Gopal Balakrishnan, Founder, A-Star Testing & Inspection

India, as a developing nation is experiencing significant growth across various industries, leading to the diverse and essential application of NonDestructive Testing (NDT) for ensuring safety, quality, and reliability. NDT techniques are critical in sectors where component failures could result in considerable hazards or economic losses, including transportation, manufacturing, and infrastructure.

These applications of NDT are commonly employed for in-service inspection, condition monitoring, and the assessment of physical properties without compromising the integrity of the inspected object. According to projections, the Indian Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) Services market is anticipated to reach approximately $1,117.0 million by 2025. This estimation is derived from the global market outlook, indicating a substantial increase from the $614.1 million valuation in 2022. Furthermore, the global NDT market is expected to exhibit a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 8.9 percent.

A-Star Testing & Inspection (S) Pte Ltd, established on March 31, 2008, is a leading provider of Non-Destructive Testing (NDT), Advanced NDT, and third-party inspection services. Headquartered in Singapore, the company has expanded its presence across Asia and beyond, with regional offices in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar, India, Bangladesh, UAE, Ghana, Brazil and beyond. A-Star Testing & Inspection offers a comprehensive range of services, including hull thickness surveys, rope access inspections, underwater inspections, heat treatment, and commissioning services, catering to industries such as oil and gas, offshore, petrochemicals, power plants, construction, and shipyards.

A-Star Testing & Inspection is aligning its capabilities with the dynamic needs of the oil and gas industry through advanced technologies, global reach, a skilled workforce, and strong safety credentials

Establishment Motivation

Founded by Gopal Balakrishnan, A-Star Testing & Inspection was established to address the growing demand for high-quality, reliable, and innovative NDT services in the region. With a commitment to excellence and a customer-centric approach, A-Star Testing & Inspection has positioned itself as a trusted partner in ensuring the safety and integrity of critical infrastructure across various industries. 

The company endeavors to attain and sustain operational excellence through four core imperatives such as providing astute consumer value, delivering excellent customer service, fostering employee talent, and achieving consistent, sustainable growth. By building value for its customers by providing leading-edge techniques and tailor-made services to meet specific and ever-changing needs, it will become the ‘partner of choice’.

The Comprehensive Service Capabilities

A-Star Testing & Inspection distinguishes itself from other NDT service providers through its commitment to technological innovation and comprehensive service offerings. They include Cutting-edge Advanced NDT Technologies, Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing (PAUT), Time of Flight Diffraction (TOFD), Alternating Current Field Measurement (ACFM), Computed Radiography (CR) and Digital Radiography, Scar Radiography Testing, Pulsed Eddy Current Testing (PEC), Acoustic Emission Testing (AET).  

A-Star Testing & Inspection offers a wide range of services beyond traditional NDT, such as Hull Thickness Surveys, Rope Access & Underwater Inspections, Heat Treatment Services, and Third-Party Inspection & Certification. These capabilities are supported by a team of over 300 certified professionals, ensuring high-quality service delivery. 

The Focus on Quality

A-Star Testing & Inspection’s adherence to international standards is evident through its various accreditations including ISO 17025 Accreditation, DNV Approval, and IRATA Certification. It is an ISO 9001-2015 Certified Company, Approved UTM company by ABS, DNV, Lloyd’s, RINA, NKK, BKI, BV, KR, IRS, IRATA Approved Company for Rope Access / NDT Services; DNV Approved NDE Company for UT, RT, MT & PT, DNV Approved NDE Company for PAUT Carbon Steel piping under ASME B31.3 C181, BIZSAFE Star Certified Company, ISO17025 SINGLAS Approved NDE Company for PAUT, ToFD, Computed Radiography, ET, UT, RT, MT, PT, VT, DNV Approved NDE Company for PAUT Carbon Steel Plates under DNV Notes 7, DROPS Member, and DNV approval for Pipe line Automated Ultrasonic Testing. Precisely, it sets itself apart through its integration of advanced NDT technologies, comprehensive service offerings, and commitment to quality and safety, making it a leader in the inspection industry.

