NDT tough. Interview with Benjamin Nordstad, Level II inspector at Aker Solutions
July 2, 2026
Eighteen-year-old Benjamin Nordstrand is one of Aker’s youngest apprentices, working in non-destructive testing at the Aker Verdal construction site in Norway. His story reflects what it means to combine precision, responsibility, and the will to learn.
Benjamin, tell us a bit about yourself
“I’m 18 years old and an apprentice at Aker. I live about six minutes from here and started in August this year. Before that, I attended trade school for two years at TIF (Teknologi- og industrifag), Technology and Industrial Production. From there, I applied for an apprenticeship at Aker. I was pretty tired of regular school. I wanted to do something more practical - work with my hands and less writing. TIF gave me the chance to work with steel, be creative, and learn different trades.”
From hobby to profession
You mentioned you’re into motorsports - does that connect to your work?
“In my free time, I do a lot of welding. I probably started around 14, through school, and as a hobby. My hobby is motorsports, so I work on cars. I build and race cars and am currently working on a Volvo 340 that I plan to race at the local track. But I don’t want to combine my job and hobby - if you do, you can get tired of your hobby.”
Discovering NDT
How did you end up choosing NDT?
“A friend of mine was really interested in it. I heard about it from him, sent my resume, and got the job. I’m very interested in welding - how it works, the fundamentals, and the different testing methods. It’s fascinating to understand what makes a good weld and how to ensure quality.”
What role do you think NDT plays in society?
”I think NDT is a bit of an invisible line of work. You don’t really see it - it’s often just notes on paper - but it’s crucial. We conduct quality control to ensure the products we send out are safe and meet standards. If you skip NDT on welds, you can end up with weak structures that break. Offshore, that can be really dangerous. We’ve seen cases where bad welds caused cracks or even rigs to sink. It’s vital for the safety of offshore workers and for bridges and other structures.”
“I think NDT is a bit of an invisible line of work. You don’t really see it. It’s often just notes on paper - but it’s crucial”
Benjamin Nordstad,
Level II inspector at Aker Solutions
Building something bigger
What’s it like being part of the team at Aker?
“At this point, I’m pretty happy with Aker - with the opportunities here and everything I’m learning. It’s a good company to work for.
You get to be part of the building process - to see how everything takes shape. One day it’s just a pipe, and the next it’s part of a jacket structure, the massive steel framework that supports offshore oil platforms - the foundation that keeps them anchored to the seabed - that’s pretty cool.
There aren’t many other employers in the area within NDT, though there are in other trades. I chose Aker specifically because I’m very interested in the offshore market. I think it’s a sustainable line of work, and I can see myself doing this for many years.”
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