Omega Research

What Omega Research does

Omega Research is a specialized aerospace testing laboratory headquartered in Decatur, Texas, founded in 1983 by metallurgical engineer Craig Willan after a fatal hydrogen embrittlement investigation at Bell Helicopter. The company's core offering is ASTM F519 hydrogen embrittlement testing — sustained-load testing of plated or coated high-strength steel specimens — alongside a comprehensive suite of related process-control tests including salt spray corrosion (ASTM B117), microhardness, adhesion, Taber abrasion, metallographic preparation, porosity, coating thickness/weight, intergranular attack, and impact testing. Its differentiated technology stack includes the patented Cryo-Met methodology (US Patent 10634593), proprietary load frames with ultra-low bending strains, an accelerated Step Load Testing service that delivers results in 6 hours versus the 200-hour standard, and a Variable Elimination Testing (V.E.T.) methodology for root-cause investigation of recurring failures.

The firm operates under ISO/IEC 17025:2017 (A2LA) and NADCAP accreditations and holds process-specific prime approvals from 12+ aerospace OEMs including Boeing, Bell, GE Aviation, Gulfstream, Pratt & Whitney, Rolls-Royce, Sikorsky, Bombardier, Curtiss-Wright, Parker, Messier/Safran, and Standard Aero. Revenue is generated on a transactional, per-test-set basis with quote-based pricing, plus expedited and investigative/R&D support testing (the latter priced at approximately 50% of standard test cost). The go-to-market is sales-led, driven by direct phone/email outreach, industry events, and content marketing, with a self-service intake portal planned for Q3 release. Customers are primarily aerospace plating and metal finishing companies serving OEM supply chains, with secondary exposure to industrial plating operations.

Since 2017, Omega Research has operated as a subsidiary of Goff Aerospace Holdings, with founder Craig Willan continuing as Chairman Emeritus and advisor. Day-to-day leadership is held by General Manager Kyle Smith, supported by quality, operations, R&D, sales/marketing, and quality control functions across a roughly 10-15 person team. Long customer tenures (15-24 years cited in public testimonials) and active participation in ASTM/AMS standards committees indicate a stable, expertise-driven business positioned at the regulatory bottleneck of aerospace plating validation.

Name

Omega Research

Legal name

Omega Research Inc.

Website

https://omegaresearchinc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Omega Research is a NADCAP- and ISO 17025-accredited aerospace testing laboratory in Decatur, Texas, specializing in ASTM F519 hydrogen embrittlement testing and related process-control tests for plating suppliers serving major aerospace primes including Boeing, GE, Rolls-Royce, and Pratt & Whitney.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aerospace Testing Laboratory Services

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

NDT/Inspection & Testing Services (Aviation) (IMABALAJ)

Keywords

• Hydrogen embrittlement testing
• Aerospace plating testing
• Salt spray corrosion testing
• Metallographic analysis services
• NADCAP accredited laboratory

Headquarters

HQ city

Decatur

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, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Hydrogen Embrittlement Testing (ASTM F519): Core testing service involving 200-hour sustained load testing of plated/coated high-strength steel samples. Revenue generated per test set with standard and expedited options. Provides formal accredited pass/fail certificates.
2. Salt Spray Corrosion Testing (ASTM B117): Corrosion resistance testing for aerospace coatings, typically running 168-336+ hours depending on specification requirements. Charged per test exposure cycle.
3. Additional Testing Services: Microhardness, adhesion, heat resistance, metallographic prep, porosity, Taber abrasion, impact, solderability, electrical resistivity, etch inspection, coating thickness, coating weight, wet tape adhesion, intergranular attack, notch evaluation, and end grain pitting testing services.
4. Investigative & R&D Support Testing: Customized diagnostic testing outside standard sample set requirements, priced at approximately 50% of standard test cost. Produces Information Only reports rather than accredited certificates. Supports root cause analysis and process improvement.
5. Expedited Testing Services: Priority scheduling and accelerated turnaround for urgent customer needs across all testing services. Additional fees for expedited processing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Omega Research is an ISO 17025:2017 and NADCAP accredited aerospace testing laboratory providing hydrogen embrittlement testing (ASTM F519), salt spray corrosion testing (ASTM B117), and a comprehensive suite of metallographic, mechanical, and coating tests for the aerospace metal finishing and plating industry. The company holds 12 prime OEM approvals (Boeing, Bell, GE, Gulfstream, Pratt & Whitney, Rolls-Royce, Sikorsky, and others) and offers proprietary accelerated testing methodologies such as Cryo-Met and Step Load Testing that deliver results significantly faster than standard protocols.

