CERATIZIT enhance precision at NDT

In the precision-driven world of non-destructive testing (NDT) manufacturing, selecting the right tooling and workholding solutions is crucial for ensuring product quality. NDT Equipment Ltd, a Northamptonshire specialist in manufacturing NDT calibration blocks and test pieces, has earned its reputation by delivering high-precision components with tolerances as tight as ±0.005mm. At the heart of their production capabilities is a strategic partnership with CERATIZIT, whose cutting-edge tooling solutions have been essential to NDT Equipment’s manufacturing excellence.
NDT Equipment Ltd specialises in producing ultrasonic calibration blocks and reference pieces that comply with international standards such as ISO 2400:2012, ISO:7963:2010, and ISO:16946:2017. These precision components are vital for non-destructive testing applications in various industries, including oil and gas, nuclear, aerospace, and automotive.
Non-destructive testing is a critical quality control methodology used to evaluate material integrity without causing damage. From ensuring that bridge components withstand structural forces to verifying that aircraft parts meet stringent safety requirements, NDT techniques provide necessary validation that can prevent catastrophic failures. Even in the food industry, NDT methods help identify potential metallic or glass contaminants during processing.
The calibration blocks manufactured by NDT Equipment Ltd serve as reference standards for NDT equipment, ensuring accurate and reliable testing results. These components boast precise dimensions, surface finishes, and material properties that must meet exacting specifications, making the manufacturing process particularly challenging.

To address these challenges, NDT Equipment Ltd, based in Long Buckby, maintains a modern CNC machining facility equipped with 3 to 5-axis machining, CNC surface grinding, EDM machining, and CMM inspection with technology from brands like Doosan, XYZ, and a Matsuura MX-330 with a 10-pallet loading system. This advanced equipment enables the company to manage everything from prototypes to medium and large batch production across various materials, from standard mild steel to specialised alloys like Inconel.

CERATIZIT Partnership: A Cornerstone of Quality
A key factor in NDT Equipment’s ability to uphold quality standards is its partnership with CERATIZIT for tooling and workholding solutions. The company relies heavily on CERATIZIT products throughout its manufacturing processes, and its production team has highlighted several specific benefits.
NDT Equipment utilises CERATIZIT vices and workholding systems on their machining centres, significantly streamlining setup procedures. The company specifically alludes to the benefits of the zero-point clamping system with centralised plates, which allows for quick and precise attachment of vices without requiring constant datum setting or alignment.
Director at NDT Equipment Ltd, Daniel Lenton, remarks: “We have a three-pot Centro system from CERATIZIT that makes it easy to attach vices without the need for constant datums, alignment, or setup. The system ensures the parts lock in place and align perfectly. This standardisation guarantees consistency across different machines and simplifies job transitions from one machine to another, reducing setup times and potential errors.”
“The precision alignment capabilities of the CERATIZIT workholding solutions also support our collision checking requirements, ensuring that our CAM programming accurately reflects the physical setup on the machine. This minimises the risk of costly crashes and maintains consistency in our manufacturing processes.”

Comprehensive Tooling Ecosystem
In addition to benefiting from CERATIZIT’s zero-point workholding technology, NDT Equipment has standardised nearly all of its cutting tools around CERATIZIT products. The extensive range of tooling solutions meets the diverse machining needs for the various materials and geometries involved in manufacturing NDT calibration blocks.
Exceptional Supply Chain Support
One of the most significant advantages of partnering with CERATIZIT is the robust supply chain support. NDT Equipment has implemented a CERATIZIT TOM vending machine system in its facility, allowing immediate access to commonly used tools. This just-in-time inventory system ensures that production is never interrupted due to tooling shortages.
Referring to this, Daniel adds: “With CERATIZIT, the supply chain is so good that we have one of their vending machines on site. If we need a tool, we can access it right away. When it comes to exotic materials and we don’t have the right tool in the vending machine, we know we can get it the very next day. CERATIZIT has even delivered from Sheffield on the same day for us. That’s where you’re only as good as your supply chain, and their supply chain is so reliable that we’re never really without.”
This reliability enables NDT Equipment to commit to demanding delivery schedules while maintaining its high-quality standards. “We use all the CERATIZIT turning inserts and holders; their EcoCut series is excellent. I love their EcoCut. You don’t need to drill parts at all – you can send in an EcoCut multifunction turning and drilling tool and continue boring the hole out. All our tooling, except for one or two select items, is supplied by CERATIZIT - all of their tooling fits our needs.”
NDT Equipment’s commitment to quality is reinforced by its ISO 9001:2015 quality assurance system. Every product manufactured by the company is delivered with full traceability and certification documentation, providing customers with confidence in the conformity and performance of the NDT calibration blocks. The precision and consistency delivered by CERATIZIT tooling solutions are essential for enabling NDT Equipment to achieve the tight tolerances and surface finishes required for their products.
The partnership between NDT Equipment Ltd and CERATIZIT exemplifies how advanced tooling solutions can empower precision manufacturers to deliver exceptional quality while maintaining operational efficiency. For NDT Equipment, CERATIZIT’s comprehensive tooling ecosystem, superior workholding solutions, and responsive supply chain support have become integral to their manufacturing success.