Inspection Services

Matco Services' certified team of inspectors can perform non-destructive testing on project sites to evaluate the integrity of a variety of structures including electric transmission and distribution poles and towers, wind generation and telecommunication towers; concrete seawalls, platforms and parking garages; pipelines and oil refinery facilities; cooling systems; plumbing systems including copper pipelines and water mains;  bridges and various other structure types at the above and below grade level. Our team has performed such analyses nation and worldwide, and will travel to your project site at a moment's notice for emergency evaluations. 

It is often the case that on-site inspections require limited testing in order to determine the underlying cause of degradation or failure, such as stray current corrosion testing or holiday testing, however it also the case where there may be a combination of underlying factors that are involved that have had a deleterious effect on the condition of a given structure that must be identified as a whole in order to safe gaurd the safety and reliability of the structure and to limit future potential risk. In the above picture (middle), it was found there were several underlying causes of damage to the transmission pole structure that required identification and methods undertaken to resolve the advanced form of corrosion observed including repair of the internal and external corrosion damage and a retrofit to the foundation of the concrete by implementing a drainage well.  Where applicable, rankings are used to describe the condition of structures at both the above and below grade.  These rankings enable the extent, location, degree and nature of corrosion damage or corrosion breakthrough to be applied for prioritization purposes (repair, inspection frequency, maintenance, monitoring, budgeting).    

Among the most often performed inspections are those where there is immediate need such as a bridge collapse, a wind generation tower that may have been damaged during transport, or in order to perform a condition assessment of a downed transmissions structure due to wind damage or fatigue.   Site inspections of concrete structures typically involve determining if the steel member reinforcements have suffered corrosion and to what degree the damage is.  A well known major airline also relies heavily on Matco Services to ensure the safety and reliability of their aircraft.  A recent incident, required emergency inspections of jack screws on DC9 and MD 80 aircrafts that we were able to respond to at a moment's notice. Additional examples of the site work performed in recent years includes the following listing of structures that were inspected and evaluated in order to determine the current level of condition and to ensure the safety and reliability of these assessed structures.  

We have even determined whether coffee spilled by pilots into the vents of various electronic modules was the cause of corrosion of printed circuit boards in the cockpits of commercial aircraft!

On-site investigation and reviewing operating conditions and maintenance records may be essential to determine the most likely sequence of events in a failure.

Our certified team of inspectors can perform non-destructive testing on project sites to evaluate the integrity of large structures. Our team has performed such analyses nation and worldwide, and will travel to your project site at a moment's notice for emergency evaluations. Such large structure evaluations have included off-shore oil platforms, wind power generation towers, concrete domes and stadiums, large underground cooling systems, and large elevated water towers. Our projects have taken us from Aloha Stadium in Hawaii to Alyeska Ski Resort in Alaska; from bridges in the Bahamas to titanium structures in Tokyo, Japan.

Although Matco Services' work is vital to its clients, it is rarely seen by the public. Here are some examples of recent jobs in which Matco Services provided the timely, competent, customer-oriented engineering analysis that made the difference.

Failure Analysis: Metallurgical support for a major commercial airline fleet (US Airways) that includes failure analysis investigations, corrosion investigations, and quality control testing. Bridge and construction failure investigations are routinely performed at Matco Services.

Corrosion Engineering: Cathodic protection system design and installation for a submerged ocean tunnel for the off-loading facility of the largest liquified natural gas (LNG) process facility in the United States . Our certified team of corrosion investigators can perform testing to evaluate the integrity of pressure vessels. These include refineries, underground and above ground oil, gas and chemical process facilities Our team has performed such analyses nation and worldwide, and will travel to your project site at a moment's notice for emergency evaluations.

Paint/Coating Analysis: On-site and laboratory investigation of paint delamination failures (flaking and peeling) on galvanized structural members of several major stadiums in the United States .

On-site Inspection: Our certified team of inspectors can perform non-destructive testing on project sites to evaluate the integrity of large structures. Our team has performed such analyses nation and worldwide, and will travel to your project site at a moments notice for emergency evaluations. Such large structure evaluations have included off-shore oil platforms, wind power generation towers, concrete domes and stadiums, large underground cooling systems, and large elevated water towers. Our projects have taken us from Aloha Stadium in Hawaii to Alyeska Ski Resort in Alaska; from bridges in the Bahamas to titanium structures in Tokyo, Japan and damage evaluation of hurricane in Florida. This project included roofing, siding, paint and internal water damage for a large structure.

