NEW PRODUCTS.

HMG drives at EPA-complaint paint system

H Marcel Guest (HMG) has refined an ultra-high solids, year 2000 compliant, two-pack acrylic paint system for cars, coaches and commercial vehicles.

Developed from HMG's Acrythane family of automotive finishes, Acrythane EC321 is a

EC321 produces a gloss finish that offers good protection against harsh weather conditions, atmospheric pollution, road dirt, sharp cleaning agents, mechanical vehicle washers and most industrial chemicals.

The product is supplied in a 3-litre and 1.5-litre packs, each comprising lever lid cans of base and curing agent, plus a screw-top tin of reducing thinners.

Reader reply no: J100

Eastman unveils extrusion profile resin

Eastman Chemical has introduced Provista copolymer, a resin for profile extruders.

The company claims that Provista can often run on most standard processing equipment at increased speeds. A high melt strength makes the resin a good choice when extruding profiles into complicated shapes.

The propriety material is developed for extrusion into profiles where high clarity and gloss, as well as design flexibility are demanded.

When protection against the effects of light and weather is needed, UV formulas are available. Provista UV1 is for indoor and Provista UVO is for outdoor applications.

Commenting on the launch, Rob McLean, business market manager, said: `Our customers expressed a need for an environmentally friendly material that was clear, tough and easy to process. In just one resin, manufacturers get the strength, clarity, processability and gloss they need to be competitive.'

Reader reply no: J101

Accurate measuring with eXacto thickness guage

Elektro Physik has added eXacto to its range of coating thickness gauges.

The new gauge has up-to-date electronic measuring systems using both magnetic induction and eddy current principles.

There is an integral probe giving a measuring range from zero to 2000 microns, and all measuring functions are controlled from a menu on the display.

The gauge has a statistics programme that can be viewed at any time during the measuring process. Block or batch statistics can also be selected as an alternative.

It is supplied as standard with calibration foils and test plates.

Reader reply no: J102

LabSystems eases entry into LIMS

LabSystems has announced Nautilus, a laboratory information management system (LIMS) for lower cost of ownership and reduced payback time.

The starter pilot system, with consultancy, hardware, training and live installation in as little as three months, is designed to simplify entry into LIMS.

The package is also designed to shorten the long-term specification and implementation cycle.

The ready-to-run Nautilus LIMS package is suitable for any sized laboratory.

According to a spokesman for LabSystems, `Nautilus sets new standards in functionality, including built-in instrument integration for connecting instruments directly into the LIMS in minutes. It also has the ability to map the laboratory workflow.'

Reader reply no. J107

Self-cleaning filter forcibly drives out debris

Airpel Filtration has launched the Airpel Rotor Blade, a new self-cleaning filter.

The Instrument is designed with a screw style cleaning mechanism, which forcibly drives debris from the process fluid to the filters sump and ensures no, solids build up within the filter. This reduces liquid loss from the process and ensures minimal maintenance in comparison with other bag filters and cartridges.

The filter operates on the principle of an out-to-in flow, which ensures a dramatic filter blockage does not contaminate the filtered fluid.

Airpel says that other benefits include minimised product loss during process production and system cleaning; increased quality output due to minimum disruption to product flow; and reduced maintenance costs as automated units can eliminate manual cleaning.

Reader reply no. J108

In need of Velp? Go to John Godrich

John Godrich has added the Velp range of environmental and stirring lines to its product portfolio.

The environmental line includes a new biological oxygen demand (BOD) sensor, using an ecological system without mercury. It gives direct reading of values in mg/l with a system that can take five measurements at one day intervals. These are then memorised.

The system is also offered with low cost refrigerated incubators that are designed to take the complete BOD sensor system. These come with six or ten places of stirring systems which are easy to use and are battery operated.

They also have programmable thermo reactors for COD determinations, which have different settings of temperature and heating up time. These also satisfy the demands of official methods.

The stirring range includes magnetic stirrers with or without heating; and bench stirrers with stands and a variable speed of 50-2000rpm, mixing up to 25 litres of stirrable water.

Reader reply no: J114

Accuracy increased with Sheen flow cup timer

Sheen Instruments has introduced the Autovisc flow cup timer.

The Autovisc's aluminium water jacket keeps the temperature of the sample constant and the accurate built-in timer is automatically activated when the sample flows past an optical sensor.

As soon as a break in the sample flow occurs, the elapsed flow time is displayed. This eliminates operator timing errors and gives accuracy and repeatability within 0.5%.

The Autovisc is suitable for most types of flow cups, including those manufactured to BS, ISO and ASTM standards.

Reader reply no: J115

Cygnus boosts its range of gauges with a QuaNix

Cygnus Instruments has launched the QuaNix 1500 coating thickness gauge for measuring coatings on ferrous and non-ferrous substartes up to 5000[micro]m using a single hand-held gauge.

