color is a primary quality criterion. If color a product is not the same on different surfaces, everyone immediately sees the difference. We use the visual impression to decide within seconds whether we like the product.
A color measurement in the laboratory is important, but provides the information too late to intervene in the running process in case of color variations. Inline color measurement helps the operator to control his production process so that in the end a consistently good quality is always delivered to the customer.
Often the finished product is covered with a protective film during coil coating. Thus, the result can only be perceived after removing the film. But then it is too late.
Complaints are now expensive and lead to a loss of image. For this reason, the coating must be measured during production. Only then can it be ensured that the mounted panels also correspond to the target. To do this, the ERX145 spectrophotometer is strip mounted on a traversing beam cross-axis. The measuring position is typically behind the water quench but in front of the output accumulator. The measurement results can be used to control the ink application reliably. The employees in the ink kitchen can also prepare the inks based on these color measurements.
However, as it strip is still hot at this point, temperature compensation is recommended. On the coating machine not only the color, but also the temperature is measured. With a procedure specially developed by X-Rite, the measured color values can now be calculated back to room temperature (thermochromic compensation). Thus the inline measured colour values are independent of the temperature of the material. The inline color measurement correlates perfectly with the laboratory.
ROI
< 7 months
Response time
3 min
Color correlation to the laboratory
99%
Automation
50%
You want a consistent colour result for your coatings?
We will be happy to advise you!
Parallel to thiscolor , shine often also plays an important role. With the GlossFlash 6060, gloss is measured at 60° and displayed parallel to the color values in the software. This measuring system is also designed for rough use on the production machine, measures contactlessly and is absolutely insensitive to ambient light. This gives the machine operator even more security to control his production process correctly.
When you look at a facade on a building, directed optical conditions prevail:
The sun shines on the surface from a defined direction and we look at it from another direction.
These conditions are best simulated with the 45°:0° geometry. However, it is important that the illumination is circular (45°a:0°, the "a" stands for "anular"), otherwise differences to the laboratory can occur, especially with structured samples.
The ring illumination avoids shadows in the structures and is therefore insensitive to small changes in direction when the sample is inserted in the laboratory instrument.
Especially in the coil coating industry it is important to have a good correlation to the laboratory. This even goes so far that paint suppliers and coaters only talk about measured values and therefore do not exchange physical samples. Excellent instrument correlation is of course extremely important.
The ERX145 is used both on the line as an inline unit and in the laboratory.
Thermochromic compensation is also carried out with the laboratory measuring instrument. This means that the colour values measured on the coating system are independent of the product temperature.
The system is supplied by X-Rite as a turnkey system. For this purpose, it is necessary to define the installation situation in the coating system and to determine it together with the customer's machine operators and technicians. The entire scope of delivery must also be discussed. Is it only a "simple" color measurement with traversing beam on the machine or should the system be able to do more. The following options are available:
Service technicians from X-Rite come to the installation and install the system into the machine within a few days. This requires a machine downtime of only a few hours. Of course, not only the operating personnel is trained in several shifts, but also the maintenance personnel and administrators.