Environmental Testing: Comparative testing of the resistance of pharmaceutical labels to environmental stresses (MFG, Humidity, and QUV testing) for a major drug company to determine what labels held up the best.

Fire Investigation: Same-day analysis of the effects of a truck fire on the superstructure of a major highway bridge to determine whether or not the highway could remain open.

Explosion Investigations: Failure analysis of a gas main explosion that caused causalities.

Power Plants: Failure analysis and remaining life determination of boiler components in the power industry.

Implant Materials: Electrochemical corrosion evaluation and failure analysis of implant materials such as hips, knees, stents, etc. to improve products and performance.

Galvanized Steel: How its microstructure and galvanized layer chemistry affect its appearance and corrosion resistance. Prevention and evaluation of storage rust, cracking of galvanized layer, failure of painted galvanized steel. Cabinet salt spray testing, EIS testing of painted galvanized steel and metallurgical characterization tests are routinely performed for galavanized and painted galvanized steel panels.

Utility and Light Poles & Lattices: Inspection and evaluation of galvanized, Cor-Ten and painted carbon steel utility, light poles/lattices. Failure analysis, fatigue investigations, protective coating evaluation, life expectancy determination, corrosion evaluation, underground, ground level and above ground were included in this investigations

R&D: Research & Development of new materials, coatings and sensors for the pipeline, construction/chemical industry.

Failure Analysis Team

Our team is comprised of certified and experienced personnel from a variety of technical disciplines including: mechanical engineering, cathodic protection, paint inspection, chemistry, metallurgy, and materials science. We also have a vast array of laboratory and field testing equipment. All of Matco Services' testing equipment is calibrated on a routine basis in accordance with both national and international standards, and is ready to be put to use at a moment's notice.

An illustrated formal report documents the results of the investigation. If necessary, Matco Services' personnel can usually be on site almost immediately when requested during emergency situations.

Inspection Team - Our team includes certified and experienced personnel from a variety of technical disciplines including: mechanical engineering, cathodic protection, paint inspection, chemistry, metallurgy, and materials science. We also have a vast array of laboratory and field testing equipment that is calibrated on a routine basis in accordance with both national and international standards. The Matco Services' team has experience working in many diverse fields and with many different clients. Some of our clients include the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), Bridge Inspectors, Harley Davidson, General Motors, Michael Baker Company, US Airways, and A.C. Dellovade, General Electric and more.

Our team includes NACE Certified Corrosion / Cathodic Protection/ Materials Selection/ Design / Coating Specialists and Technicians (*) and other materials and corrosion engineering experts including:

Dr. M. Zee (*)                                            Mr. Geoff Rhodes (*)

Mr. Carl Kempkes                                     Mr. Kevin Groll, P.E. (*)

Mr. Jose Borge                                         Ms. Debra Riley (*)

Mr. Marty Latona                                       Mr. Ed Larkin

Ms. Heather Groll (*)                                  Mr. Walter Gretz, P.E.

Mr. Gary Woita                                         Mr. Ron Hansen (*)

We Value Our Customers... Throughout the years we have noticed that much of our business comes from repeat customers. Our expertise and well-equipped lab can account for much of this, but we believe there is something more to it. We attribute it to the fact that we promote an open and friendly environment that is never too busy to meet your needs. At Matco Services we value your business whether you are a large corporation or a small enterprise. We will provide you with the attention you need and deserve. We invite you to visit us and get to know our staff, and share in the learning experience.

Why Choose Matco Services? As one of the premier testing, inspection and repair firms featuring state of the art equipment, Matco Services is able to provide a unique and diverse blend of services. Thousands of investigations have been performed at Matco Services, ranging from jet engines and boiler tubes, to computer components and implants that have promoted the advanced understanding of why these components fail to meet expectations.  Combined with our new capabilities in repairs of poles, lattice, towers, and utility structures at the above and below grade level, Matco Services' is now prepared to provide a comprehensive array of services from project start, to project finish.  As always, projects are conducted discretely so that client confidentiality is ensured.