TECHNOLOGY | COLOUR MEASUREMENT
Right: Konica Minolta Sensing’s CM-3700A Plus is the company’s latest benchtop spectropho- tometer
match faster and more efficiently,” said Adby. Adby says digital workflows are helpful for managing recycled materials, which can be more variable. “With a digital, data-driven approach, compounders can more easily measure, adjust, and manage colour – even in complex or variable feed- stocks – saving time, cutting waste, and ensuring quality at scale,” he explained. “More compounders are also adopting cloud-based, connected solutions that support a fully digital colour workflow, from initial specification through formulation to final quality control,” said Adby. “Some compounding companies have gone a step further, creating digital material twins using an X-Rite digital colour and appearance workflow leveraging X-Rite spectrophotometers, Pantora software, and the Appearance Exchange Format (AxF). This allows their customers to instantly visualise materials in realistic digital environments, speeding up decision-making and reducing the need for physical samples. Together, these trends are driving faster, more consistent, and more sustainable colour processes across the industry.”
Digital communication X-Rite recently introduced a solution for digital communication of colour for small, complex, and highly reflective plastic parts. The CiF3200 imaging spectrophotometer can measure areas as small as 2 mm, so that manufacturers can digitise colour standards for small parts that were previously difficult to evaluate. Features include virtual apertures (2–12 mm), on-screen targeting and automatic multi-colour extraction. The instrument can perform simultaneous specular included and excluded (SPIN/SPEX) measurement for materials that vary by finish or reflectivity. Adby said these features allow faster, more repeatable colour measurement and better quality control for high-precision applications. Digital workflows allow rapid implementation of
the latest colour trends. X-Rite recently announced the official spectral colour value for Pantone Color of the Year 2025: Pantone 17-1230 Mocha Mousse, which is now available in X-Rite’s PantoneLive cloud-based digital colour standard ecosystem. Brands and manufacturers can incorporate Mocha Mousse into their digital workflows for accurate colour specification, virtual prototyping, formula- tion, measurement, and quality control.
30 COMPOUNDING WORLD | July 2025
Artificial intelligence is finding use in colour measure- ment in AI-driven software that can help users formulate colours and effects, such as metallics and pearlescents, which Adby noted are difficult to match due to their chang- ing appearance under different lighting and angles. “Tradition- ally, developing these colours has required multiple iterations, deep expertise, and extended timelines. New smart features in X-Rite Autura Cloud Software
help streamline colour formulation for effect finishes using advanced prediction models. Using machine learning and a more data-driven ap- proach, we are able to accelerate formulation development, optimise pigment selection, and reduce waste,” he said.
Benchtop measurement The latest from Konica Minolta Sensing is the CM-3700A Plus, an updated version of the com- pany’s well-established CM-3700A benchtop spectrophotometer. Data agreement between the two generations allows users to keep existing data from the CM-3700A, saving time in the transition to the new generation instrument. A feature in the new instrument is simultaneous specular component included (SCI) and specular component excluded (SCE) measurement, which saves time for operators. Another new feature is direct sample temperature measurement, which helps account for thermochro- maticity (ie, the tendency of materials to change colour with temperature). Sensors record environ- mental and sample information in the colour data file, so that users can build a correction curve or have the information for troubleshooting. By taking sample conditions into account and confirming proper environmental conditions, users can ensure that their measurements are more accurate and repeatable, said Val Cosh, Director of Sales and Marketing at Konica Minolta Sensing Americas. The instrument is able to measure different types of materials (for example, opaque, translucent, and transparent) as well as different forms (eg, pellets, plaques, or films). “With added features and functionality, the CM-3700A Plus is ideal for colorimetric measure- ments in the plastics compounding and masterbatch markets, especially when accuracy and tight toler- ances are of the highest importance,” said Cosh. To share digital standards across locations and produc- tion lines, as well as throughout the supply chain, the
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IMAGE: KONICA MINOLTA
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