CHARLESTON, SC-The ASNT Fall Conference and Quality Testing Show drew numbers that rivaled last year’s event in Las Vegas.

This year’s event drew 1,625 total attendees, as compared to last year’s 1,863, according to ASNT.

The event, held November 10 to 14 at the Charleston Convention Center, offered a quality testing show, conference programs, committee meetings and a keynote address delivered by Robert R. Doggart of Doggart & Associates titled, “The Business of NDT is Business.”

The keynote, whose title was a play on Calvin Coolidge’s “The chief business of the American people is business,” described the challenges facing the NDT industry and how to handle them. The speech was well attended and attendees posed several questions for Doggart at the conclusion.

Plenary addresses followed later in the week. Paul Mardikian, head conservator of the Hunley Project, Clemson University Conservation Center, described, “The Use of Computed Radiography on the Hunley Project: A Versatile Technology for Complex Applications.” After nearly 140 years at rest on the ocean floor, the Confederate submarine was discovered in 1995.

Michael P. Serabian, president of PQNDT Inc., discussed, “The Value of an NDT Career.” He tracked movement within industry segments, geographic regions and certification levels, and offered insights into NDT’s future.

Carestream Health, Olympus, Hellier and KJTD (USA) Co. Ltd sponsored the event.