Testing, Monitoring &Tools

Comparative Evaluation of Electric and Manual Pencil Hardness Testing

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

A technical comparison of electric and manual pencil hardness testing shows how speed, operator influence and automation affect coating hardness accuracy.

A New Way to Visually Evaluate Color

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0400

New viewing tools help bridge the gap between visual perception and multiangle color measurements for evaluating modern interference pigments.

Color Accuracy Depends on These Best Practices

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 01:00:00 -0400

Standardized techniques ensure coatings consistency from factory floors to aerospace.

Automotive Interior Surface Testing

Wed, 07 May 2025 00:00:00 -0400

This article explores surface testing methods to ensure color consistency, gloss and appearance in modern automotive interior coatings.

Mastering Paint Adhesion

Fri, 08 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Advanced testing equipment ensures optimal coating adhesion through precise surface preparation, enhancing durability and performance for coatings manufacturers.

Measuring Multiple Automotive Paint Layers

Thu, 18 May 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Automotive painting is a challenging process, and requires each layer to be sprayed at the optimal thickness. Some leading-edge, ultrasonic thickness gauges can provide both the thickness measurement of each individual layer, and the total thickness measurement of several layers at once, making the process faster and easier.

New Material Database for Coating Thickness from coatmaster AG

Thu, 09 Mar 2023 00:00:00 -0500

In cooperation with EUROLACKE powder coatings, the company coatmaster AG has created a material database for the non-contact coating thickness gauge coatmaster Flex.

New Spectrophotometer from Konica Minolta

Tue, 07 Mar 2023 00:00:00 -0500

CM-26dG is a portable sphere spectrophotometer with an integrated 60° gloss sensor allowing distinct color and appearance measurements within one instrument.

New Protective Coatings Field Test Kit from BYK-Gardner

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 00:00:00 -0500

The new test kit provides a complete solution for evaluating the environmental conditions prior to painting, as well as measuring the dry film thickness of the coating after application in accordance with SSPC PA-2.

New Multi-Functional Digital Thermo Hygrometer from Paul N. Gardner

Tue, 24 Jan 2023 00:00:00 -0500

Paul N. Gardner USA's New Indoor/Outdoor Digital Thermo-Hygrometer is a multifunctional humidity thermometer that can display temperature, humidity, and time simultaneously.

R&D in the Coatings Industry: Why Formulators Must Go Back to Basics

Fri, 29 Jul 2022 00:00:00 -0400

Formulators should use technology to track down the rheological sweet spot for their products and see the lab as a source of knowledge and collaboration. The resulting data will set research projects off on the right path and deliver huge savings for R&D, the company, the customer and maybe even the planet.

Millwork Paint Operation Gains Visibility into Paint Usage

Fri, 13 May 2022 10:26:00 -0400

A producer of architectural wood trim gained visibility into paint consumption at its facility by installing a cloud-based flow measurement and control system that provides accurate and real-time data on paint usage, flow rates, density and other parameters from a computer or smart device.

A Case Study Examining the Benefits of Digital Color Management in the Paint Industry

Wed, 20 Apr 2022 11:53:00 -0400

Companies like Crown Paints are rapidly embracing digital workflows to increase customer satisfaction by ensuring accurate color matching.

The Lab of the Future May Be Here Before We Know It

Fri, 15 Apr 2022 12:47:00 -0400

Rising costs, flat R&D spending, demand for faster development, new regulations and information overload are increasing the momentum of digital labs.

How to Implement AI in the Coating Industry

Fri, 25 Feb 2022 10:00:00 -0500

Demand for coatings has not faltered during the pandemic. As a result, the industry remains slow in embracing digitization at scale. At the same time, new computational technologies promise to unlock the value of innovation toward higher performance coatings and streamlined processes.

Monitoring Thermal Coating Process for Quality Control

Thu, 10 Feb 2022 10:31:00 -0500

A thermal coating provider needed to monitor its process to make sure the conditions were within process specifications for the material being applied.

