Conference Non-Destructive Testing in the Railway Industry

On 7 May 2025, Kyiv hosted a technical Conference on Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) in the railway sector, organized by the OKOndt GROUP. The event brought together experts from Ukrainian railway enterprises, the Kyiv Metro, and the E. O. Paton Electric Welding Institute of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (NAS of Ukraine). During the Conference, participants learned about the OKOndt GROUP’s latest advancements in Ultrasonic (UT) and Eddy Current (ET) rail testing technologies.

Tetiana Lutsenko, the CEO of OKOndt GROUP, officially opened the Conference and highlighted the organization’s achievements and completed projects on the Ukrainian railway network and internationally.

Tetiana Lutsenko, CEO of OKOndt GROUP, speaking at the Conference Non-Destructive Testing in the Railway Industry - 2025 in Kyiv

Speech by Tetiana Lutsenko, CEO of OKOndt GROUP

Participants of the Conference on Non-Destructive Testing in the Railway Industry

Participants of the Conference Non-Destructive Testing in the Railway Industry – 2025 in Kyiv

Presentations on State-of-the-Art Rail NDT Solutions

Specialists from OKOndt GROUP enterprises delivered technical presentations at the Conference, focusing on three key methods of rail non-destructive testing (NDT): Ultrasonic Testing (UT), Eddy Current Testing (ET), and Track Geometry (TG) Inspection. Each method was illustrated through the practical application of the OKOndt GROUP’s advanced testing Systems.

The Conference also featured NDT equipment for diagnosing rolling stock components using the following methods: Magnetic Particle Testing (MPT), Acoustic Emission (AE), Electromagnetic Acoustic (EMA), Ultrasonic (UT), and Eddy Current Testing (ET).

Denis Halanenko, Ph.D., leading technologist at the Private Joint-Stock Company Ukrainian Institute for Non-Destructive Testing (PJSC Ukrainian Institute for NDT) and level III specialist in Ultrasonic (UT) and Acoustic (AT) Testing, presented a three-level model of non-destructive rail testing aimed at reducing the risk of railway accidents.
Volodymyr Mishchenko, the head of the NDT department at Ultracon-Service LLC and a level III UT specialist, spoke about the OKOSCAN 73HS/MS High-Speed Rail Testing System. This System has been implemented on railway networks in Turkey, India, and the United States, as well as on metro networks in Singapore and Brazil, and other countries.
Anastasiia Pareniuk, a technologist at Promprylad LLC, presented the structure of the OKOSCAN 73HS UT+TG System, which is designed for high-speed ultrasonic rail testing combined with geometry control.
Oleksandr Ivko, a technologist at Promprylad LLC, discussed the features and advantages of the Ultrasonic Flaw Detectors — the Double Rail UDS2-73 and the Single Rail UDS2-77.
Illya Kyrylenko, a technologist at Ultracon-Service LLC, presented to the Сonference participants the key characteristics and benefits of the Eddy Current Flaw Detectors: The Double Rail ETS2-73 and the Single Rail ETS2-77.

Denis Halanenko presenting his report at the Conference Non-Destructive Testing in the Railway Industry – 2025 in Kyiv

Denis Halanenko delivering his report

Volodymyr Mishchenko presenting a report at the Non-Destructive Testing in the Railway Industry – 2025 Conference in Kyiv

Volodymyr Mishchenko discusses the challenges of implementing the OKOSCAN 73HS High-Speed Track Testing System in various countries

Anastasiia Pareniuk speaking at the Non-Destructive Testing in the Railway Industry – 2025 Conference in Kyiv

Anastasiia Pareniuk introduces the Conference participants to the features of the OKOSCAN 73HS UT+TG System and the design options for the rail-bound inspection vehicle body

Oleksandr Ivko Speaking at the Non-Destructive Testing in the Railway Industry – 2025 Conference in Kyiv

Oleksandr Ivko presents Flaw Detectors for Ultrasonic Rail Testing

Illya Kyrylenko Speaking at the Non-Destructive Testing in the Railway Industry – 2025 Conference in Kyiv

Illya Kyrylenko gives a report on Eddy Current Rail Flaw Detectors

Effective NDT Relies on Staff Training and Competence

In his speech, Yurii Posypaiko, leading engineer at the E.O. Paton Electric Welding Institute of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, emphasized the importance of training NDT specialists exclusively at centers equipped with comprehensive sets of training and certification samples. According to Posypaiko, these facilities include the Ultracon-Service Training Center and the Personnel Certification Body for NDT, which operates under the PJSC Ukrainian Institute for NDT.

Yurii Posypaiko speaking at the Non-Destructive Testing in the Railway Industry – 2025 Conference in Kyiv

Speech by Yurii Posypaiko

Conference Results and Appreciation from the Organizers

In his speech, Oleksandr Zelnichenko, executive director of the Automatic Welding Journal and executive editor of Technical Diagnostics and Non-Destructive Testing, expressed his gratitude to the organizers and emphasized the importance of professional gatherings for advancing the non-destructive testing industry.

The Conference Organizing Committee expressed gratitude to all the participants and called for the continuation of regularly holding such events.

OKOndt GROUP Equipment Exhibition

As part of the conference, OKOndt GROUP enterprises — Ultracon-Service LLC and Promprylad LLC — held an exhibition of rail non-destructive testing equipment. Participants discussed new solutions for non-destructive testing of rolling stock, railways, and metro rails.