What NDE Labs does

NDE Labs is a privately held commercial testing laboratory founded in 1973 and headquartered in Benbrook, Texas (Fort Worth area). The company provides non-destructive testing (NDT) and destructive testing services to customers in aerospace & defense, oil & gas, manufacturing & fabrication, and welding services. Its stated customer base spans over 2,000 companies served historically and 300+ active customers, including Boeing, Lockheed Martin, NASA, SpaceX, Raytheon, General Dynamics, Northroprop Grumman, L3Harris, Bell, Sikorsky, Gulfstream, Collins Aerospace, StandardAero, Spirit AeroSystems, Messier-Dowty, Triumph, and Parker Hannifin, supported by 150+ OEM approvals.

The company's technical capabilities span the full standard NDT toolkit (ultrasonic including PAUT and TOFD, radiographic up to 450 kV with film/CR/digital/CT, magnetic particle, liquid penetrant, eddy current including HFEC/LFEC/ECA, XRF, and visual/RVI), together with destructive and metallurgical services (mechanical testing up to 120,000 lbs, bend testing, Charpy impact, metallography, hydrotesting, composite analysis, and material failure analysis). Service delivery occurs through a fixed laboratory in Benbrook plus custom-built mobile field units that provide on-site NDT, 24/7 emergency response, FAA Part 145 certified Aircraft-on-Ground (AOG) support, and field quality assurance. Differentiated offerings include Level III consulting, specialized fixtures, bespoke procedures, automated inspection systems, and custom reporting. Certifications include Nadcap, ASNT Level III, FAA Part 145, NAS 410, AS9100D, ISO 9001:2015, NAVSEA MIL-STD-2132, and ITAR compliance.

NDE Labs operates a quote-based professional services model with custom pricing tied to test complexity, volume, turnaround, and whether work is performed in-lab or on-site; multi-year contracts are referenced for enterprise customers, and emergency/AOG services command premium pricing. GTM is enterprise field sales targeting aerospace, defense, oil & gas, and manufacturing buyers, with relationship-based selling, technical consultation, and certification-driven demand generation rather than broad digital marketing. Geographic scope is domestic (USA), with nationwide mobile dispatch via dedicated vehicles. Leadership consists of President/GM Bryan Lancon, with Ben Siebach listed as founder/owner.

Name

NDE Labs

Legal name

NDE Labs

Website

https://ndelabs.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

NDE Labs is a privately held, Nadcap- and FAA Part 145-certified commercial testing laboratory founded in 1973 in Benbrook, Texas, providing non-destructive and destructive inspection services to aerospace & defense, oil & gas, and manufacturing customers including Boeing, Lockheed Martin, NASA, and SpaceX.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Materials Testing Services

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (541380), Testing Laboratories and Services (54138)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) & Inspection Services (IMAIACAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

NDT/Inspection & Testing Services (Aviation) (IMABALAJ), Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) & Advanced Inspection (Phased Array, TOFD, Guided Wave) (EUAEAKAF)

Keywords

• Non-destructive testing
• Destructive testing
• Materials testing services
• Aerospace inspection services
• Field NDT services

Headquarters

HQ city

Mercedes

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Non-Destructive Testing Services: Comprehensive NDT services including ultrasonic, radiographic, magnetic particle, liquid penetrant, eddy current, XRF, and visual inspections. Revenue generated through per-project or per-component testing fees with custom pricing based on complexity, volume, and turnaround requirements.
2. Destructive Testing Services: Material testing services including mechanical testing, bend testing, metallurgical analysis, Charpy impact, metallography, hydrotesting, composite analysis, and material failure analysis. Billed per test type with pricing varying by specimen complexity and analysis requirements.
3. Field Services: On-site mobile testing, emergency response (24/7), aircraft on ground (AOG) support, and field quality assurance. Premium pricing for mobile/emergency services due to rapid deployment and specialized equipment requirements.
4. Customized Solutions: Level III consulting, specialized fixtures, bespoke procedures, automated systems, and custom reporting. Higher-margin professional services with pricing based on project complexity and development time.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

NDE Labs is a commercial testing laboratory that performs non-destructive testing (ultrasonic, radiographic, magnetic particle, liquid penetrant, eddy current, XRF, and visual inspections) and destructive testing (mechanical, bend, Charpy impact, metallography, hydrotesting, composite analysis, material failure analysis) for aerospace, defense, oil & gas, and manufacturing customers. The company also delivers mobile field services including 24/7 Aircraft on Ground (AOG) response and customized solutions such as Level III consulting, specialized fixtures, automated inspection systems, and bespoke procedures, with quote-based per-project or per-component pricing.

