TESTIA, an EADS company, has launched a new company in the city following a £1.4m investment, with support from the Welsh Government.

The company is aimed at meeting the future needs of the global aerospace industry by training a new generation of highly-skilled young engineers.

TESTIA Ltd, based at the EADS Newport campus at Celtic Springs Business Park, will create 60 new jobs over the next five years and is expected to train up to 1,400 students a year in six years. It will specialise in The students will achieve National Aerospace Board qualifications in Non Destructive Testing methods and processes, aimed at ensuring the consistent quality and integrity of aerospace industry materials, components and products (aircraft or spacecraft) during manufacture and operation worldwide.

In partnership with Caparo, a worldwide leader in the supply of NDT services and materials testing which will provide existing trained staff in support of the Newport operation, the company will also offer UK NDT Board approved apprenticeships for school leavers.

The scheme will comprise both on-site (classroom) and on-the-job (aerospace manufacturing or flight maintenance) training. This will ensure a correct entry point for those who wish to pursue a career as a professional NDT practitioner in Aerospace and create those resources to maintain our product quality levels in the future.

Wales First Minister Carwyn Jones launched TESTIA Ltd, the first UK facility to combine bespoke NDT training, research testing of new aerostructure composites, and expert aerospace NDT consultancy services for engineering and manufacturing companies.

The First Minister said: “I’m very pleased that, with the support of the Welsh Government, EADS has been able to further enhance its economic footprint in Wales. TESTIA’s state of the art facility will service all EADS companies worldwide, including Cassidian, one of our key anchor companies.

“TESTIA is another example of both our and EADS’ commitment to strengthening the Welsh economy. Not only will the company create around 60 new jobs over five years and train hundreds of people a year in specialist skills, it will also promote Wales as a great place for innovative. High-tech businesses to thrive.”

The new jobs will include trainers and hands-on inspectors as well as high level engineers, available as consultants, capable of expert scrutiny of aircraft and writing NDT processes for the industry.

Denis Gardin, head of EADS New Technology Ventures and President of TESTIA, said: "Against the background of increased use of composites in aerostructures, more stringent airframe inspection requirements and increasing numbers of aircraft in service, TESTIA provides a global solution in aerospace non destructive inspection, services and R&D.

"By opening a TESTIA company in the UK we are addressing a potentially serious problem in the global aerospace industry by replacing an ageing population of engineers with young, highly-skilled persons who will progress to fill those expert roles in the future. Aerospace NDT is the area with the most significant growth rate in the last 10 years and clearly defined future growth.”

Brian Hall, CEO of TESTIA Ltd, said: “From Newport we will cover the all the UK divisions of Airbus, Astrium and Eurocopter plus, of course, a very large aerospace supplier and operator community. From a state-of-the-art NDT training and research facility the complete range of services will be available to all EADS personnel, plus those companies which manufacture and support components into the aerospace industry and those who operate the products worldwide.

“We also appreciate the support given to Testia by the leading companies in NDT Inspections Products. Our Training School will feature courses using the latest equipment from our own EADS Innovation Works, GE, Olympus, Rohmann, SREM, Midas, Baugh & Weedon, Wardray, Phoenix and Sonatest. All these companies have actively contributed in the creation of the facility.

“In addition, TESTIA will provide apprenticeships, graduate training and internships for those wishing to pursue careers in aerospace NDT. Expert consultancy services will also be available to companies worldwide.”