Photothermal 3D testing for composite materials

March 12, 2026

An Austrian deep-tech SME is offering the world's first compact, intelligent and mobile photothermal tomography system for non-destructive, contactless 3D testing of composite materials. Compared to conventional NDT methods (e.g. ultrasound or radiography), the solution enables up to 80 % faster and significantly more cost-efficient test cycles with high resolution for near-surface and deeper defects. The system does not require water, coupling media or ionizing radiation and is therefore particularly suitable for safety-critical applications in the aerospace, energy and automotive industries.

The technology is based on optically excited, pulsed thermography, in which the temperature development over time is recorded using an infrared camera and then evaluated using proprietary 3D reconstruction algorithms. As a result, internal structures, material properties and defects can not only be detected, but also localized and visualized in three dimensions. The complete system weighs less than 6 kg, can be set up quickly and can be operated manually, semi-automatically or fully automatically, for example inline in production processes.

Typical areas of application include the testing of fiber composite structures such as CFRP/GFRP in aircraft structures (e.g. fuselage and wing components), wind turbine rotor blades, lightweight components in the automotive sector and battery housings in electromobility applications.

Advantages
- high inspection speed and cost efficiency,
- compact design and mobility,
- optional 3D volume imaging,
- high precision in the detection of the smallest delaminations and cavities,
- easy automation and supporting software for data acquisition,
- 3D reconstruction and standard-compliant documentation.

Wanted partners and forms of cooperation

We are looking for industrial partners (OEMs, Tier-1, MRO), system integrators, value-added resellers and research institutes who would like to use the system for their quality assurance in production or in-service, work together on application-specific adaptations, carry out EU R&D projects or examine licensing models.

For further information, please contact us quoting the reference number TOAT20260206012.