GB Inspection Systems Ltd is a leading UK designer and manufacturer of Ultrasonic Transducers and Accessories, and a supplier of NDT Equipment, Consumables, Calibration, and Servicing.
GB Inspection Systems (GBIS) was founded in 1984 and offers a wealth of experience in providing exceptional service to our global clients from within the NDT industry, with quality products at competitive prices.
We are a UK-based Company who has a global presence and a quality reputation for successfully supplying and servicing customers in many countries worldwide, with future expansion planned into countries currently not served. We use a number of global partners to distribute our products all over the world, a comprehensive worldwide customer base from a wide range of industries which include Power Generation, Oil & Gas, Nuclear, General Inspection, Marine, Railway, and Aerospace.
With hundreds of thousands of miles of railroads around the globe, it is vital that Non-destructive Testing is done quickly and efficiently. NDT solutions can protect critical assets, reduce accidents, and create a more efficient system of transportation for both people and freight. Regulations demand testing of nearly all components of wheels and axles, as well as the rail, and are expanding to allow faster in-service rail testing. Conventional and Phased Array Ultrasound, is used to inspect rolling stock and rails during manufacturing and as part of a regular in-service inspection program to help keep railroads on track.
Over time, rails can develop discontinuities originating from either a manufacturing defect or from in-service use. These discontinuities can be disastrous if they go undetected and must be monitored through scheduled maintenance or safety programs, so that’s why here at GB Inspection Systems we are committed to understanding the needs of our clients and are continually striving to maintain the competitive edge by providing the best quality products and services at competitive prices.
Our Railway series of transducers are available in a wide range of specifications for general-purpose Ultrasonic Testing, and flaw detection application-specific inspections. We are also a verified supplier on the Railway Industry Supplier Qualification Scheme (RISQS).
At GBIS we offer two different types of Railway Probes - Axle and Track
Rail Axle Transducers are recommended for the inspection of the axle forging around the wheel seats, brake drive seating, and radius.
Meanwhile, Rail Track Transducers are recommended for the detection of wear, corrosion, and cracking/crack propagation in the head of the rail.
Manufactured to give improved performance, all our Rail Axle and Track Probes are built to the highest standard and come with a Calibration Certification & Calibration Label as standard. Our Test system records the individual serial number tracking the wear at every calibration interval which typically is 12 months from the point of issue, this allows us to better predict a probe replacement date.
The Probe types available in our Railway Range include -
1. Track
- LSSBR - Large Single Shear Axle Probe with ø15mm Crystal Size and 2.5MHz available
- TCBR Twin Compression Axle Probe 0° with 20 x 10mm Crystal Size and 2.5 or 4MHz available
- LTCBR Large Twin Compression Axle Probe 0° with 20 x 10mm Crystal Size and 2.5 or 4MHz available
- SCBR Single Compression Axle Probe Small or Large, with ø20mm Crystal Size and 2.5 or 4Mhz available
2. Rail
- SCLP Single Compression Low Profile with ø10mm Crystal Size and integral cable, available in 2.5MHz
- LSST Large Single Shear Track Probe with ø15mm Crystal Size and 2.5 or 4MHz available
- SCT Single Compression Track Probe 0° with ø15mm Crystal Size and 2.5MHz available
- TCT Twin Compression Track Probe 0° with ø10mm Crystal Size and 5MHz available
There are many benefits regarding our Rail Transducers, such as that our Products are designed for the detection of rolling contact failure defects such as ‘tongue lipping’ and ‘gauge corner cracking’. All our Transducers can be offered with all types of connector styles including BNC, Lemo 01 (L), Lemo 00 (ML), Subvis (S), and MicroDot (MD). We also have availability on the majority of our range of Integral Cables.
Other key benefits regarding our Rail Transducers are that they have been approved by many specifiers and OEMs. GBIS has also been awarded a Certificate of Acceptance for manufacturing Network Rail Ultrasonic Transducers (PA05/06763).
All of our transducers are compatible with all major brands of ultrasonic instrumentation, manufactured in accordance to BS EN ISO 22232-2:2020 and 90% of our standard product range is available for immediate shipment from our stocks.
We also offer “RWTJ-1” (Rail Weld Test Jig) which is used for the inspection of Rail Tracks using two versions of Ultrasonic Probes designed to detect the lack of fusion in alumina-thermic weld joints. Our Rail Jig can be used with both the standard range of GB Track Probes which are our “LSST” and our “LSSNR” which has been certified by Network Rail. The Jig has removable lids which give it total flexibility to the direction of the test as they can be removed without the use of any tools. Our Rail Jig is also available in multi-variants to cover the different types of track heights all around the world.
In addition, we offer an MHAT Kit (manual hollow axle test kit) which includes an aluminium test head manufactured to suit a variation of hollow axle internal diameters ranging from ø40mm up to ø110mm (at present). Incorporated within the test head are spring-loaded skids and bi-directional Ultrasonic transducers. These transducers included are purpose built to suit the desired angle of test and Axle internal diameter. The feed rod on our MHAT is supplied is 1300mm in length as is graduated in 100mm intervals as standard.
Another business we supply to customers is our Calibration and Repair Service. This service can be used for Probes, Blocks, and Equipment, including our Railway Products. All the leading brands of equipment involved in the Calibration Service are catered for and offered a fast, reliable, and competitive service. Our Evaluation and Repair of faulty equipment service is also available upon request. All our calibration readings and results are traceable to national standards.
