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colour & masterbatch | Measurement


Right: The BYK-mac I measures multi-angle


colour as well as sparkle and graininess


“The user doesn’t need to understand colour science in order to provide actionable colour information back to the lab when they see a colour they want to match.” The device is designed to be part of a system that not only takes a colour reading, but, through a software application, makes the measurement useable to a wide audience by correlating it to a specifi c product library. Variable is collaborating with application development companies to design user-friendly apps and services that meet the needs of specifi c markets or fi t into specifi c company systems and processes. In addition to commu- nicating colour in sales and design, Node+Chroma is fi nding use in manufacturing quality control. “Be- cause it is wireless and easy to carry, the user can walk through a manufac- turing area and do spot checks of colour,” says Bragdon. The Node+Chroma


device wirelessly connects to any smart device using an API connection. Bragdon says production of the system, which began two


years ago, has been refi ned to provide consistent quality and is now fully commercial.


Wireless connectivity is also


available on conventional handheld spectro- photometers for quality control. Last year, X-Rite launched its Ci6x series of handheld spectrophotom- eters to provide improved measurement accuracy in the production process. The instrument is designed to provide tighter controls of colour for materials, in-process parts and fi nished goods along with an audit trail to ensure productivity for facilities with multiple sites, says the company. The instrument has wireless connection capability


for fl exibility in transferring colour data. The NetProfi ler 3.0 program allows companies to calibrate to a single centreline standard and ensure that colour measure- ments taken throughout the supply chain are accurate and reliable. By simplifying and automating an audit trail, brands and manufacturing plants can monitor compliance at any facility. X-Rite also introduced the Ci4200 compact bench-top spectrophotometer, which is compatible with X-Rite handheld instruments and has an embedded NetProfi ler program. Datacolor introduced the Datacolor 45 family of hand-held spectrophotometers last year with a Bluetooth interface for software communication. Datacolor 45 instruments provide uniform circumferen- tial illumination for repeatability even on textured surfaces. Ease-of-use features include a low-profi le


30 INJECTION WORLD | April 2015


measuring head, dual measurement buttons and a live-navigation user interface. All instruments are offered with Datacolor Tools colour QC software. Different models are targeted for specifi c workfl ow needs, such as gloss measurement.


Challenging effects Changing material technologies create further challenges for colour measurement and communica- tion. Special effects, such as pearlescence or metallics, present a special challenge because colour differs depending on the viewing angle and lighting. The new, portable BYK-mac i spectropho- tometer measures multi-angle colour as well as sparkle and graininess for total colour matching; it also detects and quantifi es fl uorescent light in the visible range, says Anita Fehr, product manager for colour at BYK-Gardner. The increasing use of more


recycled material in colour-critical applications has also created new challenges in how to control colour


when incorporating recyclates with colour


variability, says Ken Phillips, market development manager at HunterLab, who adds that business trends can also affect colour-control operations.


“Consolidation and reductions in workforce make


today’s operator a multi-faceted employee with increased responsibilities in many areas of production, rather than an expert in any one area of the process. This makes keeping up with the necessary skills and knowledge diffi cult, especially in the area of colour management, which often times requires a bit of ‘black magic’ to be successful,” Phillips says. This lack of expertise is further driving the need for automation as a means to reduce human error and improve consistency and reliability in the manufacturing process, he says. “These automated solutions for colour QC and colour control are becoming more widely accepted due to improved performance, reduced system costs, reduced total costs of ownership and attractive ROIs.”


Click on the links for more information:  www.cyberchromeusa.comwww.hunterlab.comwww.americhem.comwww.variableinc.comwww.xrite.comwww.datacolor.comwww.byk.com/instruments


www.injectionworld.com


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