Adaptix launches Auto3DX NDE4.0

Aug 16, 2023 | New, Technology

OXFORD, U.K., Wednesday 16th August 2023– 3D imaging technology company Adaptix Limited (Adaptix) has launched the Auto3DX NDE 4.0 project in conjunction with Dowty, a GE Aerospace company.

This 18-month project, which received a NATEP grant, will focus on Adaptix’s development in dry-fibre inspection technology, creating potential methodologies for automated defect detection using Artificial Intelligence and/or computer vision. Product and component use-cases from Dowty, along with current inspection techniques, will be utilized to verify the defect identification developed within the project in both dry fibre and cured composite materials.

This will be carried out by the non-healthcare division, AdaptixNDE and will also be supported by leading UK aerospace composite manufacturing primes, Spirit AeroSystems and GKN Aerospace.

Andy Barnes, AdaptixNDE Commercial Director stated: “We’re translating a highly innovative hardware solution from healthcare into aerospace, allowing us to inspect in dry-preform, where other methods simply can’t.  This means an earlier first point-of-inspection during manufacture to reduce cost, time, material waste and machinery usage on unfit parts.  This NATEP project will help automate the inspection for composite failure detection earlier in manufacture and through-life with significant economic and environmental impacts.  It’s exciting to evolve Adaptix’ inspection capability and make moves towards the future by pioneering the route to NDE 4.0 and through-life Digital Twin inspection.  NATEP was designed specifically to help companies develop and exploit their technology offering using a mix of part funding and technology mentoring and is a perfect fit for Adaptix Auto3DXNDE for this, our second project with the programme.”

About Adaptix and AdaptixNDE

Adaptix Limited is transforming radiology through the development of innovative fast-acquisition, low-flux, deployable Digital Tomosynthesis 3D X-ray with applications across a multitude of global markets.

AdaptixNDE  are taking this technology into Aerospace composites where non-destructive evaluation (NDE) is dominated by ultrasonics for speed, cost and portability benefits.  This is because the aspirational Computed Tomography 3D X-ray is too prohibitive because of high-cost (and running/maintenance cost), -weight, -power, and slow-speed.  AdaptixNDE are offering 3D internal visualisation at the point of diagnostics earlier in manufacture and through-life with a consistent digital output facilitating Digital Twins and NDE4.0. https://adaptixnde.com/

About Dowty

Dowty, a GE Aerospace company, is a world-leader in electronically controlled, all-composite propeller systems. Its products are used in a range of civil and military applications, including commercial airliners and military airlifters to multi-role seaplanes and marine hovercraft. Dowty’s history of firsts-to-market includes the all-composite propeller blade and full-authority digital propeller control.  To date, more than 25,000 advanced composite blades have been delivered by Dowty, with the lead blade logging over 50,000 hours of flight time.  https://dowty.com/

Hannah Lawrence-Lelitte (Assoc. CIPD) spent 10 years working as a senior Administrator for the University of Oxford and in HR and training roles across industries including publishing, environmental management and motorsport.

Hannah’s background is in Organisational Pyschology and she has a BSc in Psychology from the University of Surrey.

Martin Stofanko has a PhD in Immunology and MSc in Applied Genetics from University of Birmingham. Following Postdoctoral work at University of Cambridge he moved into industry in Brazil developing genetic tests for their low budget public healthcare system.

He is experienced in defining, executing and writing up quality assurance and technical documentations for IVDs and up to class IIa sterile MDs in the UK, Brazil and Germany. He has lead validation, external testing and transfer to manufacturing activities within company and outsourced abroad. He has established and extended ISO 13485 QMS from D&D to manufacturing, sales and distribution.

John has 30+ Years industry experience with a comprehensive background within Global Roles in Semiconductor, Electronics and Medical Device Industries.

Areas of expertise include, Start Up Operations, Programme and Performance Management, New Product Introduction and Product Outsource/Transfer.

Conrad Dirckx has a BA in Computer Science and PhD in MRI Imaging from Cambridge University as well as a master’s degree from the Ecole Centrale Paris in real-time computing. He has worked for GE Healthcare in their workstation, vascular x-ray and MRI business units and prior to joining Adaptix, spent 11 years working for Siemens in their molecular imaging division leading development projects for cardiology, neurology and oncology software products.

He is an APMP certified project manager who helped to pioneer the transition to lean/agile software development within Siemens MI.

Andy graduated with an Engineering Masters and boxing Blue from Oxford University, then gained Chartered Engineer status as a project manager while working for the Ministry of Defence. On the MOD Fast Stream, Andy gained corporate and leadership experience in a variety of strategic roles as well as leading counter terrorism teams in Iraq. Andy was awarded the Iraq medal and formally commended for changing the Coalition Forces campaign strategy.

Andy then went into leadership consulting & coaching (clients now diplomats & in No.10) and also moved into the commercial sector founding a film & TV company, raising finance and building relationships with the major studios. While he got the companies up and running Andy secured acting roles in Coronation Street and Emmerdale to help pay the bills.

Steve Wells spent 12 years developing medical devices for Siemens Molecular Imaging before joining Adaptix.

He has a PhD in Neuroscience, MSc in Medical Physics and a Natural Sciences degree from Cambridge. Prior to Siemens he worked as a software engineer on various commercial science projects.

Dr Siân Phillips MB,BCh MRCP FRCR is an experienced Consultant Radiologist based in South Wales.
She gained her undergraduate and postgraduate medical training in Wales. She has held several leadership roles during her career, including Associate Dean and Head of School at Health Education
and Improvement Wales; chair of Medical Imaging Sub-Committee and Imaging Essential Services Group, advising Welsh Government; and Clinical Director. As part of her active involvement in teaching and training, she has been involved in developing undergraduate curricula, been an FRCR examiner at the Royal College of Radiologists (RCR), and was instrumental in establishing and developing the National Imaging Academy, Wales. As a Fellow of the Royal College of Radiologists, she plays an active role in RCR activity.
Siân has extensive experience with Digital Tomosynthesis imaging in the general clinical setting. Her service was the first clinical department in the UK, second in Europe to introduce this innovative
technology. Her experiences with digital tomosynthesis she has shared widely, presenting at international conferences worldwide. She has sat on the Medical Advisory Board of GE Healthcare and acted as Medical Advisor to Adaptix for several years.

Adrian Crockett, BAcc, FCMA is a chartered management accountant who previously held the CFO position at Ocean Harvest Technology PLC where he helped raise £6m via an IPO, Thruvision PLC where he managed significant revenue growth towards £10m and at Venture Life PLC, an AIM listed consumer healthcare company where he was involved in the M&A of a number of businesses, participated in equity capital raises of over £25m and a revolving debt facility of similar with major UK & US banks. Before this he held senior financial management roles at Abbott Diabetes Care Ltd, a division of the US Healthcare company, Abbott, GSK & Novartis.

Sarah Small BSc, ACA is a Chartered Accountant with over 20 years’ experience of leading financial functions, including C-level experience within an AIM listed company.

Sarah has worked across a various number of industry sectors including digital marketing, retail, entertainment, education and construction. Sarah has a mathematics degree from Warwick University.