pittsburgh facilities. Designed to deliver high-power dissolution capabilities, the microwave digester can be used with both metals and ceramics, and significantly improves evaluation throughput.

It is particularly effective on samples possessing high-purity Alumina or super alloys. It may also be used on samples with low trace levels.

West Penn Testing Group Adds New Optical Emission Scanning Capabilities To Its Spectrochemical Operations

01/07 (New Kensington, Pennsylvania) West Penn Testing Group has enhanced its metal analysis capabilities with the addition of a new multi-channel optical emission analyzer. Configured to analyze up to 10 base metals families, the instrument has specific calibrations for iron, aluminum, magnesium, cobalt, copper, nickel, titanium, lead, tin and zinc. The analyzer is also outfitted with nitrogen sampling capability for iron samples. Up to 25 elements can be simultaneously analyzed in approximately 30 seconds with minimal sample preparation.

Summer Deffner Joins West Penn Testing Group’s Spectrochemical Testing Operation

01/07 (New Kensington, Pennsylvania) Summer Deffner has joined West Penn Testing Group as a chemist in its spectrochemical evaluation group. She will be responsible for operating the inductively coupled plasma (ICP) analyzer, and will be evaluating metallic samples and compiling reports. Ms. Deffner earned a B.S. degree in Chemistry from University of Pittsburgh, Bradford. Prior to accepting her position with West Penn Testing Group, she was employed by Koppers Industries.

West Penn Testing Group Provides Flexible Staffing And Service Offerings At South Carolina Facility

10/06 (New Kensington, Pennsylvania) West Penn Testing Group has enhanced its technical services staffing at the company’s South Carolina facility. In addition to providing comprehensive ultrasonic immersion testing, the firm has added a number of new positions for testing professionals, all of which have been staffed by certified Non-Destructive Testing technicians. By augmenting staff, West Penn Testing Group can now deliver technical staffing solutions tailored to each client’s individual needs. The company’s staffers may be used to augment a client’s existing in-house ultrasonic immersion testing staff, or can be deployed to cover the entire ultrasonic immersion testing function.

West Penn Testing Group Expands Metallurgical Analysis and Evaluation Capabilities With Behram Kapadia

04/06 (New Kensington, PA) West Penn Testing Group has expanded its metallurgical analysis capabilities by adding Behram Kapadia, Sc.D., a highly respected veteran of the domestic steel industry, to the firm’s consulting group. Formerly employed with U.S. Steel Group, Dr. Kapadia is an expert in ferrous metallurgy, heat treatment, fracture mechanics and failure analysis. Prior to joining West Penn Testing, he served as a consultant to a number of leading industrial organizations, including Westinghouse Electric Company, Aristech Chemical Corporation, Eaton Corporation, USS/KOBE Steel, Damascus Steel Casting Co. and INFASCO.