COLOUR | MEASUREMENT Measuring up for colour
Digital workflows in product development and production are driving innovation in colour measurement and data communication. Mark Holmes reports
Cost-effective and efficient colour measure- ment of plastic compounds and the ability to communicate that colour data to others has long been essential in the product development process. However, it is also becoming increasingly important in manufactur- ing facilities as accurate, real time colour informa- tion is required for quality control and production line efficiency. As a result, developers of colour measurement devices, systems and software are expanding their role in compounding from the laboratory to the factory floor. Growing sustainability efforts and the need to
embrace digital workflows are resulting in steady demand for colour measurement solutions from masterbatchers, plastic compounders and mould- ers, according to instrumentation specialist X-Rite. “As the industry develops more sustainable plastics, this adds new complexities to the formula- tion process,” says Matthew Adby, Product Man- agement Director at the company. “Using biodegradable polymers, bio-based
plastics, recycled materials and additives to improve biodegradability, UV resistance, or flame retardancy can all influence a product’s final colour. Matching and producing accurate and consistent colour efficiently and with little rework requires next-generation colour measurement and formula- tion software. “Another driver is the move to digital colour workflows,” he says. “Using digital colour specifica- tions, companies can begin the formulation process immediately, get to the approved colour faster and monitor production quality to identify colour drift before you are out of tolerance. Many companies see significant value and a competitive edge in upgrading their devices and software to support digital workflows. Plus, digital workflows reduce
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waste and rework, making it more sustainable.” Adby highlights a number of factors that compounders and masterbatchers need to con- sider when selecting colour measuring equipment, saying that they need to consider both the applica- tion and customer requirements. For example, do they need both reflectance and transmission measurements? Do they have to meet tight colour tolerances? Do they need to measure odd shapes? Do they need to measure texture or special effects? Equally important, companies should consider how versatile a device is and if it supports today’s digital workflows. This includes whether the device seamlessly integrates with digital colour specifica- tions, formulation and quality assurance software. Brands and their suppliers are transitioning to digital workflows, and investing in measurement devices that support that presents an advantage as it becomes possible to immediately begin a formulation using digital specifications. This, in turn, can improve match rates leading to faster colour approval and less waste. It is also an investment that can grow with a company as digital workflows evolve to include 3D virtualisation. The complexities of using new bio-based and
recycled materials is driving a lot of innovation in colour management solutions, particularly with
July 2023 | COMPOUNDING WORLD 27
Main image: Colour measurement is moving out of the labora- tory to the production floor as
demands for tighter tolerances and less waste grow
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