Applus+, a global inspection, testing and certification company - through its subsidiary Applus RTD - has teamed up with its US-based company Kiefner to create an industry partnership with IOWA State University to support its Centre for Non Destructive Evaluation.
The partnership coincides with the announcement of a recent award given to the university by the US Department of Transportation鈥檚 Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, as part of its new Competitive Academic Agreement Program (CAAP).
CAAP was created to introduce MS and PhD students to common pipeline integrity challenges and demonstrate how their engineering or technical backgrounds might contribute to the field of pipeline safety.
鈥淪afety is a top priority and we鈥檙e committed to investing in innovative technologies that will strengthen our nation鈥檚 pipeline system well into the future鈥�, said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx.
As part of the agreement Applus RTD and Kiefner will provide a strong technical background with applied knowledge of the industry for students to call upon. This relationship will, in turn, allow students to see how their research is directly affecting the industry and aim to provide a better focus for research and development in the future.
Martin Fingerhut, President of Kiefner, said: 鈥淚t is with great satisfaction that Kiefner with support from its pipeline industry clients, the talented engineering team that Kiefner employs, announce their relationship with ISU鈥�.
鈥淭hrough this relationship we can now realise a vision for engaging the academic community for developing novel solutions for the pipeline industry, and simultaneously enhance the opportunity for graduate and PhD students through participation in solving common pipeline industry problems, via PHMSA鈥檚 CAAP program.鈥�
Adapted from press release by