The recently launched OmniScan X4 flaw detector is a versatile multitechnology inspection tool, equipping inspectors with the ability to perform a wide range of validation techniques—from basic ultrasonic testing (UT) and conventional phased array (PA) to advanced total focusing method (TFM) and phase coherence imaging (PCI).

Its intuitive scan plan and application presets simplify the setup and inspection process for users of all experience levels. However, no matter how user-friendly the system is, situations can arise that require support or consultation. This is where the OmniScan X4 Remote Collaboration Service (RCS) becomes an invaluable tool, helping to remove roadblocks and expedite inspections.

Tried and tested in the OmniScan X3, the RCS has proven its usefulness in numerous applications. Read this customer testimonial to discover some concrete examples from the rail industry.

In the bustling world of railway maintenance, innovation is key to ensuring safety and efficiency. In this interview, Jason Combs, a technician with extensive experience in ultrasonic testing (UT) for railway tank cars, shares insights into the transformative role of advanced technology in the inspection process.

As an integral part of Union Tank Car Company (UTLX), one of the major players in the railcar leasing, manufacturing and repair industry, Jason gives us an insider’s perspective on key challenges of tank car inspection and how technology from Evident, namely the Remote Collaboration Service (RCS), offers solutions that help ensure a robust and modern structural inspection program that supports the safety initiatives of the industry.

Incorporating the RCS into their processes has had a big impact on the way Jason and UTLX’s technicians interact and conduct tank car inspections. They leverage the functionalities of the RCS, an onboard Zoom-based communication app, in various ways to not only increase their work efficiency but also improve the safety of their inspection personnel.

UTLX’s Extensive Reach in Rail Repair

Jason begins by providing a glimpse into the scale of operations at UTLX, a company overseeing numerous railcar repair locations, “I work for a centralized Technical Services group, which provides technical program management, training, support, and regulatory oversight to our Marmon Rail companies. This group includes dozens of rail car facilities and approximately one-hundred field service/on-site locations across the North America. We are the largest rail car repair service provider in the industry.”

He emphasizes UTLX's commitment to maintaining railway tank cars in optimal condition to prevent safety or environmental hazards, “For a lot of these tank cars, the bottom of the tank car is often the most commonly inspected area using the ultrasonic method. So, we inspect that area after they've been in service for an established qualification interval. This is to reduce the risk of a failure of a tank car. We want to make sure as a company that whatever leaves our shops is leaving in a condition above what the regulations require.”

Jason then gives an overview of his role at UTLX, “I work for the Technical Services Group, and provide training for conventional ultrasonics, phased array, TOFD, and TFM. I hold an ASNT Level III, a PCN Level 2, and a PCN Level 3. I do the majority of the ultrasonic training for the technicians in-house. They almost exclusively learn on Evident equipment. They start out using the EPOCH™ 650 learning basic ultrasonic theory and conventional applications and they graduate up to advanced techniques utilizing the OmniScan device.”

He says that although some UTLX shops are currently equipped with OmniScan MX2 models, the goal is to get everyone using a configuration based on the OmniScan X3 flaw detector, “We're hoping to eventually upgrade all of our equipment to the OmniScan X3 and the AxSEAM™ or HMST- Flex scanners because of their versatility and collaborative capabilities. The 32:128 allows us greater flexibility to inspect thicker materials and to go through different types of coatings.”

OmniScan X3 flaw detector with the AxSEAM long seam scanner (left) and HSMT-Flex girth weld scanner (right)

Key Requirements for Tank Car Inspection Equipment

Both from an instructor’s and technician’s perspective, the OmniScan X3 flaw detector is Jason’s instrument of choice for UTLX’s inspection technicians, “The main things I look for in equipment is how easy it is to teach somebody to use it and how it flows from one screen to the next. At times when you're inside the tank car and you're trying to go through the instrument and make sure you have the right settings, you need the menus to flow in a nice, even way. It has to be so easy that it’s like muscle memory, and that just by pushing the button the next screen is going to have what you need to change. And if something’s wrong, you know which screen to go to correct it. It’s about the flow and the user friendliness of the machine.”

User-friendliness is not the only reason for his preference, Jason also points to the renowned OmniScan robustness, “We did try other equipment, but unfortunately, that equipment didn’t stand up to the extremes of our inspection conditions.”

A Tough Balancing Act: Improving Productivity While Maintaining Quality

Tank car inspections involve technicians entering a confined space. “We have a very robust safety policy about what must be completed before they can enter the tank car. When everything has been signed off on and approved from a safety standpoint, then they can conduct the work required.”

Reduction of confined space entries are a priority, “Our goal is to keep our personnel out of the tank cars as much as we can or limit the time that they are in there. The X3 RCS has in many instances kept the shops going, allowing us to troubleshoot issues, so we can avoid productivity losses. “

What Is the Remote Collaboration Service (RCS)?

The RCS is an application available on wireless-network-connected OmniScan flaw detectors (since MXU 5.9), offering an array of virtual communication and remote support tools. Once the RCS app is activated, users can collaborate with colleagues by sharing the instrument screen or enabling external control of the OmniScan unit while communicating in a videoconference call. Remote collaborators can offer guidance in real-time by watching what’s happening on the flaw detector’s screen and even make annotations to help point out issues or to help with analyzing indications. Download this pamphlet for more details on the Remote Collaboration Service.

4 Ways the RCS Has Assisted Jason and UTLX’s Tank Car Technicians

Jason elaborates on how the RCS has made his and UTLX technicians’ work easier and more efficient with these concrete examples:

1. Troubleshooting: “There was this shop that was having technical problems. So, the technician called me up, and I said OK, let’s use the remote collaboration. First, I suggested we upload the new software on the X3, so we got it hooked up to the Wi-Fi, and got a good signal. Then, I went through and helped him build a complete calibration remotely. This way, he could keep the shop moving. If we didn't have the RCS, we probably would have lost a whole shift’s worth of productivity.”
2. Remote training: “Last year, I went to France on vacation and a technician emailed me, and I was able to use remote collaboration while I was in France to help him set up his OmniScan X3 while he was in the U.S.”
3. Consulting with experts: “I have one guy, he was doing some manual phased array work, but he wanted me to watch when he was scanning to help him look at some things. So, we did it together, and we were able to verify what he saw was actually an indication. And he made a good call, so now he has more confidence.”
4. Getting technical support: “I have also had Evident’s technical service group help out a couple of my guys remotely with the RCS. It has really come in handy.”

Jason says that being able to see what is on an technician’s OmniScan screen from anywhere in the world is a huge improvement over the old way of doing things, “Imagine having a technician call you up on the phone and you're trying to walk him or her through the screens on the instrument blind, and trying to help them figure out why they can't get a signal or why they are not getting a response.” Enabling Jason to share his expertise and provide critical support in real time, the RCS has become an indispensable tool. By facilitating remote collaboration, it helps streamline UTLX’s tank car inspection processes, enhancing productivity and minimizing downtime.