Backed by an Accreditation grant through the Flintshire and Wrexham Investment Zone, OR3D CT is qualifying four members of its CT team to EN4179 – the European aerospace standard for the certification of non-destructive testing (NDT) personnel. Once complete, OR3D CT will be the first company in Wales to apply the standard to industrial computed tomography, and the only independent industrial CT services provider in the UK working to it.

We’re proud to announce that OR3D CT is qualifying our team to EN4179, the European aerospace standard governing the certification of personnel working with non-destructive testing methods.

The project has been made possible by an Accreditation grant awarded through the Flintshire and Wrexham Investment Zone’s SME Manufacturing Grant scheme, administered by Wrexham County Borough Council’s Investment Zone Team.

Once qualification is complete, OR3D CT will be:

• The first company in Wales to apply EN4179 to industrial computed tomography
• The only independent industrial CT services provider in the UK working to the standard
• Joining Rolls-Royce and the RAF as one of a small group of UK organisations qualifying CT personnel to EN4179

A visit from Wrexham County Borough Council

We welcomed Cllr Nigel Williams, Wrexham CBC’s Lead Member for Economy, Business and Tourism, to our facility at Brynkinalt Business Centre in Chirk. Cllr Williams met the team, saw our industrial CT scanning suite in action, and heard first-hand how the accreditation will support OR3D CT’s growth and the wider aerospace supply chain.

Cllr Nigel Williams, Lead Member for Economy, Business and Tourism, said:

“I was pleased to be invited to visit OR3D CT and see first-hand the ground breaking work they are doing as the UK’s only independent industrial CT services provider working to the EN4179 aerospace standard. The service provided is revolutionary and will be of benefit to many sectors including aerospace and automotive. 

“The grant funding through the investment zone will allow them to train their staff to become the first in Wales accredited to EN4179 standard, and the only independent company in the UK to be accredited to this standard.

“I wish them every success for the future.”

Cllr Mark Pritchard, leader of Wrexham Council, said:

Cllr Mark Pritchard, leader of Wrexham Council, said: “I would like to offer my congratulations to OR3D CT as the first company in Wales to be working towards this accreditation by investing in their team to qualify in this standard – not only becoming one of a small number in the UK, but the first in Wales. I am proud that they are based in Wrexham.

“This is a great example of how the investment zone grant funding can make a real and long-term, differences to small to medium sized businesses and even put them give them to opportunity to be shoulder to shoulder with other leaders in their industry.”

James Earl, Managing Director of OR3D Ltd, said:

“We are enormously grateful to Wrexham County Borough Council Investment Zone Team, and everyone involved in the Investment Zone for backing us. Special thanks to Amanda Holmes, Investment Zone Programme Manager for her enormous support throughout the process and the belief in our vision for OR3D CT. This support directly enables a Welsh SME to reach a standard that has, until now, been held only by major primes and the armed forces in the UK. This is exactly the kind of investment the Zone was set up to deliver – an early, tangible example of public investment translating into a fantastic capability being built right here in North Wales.”

Rob Wells, Service Manager at OR3D CT, added:

“Our customers work at the leading edge of manufacturing, and they need to know that the people inspecting their parts are working to the same standard. EN4179 is that standard for aerospace. As more additive and composite parts move into flight-critical applications, this qualification means we can support the UK aerospace supply chain with the confidence, traceability and repeatability the industry demands – and the funding from the Investment Zone is what has made it achievable at this pace and scale.”