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

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.

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

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.”

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.

Mecmesin Appoints New Export Sales Co-ordinator

We’ve just appointed a new Export Sales Co-ordinator. 33 year-old Ben Mitson has been brought on board as result of increasing demand for our quality control testing systems.

Ben speaks Spanish fluently and enjoys working at Mecmesin because people here are enthusiastic: “It’s nice to see people who are really passionate about what they do. At Mecmesin, they really care about their customers and their products. Before coming here, I hadn’t realised that everything needs to be quality tested by manufacturers to protect consumers but being here has really opened my eyes to that. It’s nice to be based in Sussex which is a beautiful part of the world but having offices in America, France, Thailand and China and a worldwide network of distributors makes for a truly international atmosphere.”

He went on to say: “In the role of Export Sales Co-ordinator, I am looking forward to communicating with customers and distributors around the world and I would like to develop the Latin American markets. I lived in Barcelona for nearly 11 years, so I am keen to use my language skills in this role. I’m also planning to learn Portuguese which will be essential for communicating with our Brazilian clients and distributors.”

The Managing Director of Mecmesin, John Page, says: “This year has seen a steady growth of exports at Mecmesin and we are very pleased that Ben Mitson has joined the company. Already more than 70% of our revenue comes from exports, so it’s an important role within the company. We are hoping to expand our international markets, especially the emerging markets which are just beginning to realise the true value of taking quality control seriously if they are to compete with other manufacturers globally.”

Mecmesin currently employs more than 60 people in its UK headquarters but is looking to recruit more engineers.

Truly International Interpack

The Interpack exhibition went “extremely well” this year and was “very international in feel” according to the Mecmesin team who manned the stand. The team was struck by the fact that there were more visitors from across the globe than ever before. This year there were buyers from as far afield as Senegal, Ghana, El Salvador and Guatemala. Dave put this down to the fact that buyers from emerging markets were probably beginning to have a greater realisation that quality control was a necessity not a luxury.

Visitors to the stand, many of whom were interested in the torque testing of bottling and capping,  were shown the new Vortex-xt, the Tornado, the MultiTest 2.5-xt, the MultiTest-25-i and the MultiTest 1-d.

According to Declan, at one point a straight-talking, no-nonsense type of Australian approached the stand and demanded an impromptu demonstration of the MultiTest-xt.  This canny Antipodean was the owner of a company that made medical devices and he had brought his sutures half way round the world to find the best testing equipment for his samples.

Undaunted by the thought of a live demo in front of a crowd, Dave and Declan went to work. They attached the thread to the needle and then tested the tensile strength of the sutures. The medical device manufacturer was so delighted by the results that he asked them to do yet more testing. This time he wanted to see if the MultiTest-xt could carry out a series of peel tests. Again, the Mecmesin machinery performed admirably.  After the tests were completed, the manufacturer just smiled and asked for the contact details of the Mecmesin distributor in Australia.

Apparently a lot of people who came to the stand asked where Mecmesin machines were made.  When the team told them that they were made in the UK, they were really impressed and said, “that’s great” or words to that effect.  It seems that Britain still has an enviable reputation for quality throughout the world and that’s always good to know. 

Mecmesin stand at Interpack 2011