Welcome to ‘Torque About Force’ an informal, and we hope you find informative look at how the measurement of force and torque affects our life from day to day.

As consumers we typically press, push, open, tear, twist, and unscrew dozens of items in any given day. From pushing open our front doors in the morning, turning our car steering wheels on our daily commute to tapping our computer keypads at work. We tear open a snack packet at lunch, pop the cork on a good bottle of wine and press the speed dial button on our latest touch screen phone for a chat with our friends at the end of our working day.

We all apply force in our every day life!

Have a read and let us know what you think. We look forward to reading your responses.

Thank you for visiting ‘Torque About Force’.



Friday, 7 October 2011

Read all about it

British Plastics and Rubber magazine devotes a whole page to Mecmesin in their latest issue.  They asked us to contribute to an article in a special supplement on green issues because we are experts in reducing waste. In the article on page 67 of the September issue, we explain why testing plastics not only benefits the environment but the pocket too. We describe how top-load testing, can test packaging design and integrity to see if the amount of material used in containers like PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) can be reduced. The article featured an image of our new touch-screen top load tester - the MultiTest-xt (see below).

http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/a151956f#/a151956f/66


Tuesday, 20 September 2011

Improve your elasticity testing with our new extended travel stands

We have just launched new longer-length test stands for improved determination of break strength and elongation when testing rubber and film samples.

The extended stands are constructed using a rigid aluminium base-casting and precision ballscrew, making them ideal for elongation testing up to 1200mm of highly elastic material such as rubber and film. To accommodate the extra length and to comply with the EU Topple Test, these long stands are fitted with stability bases made of steel.

The new 1kN and 0.5kN models are available with software and electronics from Mecmesin’s established range of MultiTest-d, MultiTest-xt and MultiTest-i tension and compression test frames.

The extended stands are now in full production with the first machine being supplied to a large manufacturer in Australia to enable improved testing of female hygiene products.

Our MD, John Page, says: "Quality Control Managers in the plastics and rubber industries will now find it much easier to test their samples and the results will be more representative of the materials benig tested which will significiantly improve their production process."

If you would like to know more about our new longer-length test stands, please give us a ring on: 01403 799 979 or e-mail: info@mecmesin.com

MultiTest-xt

Friday, 16 September 2011

Watch Our New Top-Load Testing Video

Our new video offers step-by-step instruction on how to use the MultiTest-xt touch-screen top-load tester.

It shows just how easy it is to carry out top-load tests on bottles with this new testing system from Mecmesin.

Top-load testing’s important because during filling, capping and stacking, containers can be subjected to considerable vertical loading which causes loss of strength and eventual collapse.

The video shows how simple it is to load a bottle and clamp it into place. An icon is then selected on the touch-screen, the test method is chosen and one button launches the test. The touch-screen displays an easy-to-read overall “pass” or “fail” result. The results or raw data can then be exported directly to Microsoft Excel.

There’s a vented compression plate which allows air to escape during compression and bottle height can be measured at the same time.

A batch of ten bottles can be tested in about two minutes.

Follow this link to watch the video:
http://www.mecmesin.com/knowledge-centre/application-videos/multitest-x-and-xt-videos/top-loading-using-multitest-xt

Thursday, 1 September 2011

Catch up with Mecmesin at the Composites Show.

We will be demonstrating our latest money-saving testing systems at the Composites Engineering Show which runs from the 9th – 10th of November 2011 at the NEC in Birmingham. 

Our new Vortex-xt and MultiTest-xt can be seen at stand 949. Both testing systems really do improve productivity and achieve lean manufacturing goals.

With the Vortex-xt, static and rotary torque tests are performed at the push of a button and its stand-alone system means that no PC is required, making it ideal for production areas. It’s easy to programme and simple-to-use, so there’s minimal operator training.



It is the perfect solution for engineers in the aerospace, automotive and medical device industries who need to measure clockwise and counter-clockwise torque when developing and manufacturing rotary components. Typical applications include positive “click “ on engagement of aerospace, automotive and medical device controls such as ignition switches, valves and automotive stalks.

The new MultiTest-xt makes force testing simple. It enables tension and compression tests to be carried out quickly and easily at the touch of a button on samples straight from the production line.




Designed for those in busy production environments who want an easy-to-use test system, without the need for a PC or complex software, the MultiTest-xt is a stand-alone system encapsulating all the elements needed to perform quality control assessments in a robust self-contained unit.

Our product range is versatile and our universal test machines combined with dedicated grips and fixtures can be used to solve a variety of specific test applications including; adhesion/peel, coefficient of friction, compression, flexure, tension and torsion.

If you’re passing our stand, please come and have a look at our new testing systems.

















Wednesday, 10 August 2011

Better By Design

Mecmesin testing systems reduce environmental impact by improving packaging design.

Mecmesin’s affordable, reliable MultiTest-xt top-load testers help manufacturers reduce material usage on containers such as PET bottles by improving packaging design and ensuring packaging integrity. Government regulations for environmental protection limit the amount of primary resource material used in single-trip containers. By using the results from top-load tests, manufacturers can find out if their containers can be made from less material to meet these standards: a process called downgauging. This reduces production costs and is important in reducing the impact on the environment once the packaging has become waste material.

Top-load testing is also used to ensure the containers can withstand top-load crushing to prevent deformation or collapse of containers, reducing the amount of rejects and ensuring the containers are able to withstand the capping process as well as being stacked during storage and distribution.

The testers, which are made in Britain, are operated by an easy-to-use touch screen and are ideal for fast and efficient testing on the production floor. They can map accurate compressive resistance profiles of many containers – performing max compressive load and free-height tests with just one machine which saves time, space and money.
MultiTest 5-xt Top Load Tester

Tuesday, 2 August 2011

New Technical Sales Engineer at Mecmesin

Mecmesin has just appointed a new Technical Sales Engineer, Robert Egginton, for customers in the north of England, Scotland and Ireland.

Robert has a wealth of experience having previously worked for over 20 years in the supply of QC equipment & services with Calibration Dynamics and Mitutoyo.

He says: “We can offer an unrivalled level of customer service here at Mecmesin as we are a leading manufacturer of force and torque testing equipment based in Britain. This means we can come to your site, we can give you advice about force & torque testing to make your production process more efficient and profitable… all with the added-value of offering on-site calibration and service by a trained Mecmesin engineer. I’m based in Manchester, so I can easily reach customers in the north of England, Scotland and Ireland. You can contact me by e-mail on robert.sales@mecmesin.com or call my mobile on 07768 850103.”

Friday, 1 July 2011

Farewell MultiTest 50-xt

We’ve just sent our very first MultiTest 50-xt out to a customer.

This massive twin-column tension and compression testing system with its easy-to-use touch screen console, is suitable for testing tougher, larger products and samples across a broad range of industries from aerospace to packaging, construction to textiles.



With the MultiTest 50-xt, tension and compression tests are performed at the push of a button, making it ideal for routine quality control of products, material and components.

It’s specifically designed for environments where throughput, productivity and minimal training are vital and where the use of a computer is not always suitable.

Rated up to 50000N (11,000 lbf), the MultiTest 50-xt is 1931mm (76”) tall, with space to fit a sample of 1330mm (52.4”)* and has a crosshead travel of 1100mm.   Machine guards to protect operators and column gaiters to shield the test frame from small components/dust are available on request.




*measured without loadcell or grips.