What’s Next presented by SGS - Nico Engelbrecht on digital materials testing at SGS

Digital materials testing is transforming how South African roads, bridges, airports, and municipal infrastructure are built and maintained. Nico Engelbrecht, Business Manager for SGS South Africa Industries & Environment, explains how construction laboratories have evolved from manual testing and paper-based reports to digitised systems, automated reporting, and advanced inspection technologies. The discussion explores SGS Matrolab’s scale, independence, technical expertise, and commitment to science-based results. Engelbrecht explains how laboratory information management systems, digital data collection, and drone-based inspections help engineering clients work more efficiently and make informed decisions. He also discusses SGS’s involvement in major South African infrastructure projects, including bridge construction on the Eastern Cape’s Wild Coast. Looking ahead, Engelbrecht expects laboratories to become strategic partners that help clients manage risk, improve quality, and use advanced analytics and predictive insights. He also shares practical advice for young engineers entering the materials testing industry. 0:00 Intro 1:30 How materials laboratories have evolved 3:05 Supporting Southern African infrastructure 5:41 What differentiates SGS Matrolab 7:15 Digital systems and drone inspections 8:09 Integrity, competence, and accountability 11:18 The future of materials testing Follow MyBroadband: X - https://twitter.com/mybroadband Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/mybroadband Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mybroadband/ Website - https://mybroadband.co.za/news/ #MaterialsTesting #Infrastructure #Engineering