ASNT 2025: where technology meets expertise

By Greg Drane, Commercial Director at Sutro Group

Reflecting on our week at ASNT (The American Society for Nondestructive Testing) 2025 in Orlando, I’m reminded of just how valuable these industry events are—not just for the scale and spectacle, but for the quality of conversations they facilitate. With 2,200+ attendees, 210+ exhibitors, and 100+ technical sessions, the event was genuinely impressive. But beyond the numbers, it was the connections we made and the insights we gained that made this trip worthwhile for Richard Denmead and myself.

Strengthening partnerships and building connections
Throughout the week, we had the opportunity to connect with key technology partners including Eddyfi Technologies and Waygate Technologies, discussing the latest innovations in NDT equipment and methodologies. We also strengthened our overseas partnerships with Integrity Assessment Group (IAG) and XCEL, exploring collaborative opportunities that will benefit our clients across both the UK and international markets.
Reconnecting with associates—both past and present—reminded us just how interconnected this industry is. The relationships we build at events like ASNT aren’t just networking opportunities; they’re the foundation of how we deliver better solutions for our clients.

Three key insights from ASNT 2025

1. Technology enhances expertise—it doesn’t replace it
Yes, technology is advancing rapidly. That’s not news to anyone in this sector. AI-assisted analysis, automated inspection systems, and advanced robotics are becoming increasingly sophisticated. But here’s what stood out: the human element remains irreplaceable.
The most advanced technology in the world still requires experienced technicians who understand what they’re looking at. AI can flag anomalies, but it takes trained expertise to interpret findings, understand context, and make informed decisions about asset integrity. At Sutro Group, we’ve always believed that technology should enhance what skilled professionals can achieve, not attempt to replace them. This week reinforced that philosophy.

2. Complex assets demand integrated solutions
Modern industrial assets are complex, and a single inspection technique rarely tells the whole story. What we’re seeing—and what conversations at ASNT confirmed—is that clients increasingly need multiple inspection techniques working together to provide a complete picture of asset condition.
This validates our turnkey approach at Sutro Group, where we combine rope access, UAV inspections, NDT, and robotic solutions as an integrated service offering. Rather than coordinating multiple contractors with different specialisms, our clients benefit from a cohesive team that understands how each technique complements the others. The result? More comprehensive data, better decision-making, and reduced project complexity.

3. Clients want better data—and they want it efficiently
It’s no longer enough to simply provide inspection results. Clients want actionable intelligence delivered efficiently, with minimal disruption to operations. They need data they can use immediately to make informed decisions about maintenance, repair, or replacement.

This means providing clear, comprehensive reports that translate technical findings into business implications. It means leveraging technology to reduce inspection timelines. And it means understanding that every hour of downtime has a real cost attached to it. These expectations are driving how we continue to develop our services and refine our approach to client delivery.

Moving forward with purpose
Events like ASNT aren’t just about seeing the latest equipment or attending technical presentations—they’re about understanding the challenges our clients face and positioning ourselves to meet those challenges head-on.
The conversations we’ve had—about technology, about methodology, about the future of inspection services—will directly influence how we continue to evolve at Sutro Group. They’ll inform our training programmes, our equipment investments, and our service development strategy.

Thank you
To everyone we spent time with at ASNT 2025—technology partners, overseas collaborators, industry peers, and old friends—thank you. These conversations challenge our thinking, broaden our perspective, and ultimately make us better at what we do.
The future of industrial inspection is being shaped right now, and we’re excited to be part of that conversation.