Trends in the Automotive Industry Steer New NDT Applications

The automobile industry must take the requirements for more safety into account (product liability) in addition to the stricter regulations concerning environmental protection and crash safety as well as the increased comfort requirements of the driver. Costly recall actions, ever increasing demands on quality management and the changing statutory basic conditions with simultaneous, keener competition oblige the industry to take economic action. The lightweight construction of vehicles (lightweight material and lightweight construction) are of special importance especially owing to vehicle requirements. In addition to the application of new materials, joining and bonding technologies are always being re-evaluated due to technical and economical reasons.