Throughout industry today, quality standards are increasing. For the first years, fluorescent screens were used as a detector. It was common to use them without much protection since it had not yet been determined that X-rays could impair or destroy living cells. The use of radiographic films which require exposure and developing were introduced some time later. Around 1950, the image intensifier was introduced to the medical field.
Image intensifiers allow a real-time image which also proved valuable for industrial applications.
Today standard industrial X-ray sets are suitable for the penetration up to more then 70mm of steel or complete cargo container using 450kV systems.