Product overview

NDE Labs is a provider of non-destructive and destructive testing services for aerospace, oil & gas, and manufacturing industries. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of testing services organized into four main categories: Non-Destructive Testing (including Ultrasonic, Radiographic, Magnetic Particle, Liquid Penetrant, Eddy Current, XRF Analysis, and Visual Inspections), Destructive Testing (including Mechanical, Bend, Metallurgical, Charpy Impact, Metallography, Hydrotesting, Composite Analysis, XRF/PMI, and Material Failure Analysis), Field Services (Mobile Units, Emergency Response, On-Site NDT, Field Quality Assurance, and Aircraft on Ground support), and Customized Solutions (Level III Consulting, Specialized Fixtures, Bespoke Procedures, Automated Systems, and Custom Reporting). The company operates from its facility in Benbrook, TX and has been serving customers since 1973.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ultrasonic Testing Advanced sound wave inspection for detecting surface and subsurface defects in materials using high-frequency sound waves; offers contact and immersion methods, automated scanning systems, PAUT and TOFD techniques, and precise depth information for defect characterization. Serves aerospace, defense, oil & gas, and manufacturing customers needing certified defect characterization without damaging components.
• Radiographic Testing X-ray and gamma-ray imaging for internal structure analysis, using field and in-house X-ray up to 450 kV, film radiography, computed radiography, digital radiography, and computed tomography (CT). Delivers internal defect imaging for welds, castings, and aerospace, defense, and industrial components.
• Magnetic Particle Testing Detection of surface and near-surface discontinuities in ferromagnetic materials using magnetization and fine magnetic particles; includes stationary and portable equipment options for both in-lab and on-site deployment.
• Liquid Penetrant Testing Surface defect detection in non-porous materials using fluorescent and visible dye penetrant methods; detects surface-breaking defects through a cleaning, application, removal, and inspection process.
• Eddy Current Testing Electromagnetic inspection for surface and near-surface flaws in conductive materials using alternating magnetic fields; includes HFEC, LFEC, and ECA capabilities for fracture-critical pins and bolts.
• X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) Analysis Rapid elemental composition analysis using X-ray fluorescence for positive material identification (PMI), alloy verification, and coating thickness measurement on metallic components.
• Visual Inspections Direct visual examination and remote visual inspection (RVI) using borescopes, videoscopes, and other optical instruments for accessible and hard-to-reach areas inside components.
• Mechanical Testing Comprehensive mechanical property evaluation including tensile, shear, hardness, and microhardness testing on universal testing machines up to 120,000 lbs capacity for material qualification and production quality control.
• Bend Testing Material ductility and formability evaluation through three-point, four-point, and guided bend tests per ASTM and API specifications for welding procedure qualification.
• Metallurgical Analysis Expert welding inspection and metallurgical evaluation by AWS CWI certified inspectors including weld quality verification, material composition verification, and heat-affected zone evaluation.
• Charpy Impact Testing Material toughness evaluation measuring absorbed energy during fracture to determine ductile-to-brittle transition temperatures using standard V-notch specimens.
• Metallography Microscopic examination of prepared metal samples for grain size determination, inclusion content rating, phase identification, and case depth measurement.
• Hydrotesting Pressure testing of vessels, pipelines, and components using pressurized water at typically 1.5 times design pressure to verify structural integrity.
• Composite Analysis Comprehensive evaluation of fiber-reinforced materials including carbon, glass, and aramid composites with fiber/resin ratio determination and porosity quantification.
• Material Failure Analysis Root cause investigation of component failures using fractography, metallography, chemical analysis, and mechanical testing to identify failure modes.
• Mobile Units (On-Site NDT) Fully-equipped testing facilities delivered to customer locations in custom-built testing vehicles with portable power generation and field-rugged NDT instruments, enabling in-situ inspection of large or non-transportable assets.
• Emergency Response (24/7) 24/7 urgent testing support with rapid deployment kits, emergency communication systems, and experienced teams for production line failures and critical equipment verification.
• Aircraft on Ground (AOG) Support Immediate response to grounded aircraft with FAA Part 145 certified teams providing 24/7 mobile testing capabilities to minimize aircraft downtime at airports nationwide.
• Field Quality Assurance Maintaining laboratory-grade standards for on-site testing with field calibration standards, mobile data management systems, and documentation equipment.
• Level III Consulting Expert guidance from certified NDT Level III professionals including procedure development, personnel qualification, and quality system development for customer NDT programs.
• Specialized Fixtures Custom-designed inspection setups for complex geometries using CAD/CAM design systems, CNC machining, and 3D printing for prototyping.
• Bespoke Procedures Customized testing methodologies for novel materials and unique applications including specialized acceptance criteria and problem-solving methodologies.
• Automated Inspection Systems High-volume inspection solutions with custom automation including robotic inspection cells, automated scanning, and production line integration.
• Custom Reporting Tailored documentation and analysis reports with client-specific formatting, digital reporting systems, and trend analysis capabilities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Supporting over 2,000 companies since 1973
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• SGS: World's largest TIC company with NDT, materials testing, and inspection services across aerospace, energy, and manufacturing. Comparable service categories but vastly broader geographic and end-market footprint than NDE Labs.
• Element Materials Technology: Global testing, inspection, and certification (TIC) platform with NDT, mechanical, metallurgical, and failure analysis capabilities serving aerospace, energy, and industrial markets. Larger scale and broader lab network, but overlapping service lines with NDE Labs.
• Intertek: Global TIC provider offering NDT, materials testing, and certification across aerospace, energy, and manufacturing. Direct overlap on radiographic, ultrasonic, and metallurgical testing, though Intertek operates a much broader portfolio and global footprint.
• Bureau Veritas: International TIC group with aerospace, oil & gas, and industrial NDT service lines. Overlaps with NDE Labs on inspection, material testing, and certification services, though Bureau Veritas operates at significantly larger scale and global reach.
• Applus+ (Applus Services): Global testing, inspection, and certification firm with strong NDT capabilities in energy, aerospace, and industrial sectors. Overlaps with NDE Labs on radiographic, ultrasonic, and field inspection services, though at much larger scale.