Product overview

Omega Research provides a comprehensive suite of aerospace testing laboratory services for the metal finishing and plating industry. The core offerings center on hydrogen embrittlement testing per ASTM F519 (including standard 200-hour sustained load testing and accelerated Step Load Testing), combined with a full range of mechanical and corrosion testing services including salt spray (ASTM B117), microhardness, adhesion, taber abrasion, coating thickness/weight, porosity, and metallographic analysis. Supporting these core testing services are specialized offerings including Investigative & R&D Support Testing for root cause analysis, Variable Elimination Testing (V.E.T.) for process variable isolation, and white paper research publications. The company operates as an ISO 17025:2017 and NADCAP accredited laboratory serving major aerospace primes including Boeing, Bell, GE, Gulfstream, Pratt & Whitney, Rolls Royce, Sikorsky, and Standard Aero.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hydrogen Embrittlement Testing (ASTM F519) Sustained-load testing service that evaluates hydrogen embrittlement risk in plated or coated high-strength steel components, involving 200-hour test duration with standardized notched bar specimens per ASTM F519. For aerospace plating companies and OEMs.
• Salt Spray Corrosion Testing (ASTM B117) Accelerated corrosion testing service that exposes plated components to controlled salt fog environments to evaluate coating performance and predict service life, typically running 168-336+ hours. For aerospace plating companies.
• Microhardness Testing Hardness measurement service using ASTM E384, ASTM B578, ASTM E92, ASTM E140, and ARP 1820 standards to evaluate material hardness properties. For aerospace plating customers.
• Adhesion Testing (ASTM B571) Coating adhesion evaluation service to assess bond strength between plating/coating and substrate materials per ASTM B571.
• Heat Resistance Testing Testing service per AMS 2403 and AMS 2424 to evaluate coating performance under elevated temperature conditions.
• Metallographic Prep (ASTM E3) Sample preparation service for metallurgical examination, including sectioning, mounting, grinding, polishing, and etching to reveal microstructure per ASTM E3.
• Porosity Testing Coating integrity testing per AMS-QQ-C-320, AMS 2460, AMS 2438, ASTM B733, AMS-P-81728, and MIS 41177 to detect microscopic voids in plated coatings.
• Taber Abrasion Testing Wear resistance testing per ASTM D4060, FED-STD-141 (Method 6192.1), and ASTM B1023 to evaluate coating durability under abrasive wear conditions.
• Impact Testing Mechanical testing per ASTM D2794 and DMS 1786 to assess coating resistance to sudden impact loads.
• Solderability Testing Testing service per ASTM B678 and QQ-S-365 to evaluate coating ability to accept solder.
• Electrical Resistivity Testing Electrical testing per MIL-C-81706, MIL-DTL-5541, MIL-DTL-81706, and AMS 2477 to measure coating conductivity characteristics.
• Etch Inspection (Nital Etch) Metallurgical examination per AMS 2469 using nital etching to reveal surface defects and grain structure in steel components.
• Coating Thickness Testing Microthickness measurement service per ASTM B487 to determine coating layer thickness on plated components.
• Coating Weight Testing Gravimetric analysis per ASTM B137, MIL-A-8625, MIL-PRF-8625, and MIL-DTL-16232 to determine total coating mass per unit area.
• Wet Tape Adhesion Testing Adhesion evaluation per ASTM D3359, FED-STD-141 (Method 6301.3), MIL-DTL-5541, and MIL-PRF-23377 using tape pull-off methods.
• Intergranular Attack Testing (ASTM F2111) Testing to evaluate susceptibility of materials to intergranular corrosion and end grain pitting per ASTM F2111.
• Investigative & R&D Support Testing Customized diagnostic testing service using accredited equipment outside standard sample set requirements to support root cause analysis and process improvement; priced at approximately 50% of standard test cost, producing Information Only reports rather than accredited certificates.
• ASTM F519 Step Load Testing Accelerated hydrogen embrittlement validation service that incrementally loads remaining samples after a failed 200-hour sustained load test, delivering results in 6 hours by incrementally increasing load by 5% of Notch Fracture Strength every 2 hours up to 90% NFS.
• Variable Elimination Testing (V.E.T.) Systematic investigative methodology that isolates process variables to identify root causes of recurring hydrogen embrittlement test failures through customized investigative testing using accredited equipment and ASTM-compliant processes, providing Information Only reports supporting customer investigations and corrective actions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Step Load Testing success rate of 64% (234 out of 365 sets passed), allowing customers to avoid costly retests and production delays
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Goff Aerospace Holdingsparent companyOthersOmega Research was acquired by Goff Aerospace Holdings in 2017 after 33 years of pioneering work by Craig Willan. Craig Willan continues to serve as Chairman Emeritus and advisor to both Omega Research and Goff Aerospace. This acquisition provided corporate backing while allowing Omega to maintain its independent operations and expertise.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Element Materials Technology: One of the largest global testing, inspection, and certification firms serving aerospace, with broad mechanical and materials testing capabilities. Directly comparable to Omega on hydrogen embrittlement and metallurgical work but offers a much wider test menu and global footprint.
• Exova (now part of SGS): Was an independent aerospace-focused materials testing specialist before acquisition by SGS; historically a direct competitor to Omega in aerospace plating and hydrogen embrittlement testing, particularly in Europe and the UK.
• Intertek: Global TIC provider with extensive aerospace materials and product testing labs, including corrosion and mechanical testing services. Overlaps with Omega on aerospace plating and process-control testing but competes primarily as a full-service international lab.
• Bodycote Testing: Provides materials testing and heat treatment services to aerospace and industrial markets. Overlaps with Omega on metallurgical and mechanical testing for aerospace plating applications.
• SGS (Industrial / Testing Services): Global testing and certification giant offering aerospace materials testing, corrosion, and plating-related services. Comparable to Omega on corrosion and metallurgical testing but at materially larger scale and broader scope.