The company’s comprehensive suite of services cater to a wide array of industries including oil & gas, marine, offshore, petrochemicals, shipbuilding, power generation, and construction. Its offerings are designed to address both routine maintenance and highly specialized integrity assessments, ensuring safety, compliance, and operational efficiency. Core services offered by A-Star Testing & Inspection include Conventional NonDestructive Testing (NDT), Advanced NDT Techniques, Heat Treatment Services, Special Inspection Services, Third-Party Inspection and Certification, Asset Integrity Management, Specialised NDT Services, Marine Inspection Services, and Rope Access Works.

Industry Positioning

A-Star Testing & Inspection is aligning its capabilities with the dynamic needs of the oil and gas industry through advanced technologies, global reach, a skilled workforce, and strong safety credentials. These efforts ensure they are not only keeping pace with industry demand, but actively shaping the future of non-destructive testing in high-risk environments.

A-Star Testing & Inspection takes a proactive and multi-pronged approach to ensure its inspection technologies and methods remain at the forefront of the non-destructive testing (NDT) industry. It stays at the forefront of the NDT industry by combining advanced technology investments, continuous personnel development, strategic partnerships, and digital innovation. Their approach is not just reactive to change, it’s designed to lead transformation in the inspection field.

The Expert Teams backing Quality Work

A-Star Testing & Inspection’s strength lies in its highly skilled workforce of over 400 certified professionals, and the company has developed a rigorous and systematic approach to recruiting, training, and certifying its technical staff. This ensures consistent service quality across all operations, regardless of project size or location.

With operations in countries like Singapore, Malaysia, India, Ghana, and Brazil, A-Star Testing & Inspection cross-trains employees in multi-disciplinary and multiregion project types, and maintains a flexible workforce model, enabling fast global mobilization without compromising standards. It also fosters a learningoriented culture by encouraging field personnel to report technical challenges and propose process improvements, and hosting knowledge-sharing sessions and case study reviews to learn from high-stakes projects.

In high-risk environments like offshore rigs or underwater inspections, A-Star Testing & Inspection ensures complete compliance with international safety regulations through certifications, proactive risk management, highly trained personnel, and cuttingedge remote technologies. This comprehensive safety infrastructure not only protects lives but also reinforces A-Star Testing & Inspection’s reputation as a reliable, compliant, and forward-looking inspection partner.

A-Star ensures full compliance with DNV, ABS, and other classification societies by integrating certified personnel, ISO-based quality management, class-approved procedures and documentation, and proven audit and traceability systems. These practices allow The company to reliably support classification and re-certification of marine, offshore, and industrial assets, delivering trust and assurance to clients and class authorities alike.

In complex marine and offshore environments, A-Star Testing & Inspection ensures seamless communication through dedicated points of contact, real-time digital tools, on-site technical support, and structured documentation & transparent reporting. This integrated communication strategy not only reduces downtime and misalignment but also builds trust and long-term partnerships with clients worldwide.

Growth & Future Roadmap

A-Star Testing & Inspection strives to surpass the competition in quality and innovation, building longlasting relationships that foster sustainable growth. For its excellence, it has notably received many awards from associations and clients such as Promising Entrepreneur Award 2014, Special Award from Shell Bukom, HSE Performance Award from Sembcorp Marine/ TotalEnergies, and Safety Performance for an Injury Free ExxonMobil for consecutive years. Additionally, it has also done its best to help the community through regular contributions to NDTSS, SINDA for children’s education fund, SICCI plant a tree donation, SICCI Charity Golf.

In February 2022, A-Star Testing & Inspection merged with Phenna Group, a UK-based organization specializing in Testing, Inspection, Certification, and Compliance (TICC) services. This merger has further strengthened A-Star Testing & Inspection’s capabilities and expanded its international footprint, enabling the company to continue its growth and deliver exceptional services to clients worldwide.

The merger with Phenna Group has enabled A-Star Testing & Inspection to tap into global expertise and resources, further boosting its innovation capabilities and enabling faster scaling in emerging markets. Phenna Group’s global network provides access to broader technical capabilities and shared best practices, ensuring A-Star Testing & Inspection remains aligned with the latest industry developments and international compliance requirements.

The future roadmap for A-Star Testing & Inspection is focused on growth, technological advancements, and global expansion, with a clear vision to remain at the forefront of the Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) industry. Some key directions and exciting developments on the horizon include expanding into new markets and industries, pioneering new inspection technologies such as robotics, AI & autonomous systems, enhancing sustainability efforts, and developing a robust digital platform for real-time asset management.