The new instrument is designed to be four gauges in one to simplify inspections. It has two displays, for Fe and NFe, and can be used on curved and flat surfaces. There is also an option with memory for datalogging.

Reader reply no: J116

Hosokawa provides mixing for on site testing

Hosokawa Micron has expanded its established range of Vrieco Nauta conical mixers with the introduction of a mixer for laboratory use.

Designed for testing and experimental purposes, the Minimix produces small batches of product in the small mixer. The results of these can be used for scaling-up to larger mixer sizes.

Using Vrieco Nauta mixing technology, the new mini mixer has been developed as a batch mixer for a range of powders, pastes and slurries, and meets all FDA, GMP and Industry Standards.

The unit includes a compact drive unit, non-lubricated orbit arm and is easy to clean between batches.

Reader reply no: J123

Inkmaker regards new InkPro software more sophisticated

Inkmaker, an Italian based company with a branch in Malaysia, has introduced InkPro98 Windows software.

InkPro98 can now manage the ink consumption related to each printing machine, taking into account the wearing co-efficient of anilox rollers; the consumption per printed surface, which will then be recorded and used as a reference for any future production of the same job; and valves auto-wash with three different options.

Other capabilities include, unattended communication with spectrophotometers; ability to store all data required for ISO 9000 compliance; and fully automatic management of white dilution and distribution.

There is also the possibility that InkPro98 can be operated by touch-screen Y2K compliant

Reader Reply No: J124

applied technology

Firwood Paints has quadrupled its range of shades with the adoption of the NCS Natural Colour System from the Scandinavian Colour Institute.

The company has extended the range of colours it can manufacture with the addition of 1750 new shades from the NCS system, together with more than 1000 other colours matched to British and International standards.

Firwood will use the system for its ranges of fast drying gloss paints, stoving paint, polyurethane gloss, two-pack acrylics and acid- and alkali-resistant chlrorinated rubber paints. These were previously available in the much more limited British Standard and RAL shade cards.

The full range of shades is available lead-free. All colours have been matched without the use of lead chromate pigments.

Commenting on the selection of the NCS, Firwood managing director Martin Wallen said: `Customers' interest in colour and design is fast becoming an essential part of the paint selection process. Not only will these products be available immediately an order is placed, but we will literally be able to produce any shade whatsoever required by a customer.'

Reader reply no: J109

Merck's Iriodin silver pearlescent pigment has been used to create a striking lustre effect on the Holsten Pure 6 bottles.

The Iriodin pigment creates a deep silver/white colout that subtly appears to change intensity when viewed from different angles.

Reader reply no: J110

Irish paint manufacturer Fleetwood Sherwin Williams has selected the recently launched 100ml Pharma Secure containers from RPC Containers Market Rasen for a range of tester packs.

The pack was developed specifically for Fleetwood Sherwin Williams and it features a special brush cap, which was produced by S&M Products. The brush is affixed to the closure, enabling the consumer to apply the paint direct form the container.

Commenting on the selection, Bob McCabe from Fleetwood Sherwin Williams, said: `The RPC packs are light, easy to handle and do not break, which are important benefits for the consumer as well as during the packaging and distribution process.'

Reader reply no: J117

Kemira Coatings' high-performance finishing has been used to paint London's Millennium Brow.

The paint system comprises a 125 micron coating of Temashield EMP 555 epoxy zinc phosphate primer, followed by a 100 micron coating of Temashield ERV high-build epoxy. Finally, a 50 micron coating of Temashield EAV (HS)isocyanate-free epoxy acrylic gloss was applied.

Reader reply no: J118

spotlight on ... pumps

Versa-Matic has introduced the E5 polypropylene half inch pump.

The E5 features the Elima-Matic shoe valve for nonstalling, anti-icing and lubrication-free dependable service.

The inlet and discharge swivels 360 [degrees] for greater systems flexibility and are threaded both internally and externally for more leak-free options. the pump also features an all-plastic corrosion resistant leak-free bolted contruction.

Reader reply no: J125

Ingersoll-Dresser Pumps has launched enhanced efficiency packages for selected sizes of its LNN range of axially split casing water pumps. The enhancements add several points of efficiency to the pumps performance as well as energy savings and reduced power costs. The axially split casing with suction suction and discharge flanges in the lower half allows access to the rotating element without disturbing the piping or the driver. Hydraulic balance is provided by a double entry type impeller.

Reader reply no: J126

Watson-Marlow Bredel has presented the SPX50 direct-coupled hose pump.

As the latest pump in the SPX range, the SPX50 improves durability and makes maintenance easier.

A spokesman for the company said that the pump `is 25% stronger, 15% lighter, has a 35% smaller footprint and uses 20% fewer parts than conventional hose pumps'.

Reader reply no: J127