How to get NDT quotes without chasing labs by phone
IndustrialImaging turns a short description of your part or asset into a ranked inspection method and a structured request for quote, then sends that RFQ to providers that have the right method, cover your region and hold the certifications you ask for. Buyers use it free. Providers subscribe to receive matched requests.
How buyers request NDT testing quotes
The buyer side is built for a quality engineer, a reliability lead or a buyer in procurement who needs an inspection done and does not want to explain the job five times.
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1
Describe the part or asset
Fill in the inspection request sheet: what needs inspecting (a part, a weld, an installed asset or a whole structure), the material, the concern, the largest dimension, the quantity and a ZIP code or state. Add a photo or drawing if it helps; the advisor reads it for context. If you work to a standard such as ASME, AWS D1.1 or ASTM E1417, select it.
Find my inspection method -
2
Review the method ranking
The advisor scores each method against your inputs. For every method in the ranking you see why it fits, what it will find, what it will miss, a typical turnaround and a typical price band labeled as an estimate. You also get a short list of what to ask the lab, such as voxel size for CT, acceptance criteria or the report format. Method background lives on pages like industrial CT scanning and ultrasonic testing.
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3
Check and edit your RFQ
The result becomes a request for quote with five blocks: scope, quantities, acceptance standard, deliverables, deadline and location. Before you create an account you see the scope block; the rest unlocks after signup. You can edit any field, mark unknowns as open questions and download the RFQ as a PDF.
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4
Confirm your email and send
Create an account with your work email, enter the 6 digit code we send you and the RFQ is saved to your account. It then goes to providers matched by method, region and certification. Providers reply to you directly with questions or a quote.
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5
Compare quotes like for like
Every provider quotes the same written scope, so you compare price, turnaround, equipment and certifications instead of guessing what each quote includes.
How inspection providers receive matched RFQs
The provider side is for NDT labs, industrial CT service bureaus, radiography contractors, thermography firms, drone operators and 3D scanning shops.
Plans and allowances are on the NDT lab marketing pricing page, and the full pitch is on the provider overview.
- 01Create a company account and confirm your email.
- 02Build your profile: methods, equipment envelope (for CT, the largest part and the best voxel size), certifications, regions served and examples of the deliverables you send customers.
- 03Choose a plan. Each plan sets the number of methods on your profile, the regions you cover and the matched RFQs you receive per month.
- 04Receive RFQs that fit your methods, regions and certifications by email, with CSV, webhook or API delivery on higher plans.
- 05Reply to the buyer, ask questions and send your quote.
How an RFQ compares with the other ways to get NDT quotes
Compare how each route handles scope, method advice, quote consistency, buyer cost and timing.
| Criterion | IndustrialImaging RFQ | Calling labs one by one | Generic business directories | Inspection broker |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scope clarity | One written scope for matched providers | You explain the scope to each lab | Phone list, you define the scope | Broker helps define the scope |
| Method advice | Ranked methods with reasons and limits | Each lab advises on its own methods | Phone list, you ask labs for advice | Broker may advise on methods |
| Like for like quotes | Matched providers quote the same RFQ | You align scope across separate conversations | You align scope and collect quotes yourself | Depends on how the broker scopes requests |
| Cost to the buyer | Free to request quotes | No platform fee, inspection quoted separately | Free phone list, inspection quoted separately | Usually a markup on the job |
| Time to quotes | You set the deadline in the RFQ | Depends on each lab and your follow ups | Depends on your outreach and lab responses | Depends on broker coordination and lab responses |
What happens to your drawings
Your files belong to you. Photos and drawings you upload are used to describe the job and to build your RFQ. They are not published, not shown on profiles and not sent to anyone you have not approved after matching. If a part is sensitive, keep images private, send the written scope first and share files once an NDA is signed. You can delete a request and its files from your account at any time. More on storage and retention is on the inspection data security page.
How long it takes from request to quote
| Stage | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Describe the part and get a method ranking | about 1 minute |
| Review and edit the RFQ | 5 to 15 minutes |
| Confirm your email and send | about 1 minute |
| First provider questions or quotes | set by each provider, often within a few business days |
| Inspection turnaround | depends on method and lab, shown as a typical range in your result |
Turnaround and price ranges in the result are typical estimates, not quotes. The lab confirms both after it reviews your RFQ.
FAQ
Do buyers pay to get NDT quotes?
No. Requesting quotes is free for buyers, and there is no card to enter.
Can I use the advisor without sending an RFQ?
Yes. You can run the advisor, read the method ranking and stop there. The RFQ is only sent after you create an account and choose to send it.
What if my part needs two methods?
That is common, for example X-ray for porosity and PT for surface cracks on the same casting. The RFQ can list both methods, and providers that cover both are matched first.
How do I pick a lab once quotes arrive?
Check the certifications, the equipment envelope and the deliverables against your scope. The guide on how to choose NDT companies lists the questions to ask.