Direct peers

• Westmoreland Mechanical Testing & Research: Independent mechanical and metallurgical testing laboratory serving aerospace, defense, and industrial clients with mechanical, fatigue, and hydrogen embrittlement testing. Direct peer to Omega in scope of testing and customer mix.
• IMR Test Labs: Independent materials testing laboratory serving aerospace, medical, and industrial customers with mechanical, metallurgical, and failure analysis capabilities. Closely comparable to Omega as a US-based specialty materials testing lab with aerospace plating exposure.
• Laboratory Testing Inc. NADCAP-accredited independent testing lab offering mechanical, metallurgical, and chemical analysis services to aerospace and industrial markets. Closely comparable to Omega as a specialty US testing lab with overlapping aerospace plating customers.
• NSL Analytical Services: Independent analytical chemistry and mechanical testing laboratory serving aerospace and industrial manufacturers. Comparable to Omega on metallurgical and plating-related testing, though NSL is more chemistry-focused.
• Metal Samples Company: Provider of corrosion testing equipment and laboratory services (a division of Alabama Specialty Products) focused on ASTM G-series and B117 corrosion monitoring. Directly comparable to Omega on corrosion and plating-process testing for industrial and aerospace clients.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/omegaresearchUS
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCRDuG-8EIkCwHiVuGsYHNaw/community
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/omega-research-inc-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Omega Research