Innovations in Material and Fatigue Testing with Walter+Bai At ArabLab 2025

Every year, the ArabLab exhibition in Dubai brings global industries together to explore the technologies shaping the future of research, safety, and performance. It is not just a showcase of instruments but a stage where decisions about aerospace safety, infrastructure durability, and product reliability are influenced.

We are proud to announce that the BCL team is once again arriving at the ArabLab 2025 exhibition from 23–25 September at the Dubai World Trade Centre. 

At Stall H2-C70, we will highlight Walter+Bai’s testing solutions: 

• Biaxial planar systems, 
• Advanced hydraulic actuators, and 
• Automated testing platforms 

These systems are designed to help engineers and researchers understand materials under the same stresses they face in the real world.

Testing in Two Directions: Biaxial Planar Systems

Picture an aircraft fuselage under turbulence, or a bridge joint under shifting loads. Stresses do not act in neat, single directions. Biaxial testing machines of Walter+Bai capture these complexities by applying controlled loads on two axes at once, using cruciform specimens that spread forces evenly across the material.

System capabilities include:

• Assessing composites, metals, biomaterials, plastics, and textiles under biaxial loading
• Independent load cells with electromechanical or servohydraulic drives
• Test modes for creep, fatigue, static strength, or high-speed events
• Uniform stress fields that minimise concentration errors

In other words, the Biaxial systems give sectors such as aerospace, automotive, civil engineering, and biomedical research the ability to study long-term performance and reduce the risk of early failures.

Test Types and Industrial Relevance At A Glance

Power Behind Testing: Advanced Hydraulic Actuators

The performance of a hydraulic pressure testing machine or compression testing machine depends on its actuators. Walter+Bai’s Advanced Hydraulic Actuator Series (AHA) provides stability, capacity, and service life that engineers can rely on.

• Double-ended actuators with capacities up to 10 MN
• Hydrostatic bearings that reduce wear and keep motion friction-free
• Side-load resistance to maintain accuracy under extreme conditions
• High dynamic rating suitable for civil structures, aerospace, and automotive testing

These actuators form the backbone of high pressure testing machines and structural simulators, ensuring accurate results even under uneven or heavy loading.

Automation for Modern Testing Workflows

Laboratories and industrial sites need consistency as much as they need speed. Walter+Bai’s automated testing systems bring both, reducing operator workload while improving reproducibility.

Key automation features include:

• Devices for automated material testing in labs, handling metals, composites, and polymers
• Fully automated compression testing of concrete, cement, or other structural materials
• Robotic or gantry loaders to manage large sample volumes
• High-force automatic testers for large components such as structural beams or industrial assemblies

Automation does not replace the engineer. It removes the repetitive strain of sample handling, freeing professionals to focus on analysis and interpretation.

The Three Pillars of Modern Material Testing

Walter+Bai’s testing technologies address three connected challenges. Together, they provide a framework that supports both laboratory research and industrial-scale validation.

• Biaxial Planar Testing Systems – Capture how materials respond to multi-directional forces, offering insights into fatigue and durability that single-axis tests miss. The biaxial testing market is expanding, valued at USD 150 million in 2024 and projected to reach USD 250 million by 2033 at 6.5% CAGR. This will be driven by demand in aerospace, automotive, biomedical, and construction.
• Advanced Hydraulic Actuators – Form the core of compression testing machines and hydraulic pressure testing machines. With side-load resistance and high-force stability, they ensure accuracy without fail. The global hydraulic testing equipment market, valued at USD 3 billion in 2024, is expected to grow steadily as aerospace, oil & gas, automotive, and heavy industries continue to depend on high-load accuracy.
• Automated Testing Systems – Provide consistency and efficiency in repetitive workflows. Robotics and gantry loaders reduce error and raise throughput, freeing engineers for analysis. Automation in material testing has already boosted lab capacity by 30-50%. The global material test automation market is forecast to grow at 8% CAGR through 2030, supported by Industry 4.0 and stricter quality control.

Together, these three systems transform testing into a strategic process that safeguards products, strengthens structures, and supports sustainable design.

ArabLab 2025: See The Pillars in Action

The ArabLab 2025 exhibition will unite technologies that respond to the most pressing industrial needs. We will be presenting Walter+Bai solutions alongside global suppliers and industry leaders, showcasing systems designed for both research labs and large-scale structural testing.

At Stall H2-C70, visitors will see Walter+Bai’s biaxial systems, hydraulic solutions, and automated platforms in live demonstrations. Whether your focus is fatigue resistance, structural safety, or automated reproducibility, these technologies will fulfil all your material testing requirements.