BUTTING has recently acquired the latest radiographic technology, in the form of the digital X-ray process. This digital technology is intended to replace the X-ray film in some areas, e. g. in inspecting longitudinal welds. The digital X-ray technique is a technical enhancement of the radioscopic test described in DIN EN 13068-1 to 13068-3. The test quality has increased such that a comparison can be made with radiography as per DIN EN 1435 based on the use of film systems as defined in DIN EN 584-1. The contrast and spatial resolution parameters are used to establish the sensitivity and detail recognition. The image quality required by the latest DIN standards can be achieved both with conventional radioscopy and with classical radiography and digital technology. The testing system was certified at BUTTING by the TÜV, applying the testing criteria for radioscopy. Approval was based on satisfying the image quality parameters required by DIN EN 13068-1, such as internal blurring, local modulation transmission function, contrast ratio, contrast, contrast sensitivity and linearity. Since the digital X-ray installation was commissioned at the beginning of this year, more than 90,000m of coiled and sheet steel pipes of all sizes have passed through the equipment. A total of 18,400m of coiled steel pipes of size 219.1 x 8.74mm for BUTTING’s end-customer Shell Nigeria were inspected on the new X-ray system, along with an order for Exxon Mobil (Hanover) for over 5500m of duplex pipes in the range 168.3 x 5.0mm.
