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Explore every stage of the modern plastic bottle and container manufacturing process with our interactive process map. From raw material preparation and preform production through to stretch blow molding, filling preparation, inspection, labeling, and palletizing, every step requires precision, consistency, and rigorous quality control. By clicking on each stage within the diagram below, you…
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Explore every stage of the modern canmaking line with our interactive beverage can manufacturing process map. From coil handling and cupping through to decorating, necking, and palletizing, each step in the process demands precision, consistency, and quality assurance. By hovering over each stage in the diagram below, you can discover the most relevant beverage can…
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Overview Burst strength testing is one of the most widely used methods for evaluating the performance of sealed flexible packaging. It applies controlled internal pressure to a package until failure, measuring the point at which the seal or material gives way. For quality managers, R&D specialists, and operations experts working across flexible packaging production, burst…
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Definition: Wet coating thickness measurement is the process of measuring the thickness of applied coating or paint layer immediately after it has been applied to a metal coil substrate — before the coated product enters the curing oven and dries. This is achieved using non-contact, optical sensor-based technology positioned inline at the point of application. Why it matters: In coil coating production lines, coatings travel at high…
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Color consistency in metal can manufacturing refers to the ability to reproduce a brand's specified colors accurately and repeatedly across every decorated aluminum or steel beverage can - regardless of production run, facility, or geography. In the can-making industry, color is measured using three attributes: hue (the recognized color, such as red or blue), chroma (the vividness or saturation of that color), and lightness (how light or dark the color appears). These are quantified using…
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Our metrology toolkit has been created by specialist experts with in-depth knowledge It offers insight and best practice advice for UK-based manufacturers working with CMMs, arms, height gauges, or master artefacts. Through UKAS-accredited Torus Metrology Services, you can rest assured that your metrology needs are being handled by true specialists with the appropriate knowledge, certifications, and expertise required to deliver results. Our free toolkit offers advice on…
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To ensure that paints and coatings are easy to apply and durable in their nature, oils and additives are required. To know that the addition of these components doesn’t adversely affect the composition of your final paint or coating, you need thorough and efficient viscosity testing. Oils and lubricant additives in paint The addition of…
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Can seaming to achieve robust, hermetically sealed metal packaging is a preferred practice to protect a wide range of types of products across many industries. An effective double seam is crucial to the integrity of a can. The process of can seaming has been around for decades and has undergone some massive transformations over the…
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Key terms Chain scission. The breaking of long polymer molecules into shorter chains, reducing molecular weight. Driven by heat, shear, and oxidation during use and reprocessing. Post-consumer recyclate (PCR). Material recovered from products that have completed their intended use and been collected from end users. Post-industrial recyclate (PIR). Material recovered from manufacturing scrap, trim, or…
How to validate the performance of recycled and sustainable plastics Reprocessed polymers inherently differ from virgin materials, so validating their performance calls for a deliberate, standards-led approach. This explainer sets out why recycled plastics need their own testing strategy, which properties to measure, how the core test methods work, and how to build a defensible…
What is recycled and sustainable plastics testing? Recycled and sustainable plastics testing is the structured measurement of the mechanical, flow, and durability properties of polymers that contain recycled content, carried out so manufacturers can confirm the material performs as required for its end use. It is a core part of quality control and R&D for…
Definition Fiber tensile strength describes the maximum pulling force a pulp fiber network or paper sheet can withstand before breaking. It is one of the most important mechanical properties in paper and pulp manufacturing, directly influencing how well finished materials perform under real-world stress. For paper and handsheet testing, tensile strength is typically reported in kilonewtons per meter (kN/m)…
Zero-Span Tensile Testing overview Zero-span tensile testing is the industry-standard method for measuring the intrinsic strength of individual pulp fibers within a paper sheet. Unlike conventional tensile tests - which measure the combined effect of fiber strength and inter-fiber bonding - zero-span testing isolates fiber wall strength by gripping the sample at a gauge length of zero…
Key terms, definitions, and facts for fiber strength and material performance testing in paper and pulp manufacturing. Key Terms Zero-Span Tensile Strength The breaking strength of a paper sample measured at zero (or near-zero) gauge length. Isolates the intrinsic tensile strength of individual pulp fibers from inter-fiber bonding effects. Measured to TAPPI T231. Expressed in kN/m or as…
UTM Key Terms: Glossary & Fact Sheet A quick-reference guide to the most important terms in Universal Testing Machine (UTM) operation and materials testing. For a full explanation of how these terms are applied in practice, see our Test Method Explainer. Load frame The structural component of a UTM that houses the crosshead, columns, platens, and drive system. Designed…
Universal Testing Machine (UTM) A Universal Testing Machine (UTM) is a precision mechanical testing instrument used to measure the physical properties of materials, components, and finished products under controlled tension, compression, flexure, peel, and shear forces. The term "universal" reflects the machine's ability to perform a wide range of standardised tests on a broad variety…
Tensile testing paper can reveal a wealth of information essential for the manufacturer of everything from tissue paper to corrugated cardboard or paperboard. It can help you determine characteristics such as paper stiffness, modulus and tensile strength, as well as tear length and energy absorption. Why is testing the tensile strength of paper important? Knowing…
