Investment in R&D continues

IMG Composites continue to be committed to maintaining their position at the cutting edge of composite technologies through investment in Research and Development projects. April the 20th saw the first trial day of the Huginn Project, a cross-company initiative spearheaded by IMG Composites to develop techniques and strategies for pipe operators to be able to inspect pipes repaired with composite wraps. The Project has so far benefitted from the enthusiastic participation of the inspection and integrity specialists iicorr Ltd and inspection technology specialist Advanced NDT. Results from the trial day, which was witnessed by a representative of a major international oil and gas operator, were positive and further trials to test the repeatability of the chosen method are planned for the near future.

Work has also persisted at a pace in IMG Composites development of more sophisticated structural reinforcement design methodologies. The projects aim to introduce new products to the market and improve the efficiency and performance of existing reinforcement technologies. Technical Support Engineer Donald Chapman, who has been working on the structural design side of the projects, explains that it is an exciting time to work at IMG Composites. ‘Projects that have been ongoing for over 2 years are coming to fruition and the industry should soon be able to benefit from advances in composite technology that will offer operators more options when faced with integrity issues’.