The recent edition of PANNDT 2025 established itself as a reference for the non-destructive testing (NDT) industry in North America. The event was coordinated by CINDE (Canadian Institute for Non-Destructive Evaluation), whose Test Centre Supervisor, Wendy Hind, shared details about the organization, the scope of the event and the current challenges of the NDT industry in Canada.
High-level coordination for an international trade fair
The success of PANNDT 2025 was the result of an extensive and demanding organizational process that spanned 6 years, affected by rescheduling and pandemic-related constraints and required precise and well-structured logistics due to the magnitude of the event.
The fair brought together 91 exhibiting companies, more than 100 presentations and three halls operating in parallel during the three days. In addition, there were specialized panels and a strong international participation, both in terms of exhibitors and attendees.
We have received great support from the international community from all over, with suppliers and presenters coming from all over as well.
Wendy Hind.
The CINDE team had to coordinate thoroughly with exhibitors, speakers, technical suppliers and the venue to ensure that all details were covered, from booth set-up to sound for presentations and the logistics of side events.
Enriching experience for exhibitors and visitors
With close to 700 registered participants, the PANNDT event demonstrated an outstanding attendance in the NDT industry, as a showcase of technology and knowledge and as an effective networking space. Among the experiences best valued by the public were the mobile application of the event, the gastronomic quality, the general ambiance and the night at Power Station, one of the social events, received unanimous positive comments.
The closing ceremony promised a gala with Argentine tango, the presentation of the first PANNDT awards and the presentation of Argentina as the future host of the world conference. In addition, presentations were announced focusing on attracting new generations to the NDT sector.
Youth and education: the sector’s great challenge
One of the most important themes that emerged during the interview was the difficulty of attracting young people to the NDT industry. The lack of visibility is compounded by the fact that when NDT technicians do their jobs well, incidents do not occur and therefore are not talked about, i.e., the operational excellence of the industry means that it goes unnoticed, which plays against its promotion among young people.
In addition, there is still no systematic flow from secondary education to this career, as occurs in other technical professions and is reflected in the fact that many of the people currently working in the NDT field arrived through informal channels, such as family referrals or personal contacts.
Aware of this structural challenge, CINDE is working in partnership with institutions such as Mohawk College, a public institution of higher education located in the city of Hamilton, Ontario, to reverse the situation. During the PANNDT event, educational initiatives were presented, such as posters and student presentations, addressing communication strategies to bring the sector closer to new audiences.
The organization recognizes that reversing this trend is key to the future of the NDT industry, which is why it actively encourages the dissemination of non-destructive in both in educational spaces and in technical events, seeking to get more students interested, trained and eventually join an industry with a growing demand for qualified personnel.
Growing labor demand in Canada
The NDT industry in Canada faces a situation similar to that of the United States, as there is more demand than available personnel. According to Hind, the retirement of older professionals and recertification are creating gaps that need to be filled with new talent.
We’re starting to see people retiring from the industry, which creates a lot of new opportunities for apprentices, which is great because it also means that the industry is starting to realize that they need apprentices, so they’re starting to invest more to come in and help with that.
Wendy Hind.
This is creating a positive change, as companies begin to invest in apprenticeship training programs, and that’s where Mohawk College’s advanced skills program comes in, which includes sessions with industry professionals, allowing students to learn first-hand about available job opportunities.
The organization’s role as a training and certification center has been key to accompany this generational transition. Its experience, endorsed by organizations such as CGSB (Canadian General Standards Board) and CNSC (Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission), strengthens the preparation of new professionals to enter a market that requires more and more specialists.
An institution with an educational vocation
Founded in 2001 after the merger of CSNDT (Canadian Society for Nondestructive Testing) and the NDE Institute of Canada, CINDE has positioned itself as a reference in education and certification within the NDT industry. Its pedagogical approach is eminently practical, with trainers coming from various industries and with a “hands-on” methodology.
The interview with Wendy Hind not only provided insight into the details of a well-executed event, but also reaffirmed CINDE’s institutional commitment to the growth of the NDT sector, the strengthening of its educational base and the international projection of the sector.
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Source: Inspenet.