SGS Group, a global leader and innovator in inspection, verification, testing and certification services, is currently providing independent inspection and quality control of the materials used in the construction of a new subway extension of Line 9 of the metro system n Madrid, Spain.

In January 2010, SGS started with its inspection services and quality control encompassing more than 400 types of material tests. As an independent third party, SGS will be testing almost every kind of construction material involved in this subway extension project, including cement, concrete works, bitumen and rails in order to ensure the quality of the construction works.

The material tests will be performed on-site as well as carried out in SGS’s civil construction laboratory in Madrid.

The inspection work by SGS will be completed by the end of October 2011.

In more than 1,000 laboratories around the world, SGS performs tests to verify material characteristics such as tensile strength, compressive strength, bending strength, aging characters or chemical composition. Services may include construction materials testing, coating inspection, failure analyses and prevention, mechanical testing, metal testing and polymer testing.

Industrial Services is one of the core business lines of the SGS Group, carrying out not only material testing services but helping clients from the construction industry to reduce risk, prevent construction errors, control budgets and effectively keep the construction project within time deadlines.

Other projects
Last June SGS China was awarded a contract to check the integrity of 100 sets of the casting frames of metro cars, using radiographic testing, a conventional NDT (non-destructive testing) method.

SGS opened two test sites in Qingdao, China, and organised a team of NDT experts within two days. Four SGS NDT experts and fourteen SGS NDT inspectors worked around the clock to provide Non-Destructive Testing of the casting frames in the shortest possible time.

In order to detect any imperfections and failures in the casting frames and ensure the top quality, SGS applied radiographic testing. During the testing, radioactive X-rays and gamma-rays were directed at the casting frames of metro cars, while a negative film was positioned behind. The film was then processed and showed an image displayed as a sequence of grey shades between black and white. After the development of the film, SGS experts analysed thickness and density differences to detect material imperfections and discontinuities.

SGS conducted NDT tests on 100 sets of casting frames and evaluated over 6,000 pieces of film within six weeks.

The company was awarded a contract to provide independent inspection of 5,500 welds of the newly installed 60 km gas pipeline for Septa Energy in Nigeria. 

The SGS work will go on until the end of December.

In Brazil, SGS is inspecting the structures of the wagon facility and ship loading terminal following a contract it won from a leading mining and logistics company.

It is applying non-destructive tests including dye penetrant examination, magnetic particle testing and ultrasonic testing. Besides, in order to assure the quality throughout the project, SGS will check the welding for any discontinuities and failures in the material.