MACHINERY | MATERIALS TESTING & QUALITY CONTROL


material’s melt flow rate, the system ensures that the piston safely and automatically reaches the correct start position, says the company. Another key feature is automatic parameter


control, in which the device performs a quick preliminary measurement to determine the optimal piston stroke. This cuts the need for preliminary tests and ensures that each test is both compliant with standards and optimised for accuracy. “For laboratories working with multiple polymer


grades and test methods, this results in significant time savings and improved reproducibility,” said the company.


Beyond the device’s technical specifications,


Zwick Roell says it is designed to handle the challenges of a melt flow index laboratory – with features such as self-centring hoppers for easy filling, pre-compaction and cleaning, and a continuously variable load selection from 0.325 to 50kg.


Feel the force TA Instruments says its ElectroForce Apex 1 Mechanical Testing Instrument offers increased versatility, speed and ease of use to support precise tensile and fatigue testing of polymers and composites. Its motor stroke range is


at least 43% greater than the competition, says Waters, giving


laboratories and


Above: TA Instruments says its ElectroForce Apex 1 offers increased testing versatility


manufacturers the versatility to perform monotonic and fatigue testing across a variety of materials. This also speeds testing by up to 30%, which can cut costs early in development by helping users identify and eliminate weaknesses in material selection and design before the validation or post-launch phase. “As manufacturers pivot towards developing and using more high-quality sustainable materials, the need for simple, accurate, and affordable mechanical testing becomes increasingly important,” said Yu Cheng, vice president of research and development and product solutions at TA Instruments. Designed to cut operator process steps and


errors, the device is equipped with new software features including TuneIQ Technology, which automatically tunes the instrument without


32 FILM & SHEET EXTRUSION | January/February 2026


operator intervention and without additional stress or strain applied to the sample. The new motor control system improves break-stop capabilities during mechanical testing, increasing workflow options and operator confidence to run longer experiments unsupervised. The instrument also comes with intelligent data acquisition to help prevent computer hard drive overload by selecting test-specific data parameters and limiting collection to more critical and manageable data.


Handheld NIR TrinamiX has launched the latest addition to its mobile NIR spectroscopy solutions with the handheld Pal Two spectrometer. Designed with ergonomics in mind, it allows for single-handed operation, making it user-friendly and convenient. It also includes a built-in display that presents measurement results directly on the device, enhancing usability and accessibility for users. Hard-to-differentiate plastics and textiles, such as multi-material films and blends of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), pose challenges in recycling due to their mixed compositions. Compostable plastics can also complicate sorting processes, while polyamides like PA6 and PA 66 are often difficult to separate and recycle. TrinamiX says its mobile NIR spectroscopy solution devices have been trained to identify all these materials, helping to close the loop and improve recyclability.


Flexpack solutions Nordson and Nordmeccanica have developed CWM, a closed-loop control system that monitors and manages coating weight during the converting process.


Over time, technology and chemistry advances – and stricter regulations – have made flexible packaging more expensive. As a result, scrap, waste and downtime must be avoided. Recently, various technological solutions have emerged to address these challenges. Until now, there has not been a holistic solution for this, says Nordson. The new integrated package relies on a sensing unit and process control. The sensor NM 9000, from Nordson, combines infrared optics with advanced algorithms to achieve high measurement resolution. It can simultaneously detect three chemical groups and uses AI to apply the most effective measurement technique based on the substrate, enabling continuous monitoring of coat weight and mixing ratio. The sensor is mounted on a compact, enclosed scanner LPS 1000 installed between the


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IMAGE: TA INSTRUMENTS


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