Securing a SmartPrefix Makes Your Products `Visible' to the World

Thu, 27 Jan 2022 09:58:00 -0500

Manufacturers have ample commercial motivation to ensure that the products they make are linked back to them, and that's a key aspect of the unique identification that a SmartPrefix provides.

Best Practices for Color Formulation in Paint

Tue, 09 Nov 2021 10:00:00 -0500

Color formulation involves defining requirements and methods while also identifying variables within the environment or production process that could influence the color formulation results. In addition, color measurement instruments such as spectrophotometers and sophisticated color formulation software are essential for quantitative analysis to help achieve the right color with minimal time and waste.

Why Tech Matters for R&D in the Coatings Industry

Fri, 17 Sep 2021 10:17:00 -0400

Take a look at the tsunami of changes on the horizon for coatings companies and how technology can help them rise to the challenges ahead.

Sustainable Color Management

Mon, 30 Aug 2021 10:00:00 -0400

While balancing cost and sustainability might sound challenging, digital color management makes it possible for paint and coatings professionals to help the environment while still favoring the bottom line. This is a key consideration for many in the industry who, now more than ever, are searching for innovative ways to streamline workflows and reduce waste while saving on costs.

Understanding and Achieving Digital Transformation

Fri, 09 Jul 2021 09:15:00 -0400

Digital transformation involves a lot more than buying technology. It involves setting a clear direction on business objectives, understanding processes and identifying which data will help better run the business.

Data Sharing in the Coatings Industry

Tue, 08 Jun 2021 11:15:00 -0400

In a digital world, with new consumer demands and a focus on sustainability, change is afoot. It’s time to work smarter and tap into digital tools where possible. In today’s uncertain environment, collaboration is vital.

Monitoring Solvent Emissions to Ensure Compliance

Fri, 21 May 2021 11:56:00 -0400

Flame Ionization Detectors (FIDs) are ideal for a variety of solvent emission monitoring applications.

Understanding Data Logging

Thu, 18 Feb 2021 13:49:00 -0500

This article will walk you through the basics of data logging technologies and what they can do for your business or organization.

Toward Zero Automotive Paint Quality Issues

Thu, 12 Nov 2020 09:52:00 -0500

Automotive companies and coaters recognize the need to monitor viscosity, but making that measurement outside the laboratory has challenged process engineers and quality departments. Automated in-line viscosity measurement enables continuous monitoring of paint at the point of application.

Seven Ways a Data Logger Can Save You Money

Thu, 22 Oct 2020 13:52:00 -0400

Data Loggers are devices that record information by periodically taking measurements from external or internal sensors over an extended period of time, and are an ideal way to capture data by removing the need for personnel to spend time manually taking and recording measurements.

Monitoring the Salt Bath Nitriding Process Using a Data Logger

Wed, 23 Sep 2020 14:00:00 -0400

CAS DataLoggers supplied the industrial data logging solution to Northeast Coating Technologies (NCT) in Kennebunk, Maine. NCT is a surface treatment company specializing in Salt Bath Nitriding Melonite® Quench-Polish-Quench (QPQ), among other processes, to produce high-durability metal components including piston rods, axles and more.

Transportable VOC Emissions Analyzer Submitted for QAL1 Certification

Thu, 17 Sep 2020 09:00:00 -0400

Signal Group has confirmed that the latest version of its portable FID analyzer, the 3010 MINIFID PURE, is being submitted to TÜV for QAL1 testing. This is a procedure to demonstrate that the instrument is suitable for its intended purpose, and meets required performance standards and the uncertainty allowances specified in EU Directives.

Digital Color Management and Powder Coatings: What You Should Know

Tue, 08 Sep 2020 09:00:00 -0400

Utilizing digital color management in powder coatings eliminates data silos, ultimately resulting in faster, more-accurate matching. Digital color management gives manufacturers confidence in their color quality, knowing they have obtained it quickly and cost effectively.

In the Dock with Selective Electroplating

Wed, 26 Aug 2020 09:00:00 -0400

In the shipbuilding industry, repairs are a constant and inevitable fact of marine life, resulting in costly downtime and loss of earnings. This article explains how shipyards can put key technologies in the dock which offer speed, portability and efficiency.