Direct peers

• TEAM Inc. Provides NDT, inspection, and asset integrity services to energy, aerospace, and industrial customers. Comparable in mobile/field inspection delivery and customer verticals (refineries, pipelines, aerospace) to NDE Labs.
• Laboratory Testing Inc. (LTI): U.S. commercial testing lab offering NDT (ultrasonic, radiographic, magnetic particle, penetrant, eddy current), mechanical testing, metallography, and failure analysis. Similar mid-sized, Nadcap-accredited commercial test lab profile to NDE Labs.
• Mistras Group: Largest pure-play U.S. NDT/NDE services provider serving aerospace, defense, oil & gas, and power with ultrasonic, radiographic, eddy current, and advanced inspection methods. Directly comparable in service mix, certification stack (Nadcap, ASNT), and aerospace/defense customer profile to NDE Labs.
• Acuren: North American NDT and inspection provider serving oil & gas, power, petrochemical, and aerospace with ultrasonic, radiographic, magnetic particle, and penetrant methods. Similar service breadth and certification-driven customer base as NDE Labs.

Regional players

• NDT Global (a Tuboscope brand): Specializes in inline pipeline NDT inspection using ultrasonic and electromagnetic acoustic technologies. Comparable in advanced NDT methods and energy infrastructure focus, though narrower in vertical and not directly competing for aerospace/defense testing volumes.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about NDE Labs