Leading plastics company implements X-Rite spectrophotometers, formulation and quality control software for the creation of color accurate masterbatches.
X-Rite Incorporated, a global leader in color science and technology, and its subsidiary Pantone LLC, today reported that Teknor has standardized on X-Rite color management solutions in its new Corporate Color Lab. As one of the largest privately owned U.S. plastic companies, Teknor offers a full line of custom and standard colors, as well as additives and special effects. Teknor uses a blend of X-Rite color measurement instruments, formulation software and lighting solutions to ensure accurate, consistent, and predictable color across all of its polymer products.
“X-Rite’s focus on providing complete, end-to-end color measurement, management and visual evaluation solutions makes it the best choice as a partner for Teknor and sets it apart from other companies in the color measurement and management space,” said Joe Andrade, Lab Manager at Teknor.
The Teknor Corporate Color Lab is used by several compounding divisions of Teknor Apex Company for the creation of color-accurate masterbatches and other products. A key requirement for Teknor in selecting the X-Rite Ci7800 benchtop spectrophotometer was its strong inter-instrument agreement with Teknor’s existing global installed base of X-Rite Color i7 benchtop spectrophotometers. When sharing and verifying color measurement data across a global company, it is important that similar instruments read and report color data the same way with a similar level of accuracy. Otherwise, color errors can build up over the entire workflow leading to rejections and rework. With the Ci7800, Teknor achieved the desired inter-instrument agreement and alignment with historical measurements from the company’s Color i7 installed base for a streamlined color control process across the entire organization.
Fast Color Formulation
“In the masterbatching process, every compound reacts differently and each batch requires formulation adjustments,” Andrade explained. “The Ci7800 with Color iMatch formulation software provides Teknor’s lab with the necessary data for process control.”
Color iMatch is a job-oriented color formulation solution that helps Teknor select the best colorant formulation for a variety of plastics applications. In order to customize its color formulation and management processes, Teknor added its pigment color palette to Color iMatch software. Now customer samples are measured using the Ci7800, and color curves are analyzed to determine the best possible formulation. As a result, color formulation is faster and more accurate, saving time and reducing laboratory waste.
Improving Visual Evaluation
While Teknor uses market-leading hardware and software to formulate and ameasure color, the company still sees an important role for visual color evaluation, both in the lab and in quality control. To help evaluate both small and large objects under different controlled lighting conditions, the company built an X-Rite SpectraLight-powered light room, painted in Munsell gray. The company also uses a SpectraLight QC light booth for its quality control professionals.
“The SpectraLight-powered light room impresses customers, especially those in the automotive industry, with its ability to simplify evaluation of color under various controlled lighting conditions,” Andrade reported.
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