Expertise, Versatility Critical for Metallurgical Testing
STORY INLINE POST
Q: How has Element Monterrey consolidated as a leading provider of testing, inspection and certification (TIC) services in Mexico and what makes it a trusted partner for local companies?
A: Element is a transnational company with over 260 laboratories worldwide and a global leader in the aerospace industry. Our main differentiators are our experience and capacity as well as our availability of specialists in all areas, from technical to administrative. We have over 7,000 specialists interacting with each other globally, giving our customers the certainty that no matter where they are, they will always find an Element specialist ready to provide solutions.
Q: Talent and expertise play an essential role within TIC services. How does Element Monterrey work to acquire and retain the best talent available?
A: Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, offers high-quality, competitive talent trained at the state’s private and public universities. These universities offer programs in areas that complement our services, such as materials engineering, which is the strongest part of our business. These educational programs give local companies access to competitive talent.
The challenge is acquiring and retaining that talent due to the great number of opportunities in the region. Monterrey is one of the most important regions in Mexico for the metal mechanic industry, which makes it harder for companies to hire and retain talent because, although the talent is there, the competition is tough, with many companies looking for the same talent.
The key to the great team in Element Monterrey is making sure that the company values are practiced across all the organization, along creating the best work environment for employees’ professional and personal growth, allowing to retain the talent even with the market being as competitive as it is.
Q: What makes Element the best provider of aerospace material testing and how does the company offer support for R&D and production?
A: We are a service company, providing both destructive and non-destructive metallurgical testing. Our goal is to be the best partner for our customers by meeting their needs in all areas, including safety, environmental compliance, operations and quality. Above all, we adapt to each and every one of our customers’ needs, adjusting our service to offer this flexibility. Our R&D and production services give our clients an extra hand.
Being a transnational company makes us highly competitive, which is a great advantage. We are present all over the world and can request support from our sister sites when necessary. We can perform all the tests a company requires. If a service is unavailable at our plant in Monterrey, it can be done in another Element plant, although we act as a single point of contact to greatly simplify processes.
Q: How does Element innovate continuously within its metallurgical testing services to keep up with both traditional metals and advanced alloys?
A: In the aerospace sector, metallurgical tests are always necessary to develop new materials and Element offers tests that other companies cannot. We run tests that other companies might consider exotic but they are part of our daily business. We adapt our processes to the client’s needs. On occasions, we have had to develop experimental designs to perform the necessary test in the most efficient way possible, which is why we make tailored products.
Q: Why should companies outsource TIC services rather than running them in-house?
A: These tests require a great deal of specialization during the processing, execution and interpretation of results, as they involve uncommon materials. Investing in developing these processes in-house is not an attractive option for customers, especially those that do not focus on testing. Furthermore, these tests require certain certificates and approvals that often take years to obtain, making them a significant and complex investment for manufacturing companies. Thus, they prefer to leave it to us.
Q: What added value does Element Monterrey provide to clients within the other industries in which the company operates?
A: These facilities specialize in metal testing for the defense and aerospace sectors, which gives us an advantage in other sectors, such as oil and gas and automotive. These facilities can provide service to any sector that requires material testing, although our main industry remains the aerospace sector.
Most industries tolerate very few errors in the materials they use but the aerospace sector tolerates even fewer; the sector has no room for error. By having a quality system and technicians specialized in the aerospace industry, we provide the highest degree of certainty that Element Monterrey can meet all different industries requirements.
Q: What are Element Monterrey’s main plans and strategies for 2023?
A: In 2023, we plan to acquire more equipment and increase our workforce to meet the growing demand of the aerospace industry, which is returning to its pre-pandemic levels. We forecast significant growth in demand in the aerospace sector and in the other industries we manage, which will lead us to increase our capacity in 2023.
Element Material Technologies is a leading global provider of testing, inspection and certification (TIC) services for a wide range of products, materials, processes and services. Element Monterrey is the company’s branch for the Northern Mexico market.