“Astra LT” increases its competitive advantage: it installs an advanced ultrasonic research method

Dr. Vaidas Liesionis, the general director of Astra LT, says that during the implementation of the project from last April until . m. At the end of April, there was close cooperation with the Norwegian company Svenheim Mbelindustri, which had experience in implementing automation and digitization solutions. The partnership allowed the Alytus company to adopt the best practices and experience in the field of ICT and digitization, improve its production processes, increase efficiency and reduce costs.

He used Norwegian experience

the introduction of new technologies will enable us to compete with the ones that have the latest technologies in the production of goods, and we will enjoy even better quality of our products, says Astra LT’s general director. By the way, after implementing certain processes and having a large database, Svenheim Mbelindustri was able to make the construction process even 12 times more efficient, because the modern database allows to find the most similar projects implemented in the past and create a new project after making changes to the necessary parameters with a few keystrokes.

Astra LT designers design about 250 products every year, so it is expected that some of them can be adapted to the implementation of new orders.

while implementing the project, Astra LT also purchased a 3D measurement, scanning and database software contract package. This allows you to simulate and test products, create protocols, and store the data together with the units in our electronic databases, where they are easily accessible to specialists.

The first in Lithuania

The second purchase is integrated software and a controller that is linked to our business management system, and the third is an ultrasonic defectoscope. Now, when welding joints in production, we can perform Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing (PAUT) method, says Viktoras Bondarevs, Astra LT board member and technical director. Using PAUT, welded metal lact joints are examined with a special probe, the sound waves propagated inside it can detect defects invisible to the eye, which are immediately displayed on the event screen. It is a safe and effective method of non-destructive control research, which allows to raise the quality of access operations in my workhouse and will be selectively used alongside the existing x-ray and magnetic particle research methods.

By the way, such an order was a first for the manufacturer of the PAUT contract, as this method is being applied for the first time in the inspection of stainless steel thin-wall lakt welding.

Phased array ultrasonic devices are widely used in the military, medicine, and in the field of industry they were used in the 20th century. In the 10th century, when the development of technology allowed the creation of smaller, battery-powered events. First of all, phase grid research events appeared in the nuclear energy and turbine generator industry, in the installation and operation of gas pipelines and oil pipelines, where thicker metal sheets are used. Astra LT is the first initiative in Lithuania to use the ultrasonic testing method for thin-walled 46 mm metal nails in daily production. This step required an expensive defectoscope contract, which was procured with the help of the Norway Grants financial mechanism, and the training to use it was conducted by the employees of the Ignalina nuclear power plant and a representative of the manufacturer of the defectoscope will come to the United Kingdom.

embedgallery::https://foto.vz.lt/embed/2488?placement=

Detailed information for customers

I am grateful to both Norway Grants and the Government of Norway, which supports such an important project for our company and will pay 60% of the project’s value with the help of the Lithuanian Government, said Semion Bondarev, Chairman of the Astra LT Board. Now, in production, we will be able to use not only X-ray and magnetic testing methods, but also especially ultrasonic testing methods for welded thin-walled metal nails. This will essentially improve conditions and safety for our employees, and for customers, digitization will guarantee data traceability, confirmation of how and when the products intended for them were checked, and what the results were.

According to S. Bondarev, the accumulation of data will also be of great benefit, as the constructors will be able to use them, knowledge, accumulated experience and other information in any of the three Astra LT divisions in Lithuania.

It is always a pleasure to cooperate with Astra LT, because they know well and are able to define what they want to achieve and with what means. Therefore, it is not difficult for them to help prepare projects, claims Lina Siniausk, director of project preparation of EU support consulting UAB Projekt konsultaziones ir tyriami. in this case, as many as three projects were implemented in less than 12 months, and the implemented measures are planned to increase the number of jobs by 40%.

Quality research methodology according to the client’s wishes

V. Liesionis states that in order to be competitive in the European metal pressure vessels and tanks market today, a company must have several methods of non-destructive testing in its arsenal. Its use optionally allows to increase the operational efficiency and to provide a control method suitable for the demanding customer.

In addition, by modernizing and improving the quality control of our products, we will be able to cast even thinner alloy steel products faster, which is of interest to many customers, especially electric car battery manufacturers, assures the general director of Astra LT.

In 2023, Astra LT, which is celebrating its 95th year of operation, exported 83% of the production, mostly customers in the markets of France, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Norway. Almost half of the product is intended for the food industry, a large part for the chemical industry and electric car battery manufacturing companies, for which the majority of thin-walled products are produced. In recent years, mons’ sales have grown by 1015%, last year its turnover was 27.07 million. Eur.