Thick Coat Gauge (TCG) capable to measure “thick layers” up to 6000 µm  on concrete, plaster, screed, wood, plastic etc.   For measuring coatings on non-metallic substrates.  The evaluation can be carried out either analogue (via scaled magnifier) or digitally (via software).

The VCML is a precision engineered coating machine, designed to print, coat and laminate all types of flexible webs such as papers, films, and metallic foils on a reel-to-reel basis. With the ability to apply various coatings such as inks, paints, varnishes, adhesives both solvent and water based, by various application methods, this makes the VCML particularly useful for product development, quality control and small scale production for low volume of a specialised product.

A selection of standard printing/coating processes available are shown below. Customised equipment can also be quickly designed and built to meet customer requirements.

Gravure	Reverse Gravure	Gravure Offset
Rotary Screen	Hot Melt Slot-die or Gravure	Meter Bar
Flexographic	Laminating	Knife over Roll
2 Roll Pressure	Flexible Blade Coating	Kiss

High quality proofs using gravure inks of press viscosity are produced instantly using the new GP100. Featuring a microprocessor controlled servo drive and pneumatic operation, electronically engraved printing plates and variable printing speeds of 1 to 100m/min, this is an essential tool for all those involved in the manufacturing or use of liquid inks. Ideal for R&D and computer colour matching data, quality control and presentation samples, the GP100 is very easy to clean.

The new FlexiProof 100 is a user-friendly instrument that quickly produces print samples using water-based, solvent-based or UV-flexographic inks. It is indispensable for anyone involved in the manufacture and processing of flexographic printing inks. Ideal for use in quality assurance, R&D, for printing originals and for computer-assisted colour formulations.

• Printers – eliminates press downtime by colour matching off press.
• Can be used to determine performance properties, i.e. wear resistance, scratch resistance, flexibility, durability, gloss, etc.
• Will print on all typical commercial substrates- paper, film, foil.
• Minimises expensive on-press waste production, boosts customer confidence and minimises customer returns.
• Inks – computer colour matching, database and sample preparation.
• Eliminates the need to use a production line printing press for pilot runs, as the Flexiproof 100 is a scaled down but exact version of a full sized flexo press.
• Research and development – product viability, commercial viability.
• Now available with UVLED curing capabilities.
• Complies with ISO 2834-2  

  Results are ideal for computer colour matching or spectrophotometer readings.

The Paste Proofer is very well suited for fast, repeatable, very accurate colour matching of litho inks, web offset inks and letter-press inks. Its unique ink dispensing system eliminates the need to weigh or measure the colour samples on this device. The ability of the Paste Proofer to quickly and easily produce sample proofs makes it an essential tool for ink manufacturing and printing shops. The proofs can be used to create base data for computer colour matching, for customer samples, or for testing hue, gloss, opacity, penetrability, drying, contrast, and abrasion resistance.

Accurate proofs produced in a single operation.

No messy weighing or measuring of inks, unlike other proofers.

Two inks may be proofed simultaneously for comparison.

Complete inking/proofing/cleaning cycle only 2 – 3 minutes.

Multiple proofs easily obtained using any substrate.

Reduces press down-time.

The PRINTING PROOFER quickly produces high-quality printed proofs using gravure or flexographic inks. By using electronically engraved printing plates and an adjustable printing speed of up to 40 m/min, this instrument has become an indispensable tool for anyone involved in the production and processing of printing inks. It is perfect for making samples for quality control or for presentation purposes to customers. It can also be used for R&D and computer colour formulations.

An ideal instrument for applying defined layers of liquid media (e.g. as flexographic inks) onto absorbent or non-absorbent substrates for manufacturing repeatable sample presses that comes very close to conventional flexographic printing. The application conditions are determined using either the engraved anilox rollers or the wire-wound rollers. The AUTOMATIK K-LOX Roller consists of an electric motor-driven or pneumatically-driven basic unit (the K 101) and the K-Lox attachment. It ensures a constant pulling speed (up to 15 m/min), uniform contact pressure and a very high level of repeatability.

The ESIPROOF is a precision manually operated instrument for producing realistic, high quality flexographic proofs. Applications include colour proofing for both customer approval and spectrophotometer colour analysis readings. Use of a doctor blade enables the proofing of all flexo inks, including high viscosity, UV curing. Both steel and ceramic anilox rollers are easily interchangeable. Spring loaded pressure control for ease of use and repeatability.

An ideal instrument for applying defined layers of liquid media (e.g. as flexographic inks) onto absorbent or non-absorbent substrates for manufacturing repeatable sample presses that comes very close to conventional flexographic printing. The application conditions are determined using either the engraved anilox rollers or wire-wound rollers. The K-LOX-ROLLER is an important tool in both printer ink manufacturing and during ink processing, it is particularly well suited for use in quality control, presentation prototypes, R&D, and computer-assisted colour formulations.

Scratch Hardness Testing

Multi-function device, scratch, rub, wipe, chemicals, with an electromotive drive; scratch length single stroke 50 – 110 mm; double stroke 35 – 150 mm (without test tools)

The optimised scratch hardness tester LINEARTESTER 249 Smart is intended, in addition to its original purpose of application, i. e. to establish the ability of a surfaces to resist damage by scratching, also for several other tests: Scribe/Scratch tests; To and frocycle abrasion tests; Crockmeter tests; MEK tests; tests determining the resistance against solvents in general or wipe test, respectively.

The LINEARTESTER 249 Smart is a tabletop device that is operated via a capacitive LCD display. The electromotive drive ensures a uniform forward motion of the slide. The test tool is lowered and lifted automatically when scratch/scribe tests are carried out. A multitude of different test tools are available (see table in the technical description below). The tools marked with (*) are made of Tungsten Carbide Steel, additionally covered with an extremely hard layer. Due to this layer’s “golden” appearance, any worn parts are visually very easy recognizable because the Tungsten Carbide Material under the “golden” layer has a distincly different color. With the optional available universal adapter set (see last page of the technical description) even also several user-specifc tool inserts can be used.

Principle of the Test: The test panel is fixed onto a mobile slide by means of clamping rails. Above this slide and held on two metal pillars is a reciprocating beam bedded in a free-moving manner and carrying the adequate test tool as well as a weight. The required scratching force in the range of (0.5 to 20)N is set by moving the weight along the reciprocating beam, making use of a setting scale (an additional load weight of (1 to 40)N is optionally available). The testing machine is equipped with a 4-position height adjustable load arm device with standard height of about 10 mm (+20/+40/+60 mm). To use the vertical adjustment, a set of sample clamping pieces are also required (Order No. 21010232). Operation (settings) is via a capacitive LCD display. To start a scratch/scribe test, the test tool is lowered onto the specimen when moving forward initiating the scratching process immediately. The test panel can be moved sideways so that a series of scratches can be carried out side by side with different force settings. Due to a ruler integrated in the slide plate, an uniform distance between the scratches can be achieved very easily. When testing insulating coatings on conducting substrates, an electric recognition of the through-scratching offers an additional security for setting the scratching force. For abrasion tests, crockmeter tests, MEK or wipe tests the test movement is carried out with the tool lowered onto the specimen, in preset cycles to and fro. For this, the guide plate has to be removed from the slide plate. The test speeds are freely adjustable. The LINEARTESTER Smart is equipped with variable stroke lengths.