Our innovative and custom designs offer effective solutions when commercial equipment is not available or does not fulfil customer requirements.
Our instrument design and fabrication team is formed of skilled software and design engineers with expertise which covers complex computer controlled multi-axis electro-mechanical systems, through to simple test fixtures, sample moulds and templates. Instruments produced are CE marked and conform to the essential requirements of EC directives, whilst instrument software is USB interfaced and windows compatible.
Using an impact load similar to the weight of the product, and an impact speed equivalent to a drop height of up to 1m, Smithers can employ the impact tester to assess and compare material and product performance mimicking real world situations.
Advanced instrumentation and a custom made software package allow sampling up to 45 kHz recording an impact force trace with automatic determination of the peak impact force, total energy absorbed and material deflection at point of failure.
In-house workshop facilities and an experienced design team give us the flexibility to rapidly manufacture fixtures and mounting systems to accommodate small, medium and large samples and accurately target identified problem areas.
Our impact tester is portable and can be operated within a climate chamber at temperatures between -40°C and +40°C.
Our instrument design and fabrication team is formed of skilled software and design engineers with expertise which covers complex computer controlled multi-axis electro-mechanical systems, through to simple test fixtures, sample moulds and templates. Instruments produced are CE marked and conform to the essential requirements of EC directives, whilst instrument software is USB interfaced and windows compatible.
Typical applications include:
- Precision control
- Force and load measurement
- Temperature/humidity
- Friction
- Density
- Leakage.
Examples of custom instrument design and fabrication
Impact testing
Smithers has recently developed an instrumented impact tester which is suitable for testing materials, packaging and products.Using an impact load similar to the weight of the product, and an impact speed equivalent to a drop height of up to 1m, Smithers can employ the impact tester to assess and compare material and product performance mimicking real world situations.
Advanced instrumentation and a custom made software package allow sampling up to 45 kHz recording an impact force trace with automatic determination of the peak impact force, total energy absorbed and material deflection at point of failure.
In-house workshop facilities and an experienced design team give us the flexibility to rapidly manufacture fixtures and mounting systems to accommodate small, medium and large samples and accurately target identified problem areas.
Our impact tester is portable and can be operated within a climate chamber at temperatures between -40°C and +40°C.
Leak detection
The integrity of non-porous packaged can be tested using a pressure decay method; the pack is pressurized to a small over pressure, typically 15-50mbar, and the rate of pressure decay is monitored using a digital pressure sensor allowing the size of the hole present in the pack to be determined.
At Smithers our instrument design and fabrication team have experience in manufacturing bespoke leakage testers which employ the pressure decay method. Custom design allows the machine to be tailored to the clients’ specific product or package requirements.
Download a brochure for more information:
- Instrument Design and Fabrication
- Pack and Machine Interaction
- Packaging Design for Fragile Goods
- Packaging Lightweighting and Cost Avoidance
- Packaging Materials Selection
- Packaging Structure Identification
- Packaging Supply Chain Audits
- Packaging Taints and Contaminants | Taint Testing
- Product Characterization and Verification Testing
- Safety of Recycled Packaging
- Shipment Damage Prevention