Company Update – Cranage


posure to intense solar and ultra- violet radiation.


Closer to home, products ex- ported to Europe and those placed on the UK market are routinely sub- jected to environmental condition- ing as part of the safety evaluation process. Depending on the type and/or use of the product, materials and components may also be sub- jected to climatic tests for safety purposes, eg. BS EN 62368-1 An- nex C, which concerns the protec- tion of materials in equipment from UV radiation. Notwithstanding the requirements for product safety, the UK is classified as having a mar- itime regional climate with additional hazards arising from atmospheric deposition, for example, from salt mist and sulfur dioxide pollution, both of which are known to accel- erate material degradation. Prod- ucts which are made or coated with polymers that are able to absorb or retain large amounts of moisture are particularly vulnerable to dam- age and in order to simulate a weathering process accurately, or the potential for induced environ- mental damage, the test parame- ters must include temperature and humidity. Products designed for use in highly polluted environments may additionally need to be weath- ered with acid deposition.


FACILITIES FOR LARGE EQUIPMENT


indoor test area for evaluating water ingress and a large walk-in dust test chamber with an internal test volume of 18m3


The new environmental facility at Cranage not only deals with the physical, chemical and optical ef- fects of UV radiation, heat, humid- ity, wetting and acidic deposition, but also expands on their existing IP rating service to include a new 50m2


for testing ma-


chinery with a maximum footprint of 3m x 2m. Featured is a fully com- pliant IPX9K high-temperature and pressure test system for evaluating washdown devices and machinery used in highly regulated industries such as food and beverage, med- ical and pharmaceutical, oil, gas and chemical industries. Large products such as food processing machinery and road signs are re- quired to be evaluated for environ- mental performance which in- cludes being immersed and


on an ongoing basis by a process known as AVCP (assessment and verification of constancy of perfor- mance). Products in this sector are exposed to severe physical and cli- matic hazards throughout their op- erational life and so it is vitally im- portant to assure road authorities and private developers of their products durability to such envi- ronmental hazards. These prod- ucts, which incorporate electronic assemblies, are also tested to be resistant to mechanical impacts and vibrations which arise in the environment because adverse structural or component reso- nances can exhibit unexpected and damaging responses. Almost any product, including packaging, which is exposed to physical disturbances or handling, transport, or delivery hazards could suffer an adverse response and testing is used as a means to make improvements.


This has been written by Keith Richens, founder of Cranage. Keith graduated from UMIST, and has 40 years product design experience in commercial manufacturing operations


Testing a large variable messaging sign in the new climatic chamber


operated in ambient conditions of cold, dry heat and damp heat. This requirement has prompted the in- stallation of a 17,500 litre walk-in climate chamber with a testing range of -40ºC to +80ºC and hu- midity range of 20 per cent to 93 per cent to accommodate com- mercial specifications.


Climatic and environmental test- ing ensures durability and reliability of engineered products. It helps to ensure regulatory and contractual conformity, identify potential com- ponent weakness, validate reliabil- ity and ruggedness, analyse and resolve design issues, reduce damage and costs and provide as- surance of fitness for purpose. Sectors engaged are aerospace, automotive, defence, electronics, healthcare, and industrial. In the industrial sector, manu- facturers of variable message traf- fic signs are subjected to stringent environmental testing and assess- ment methods detailed in BS EN 12966. They are also required to verify environmental performance


28 /// Testing & Test Houses /// December 2022 LO LOCAL TESTING Based in the UK


operations across Europe, Cr anage is a well ’s M idlands, and with


established, technically capable proffe organisation with UKAS accreditations.


or gelar essional


W ffeeoffer one of the most compr ehensive environmental test facilities ffo equipment in the UK.


worldwide environments , and our new IPX9K Our facilities include the option to simula te


test chamber greatly expands our services. At Cranage you will find a c ombination of


local expertise and global capability.


Specialists in EMC, Product Saffe & Environmen Tetal Testing


w W allaceWay,, Tey T VernVa LO alley Business P k,, M ke Det rayton, Shr opshireTF9 3AG


ww.cranage.co.uk ark


ark GLOBAL THINKING et y


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