Welcome to Western iInstruments, manufacturing non-destructive testing equipment since 1965. A family run business since the beginning, we take pride in product and delivery of quality.
Western was incorporated in late 1965, and currently operates from its 19 Acre facility in Villeneuve (Edmonton), Alberta, Canada. The company occupies a 10,000 Sq. Ft. building, which includes 2000 Sq. Ft. of Offices, with separate areas for; Machine Tools; Electronics Lab; Stock Rooms; Assembly Areas; and a Welding/Fabrication Area. Currently a new 2,000 Sq. Ft. office building, adjacent to the main building, is under construction. The company has five areas of operations; W-Series of Portable Magnetic Particle Inspection Equipment; NDT/NDE Equipment Division; Ultrasonic Testing Systems; Pit Gauges; and an Oilfield Equipment Venture.
W-Series Ultrasonic Testing Equipment Pit Gauges Oilfield Equipment Development
W-Series Products
The company manufactures Portable Magnetic Particle (MPI) Inspection Equipment, which includes Yokes, Coils, and Accessories. W-Series Products are used to inspect Ferromagnetic Materials for Near and Surface Breaking Defects. Defects include; Cracks (Weld, Stress, Fatigue, etc.); Manufacturing Defects (Scabs and Slivers; etc.) Portable MPI Equipment has uses in virtually all types of Heavy and Medium Industries, but enjoys it's greatest popularity in: Petro-Chemical, Oil and Gas (Refining, Production, and Drilling), Pressure Equipment (Boilers, Pressure Vessels, Steam Generation, etc.), Steel (Primary, Secondary, and Fabrication), Automotive/Mobile Equipment (Manufacturing, Rebuilding, Maintenance), and Aircraft (Manufacturing and Maintenance). MPI is recognized as the most cost effective form of Non-destructive Testing (NDT).
Introduction of the W-Series Product Line started in late 1999, after extensive development and field testing. The product line in now shipped around the world, as they are manufactured in both 115 Volt/60Hz and 230 Volt/50Hz versions. A total of 13 Models of Yokes are currently made, 5 in the Standard W-Series, 6 in the more compact WC-Series and 2 in the WM-Series of Permanent Magnets. 2 different Series of coils are manufactured, with the WA-Series having 2 different models, and the WD-Series offering 3 different sizes in 2 different models (WDV and WDP). The W-Series Product Line is continually being added to, and improved to meet our Customer's and Distributor's needs.
NDT Equipment Division
This division of the company provides Sales, Repair and Rentals of NDT/NDE Equipment in Western Canada. The Company Represents many industry leaders in the field, which includes Ultrasonics, Magnetic Particle, Dye Penetrant, Visual, and Electro-Magnetic equipment, which are major disciplines in the inspection field, with the exception of Radiography.
Western is the largest such company in Western Canada, but certainly an industry leader due to the depth of knowledge it can borrow from the Ultrasonic Testing Systems and the W-Series Product Line. The company's market is identified by five sectors of industry; Oilfield Inspectors (OCTG Inspection), 3rd Party or Industrial Inspection, Maintenance Inspection, Equipment Certification, and Manufacturers. The largest markets for this division are with Ultrasonics, Magnetic Particle, and Electro-Magnetic Inspection Equipment, which are used extensively in the Oil/Gas and Petrochemical industries.
Ultrasonic Testing Equipment
The company manufactures Ultrasonic Testing Systems for Primary and Secondary Metals Industries, with a particular emphasis on Welded Steel Pipe & Tube. The Pipe and Tube systems are designed to meet Industry Specifications such as API, ASTM, CSA, etc. Western's Systems have been installed throughout the world, with the company being recognized as an industry leader.
The Systems Division has also produced equipment for testing Specialty Bars and Railway Rail in both the Manufacturing and Field operations. The company recently completed an extensive R & D Project for small diameter/thin wall tubes, which are used extensively in the automotive industry.
Pit Gauges
Western's Pit Gauge Product Line was recently reintroduced to the market, with our original innovative designs and the addition of new Economy Models. Pit Gauges are used extensively by Corrosion Inspectors in the Oil/Gas, Petrochemical, and Steel Industries. Our Dial Indicators are available in both Metric and Imperial versions so different industries or different areas of the World can use them.
Our Dial Indicator is the only one of its type in the World and was developed specifically for Pit Measurement.
Oilfield Equipment Development
Alex Palynchuk, President of Western Instruments, was the original inventor and developer of Corod, which he took to commercial operation before leaving in 1974. Corod manufactures and Provides Field Services for Coil Sucker Rods used in the Artificial Lift (Pumping) of Oil from Oilwells, and has annual sales in excess of $100 Million. Corod was purchased in 1985 by General Electric for $15 Million, and is now owned by the Weatherford Group via a recent merger with Energy Ventures.
Approximately 5 years ago a development project was entered into with C-Tech to develop competitive services to Corod. C-tech has a License for the field servicing technology, which was developed and granted by the Palynchuk family. C-Tech now has successful field operations in competing with Corod.