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24-06-13
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HERMA self-adhesive materials: Analyses performed overnight

• By expanding its laboratory, HERMA has substantially reduced the turnaround time for material analyses.
• A qualified statement can generally be issued just 24 hours after the samples are received.

HERMA has expanded its laboratory in order to provide precise answers quickly, and appreciably curtail its response times for material analyses. "We are now generally able to issue a qualified statement just 24 hours after the samples are received," says HERMA managing director Dr. Thomas Baumgärtner. "We can thus recommend equivalent products and answer customers' technical questions concerning the HERMA materials they are using much more quickly." If the materials have to be returned, the extra time required is attributable solely to the postal or courier service. An unavoidable exception is measurements whose standard procedure takes more time, such as those taken in connection with cyclic climatic testing.

Explaining the background, Dr. Baumgärtner comments, "For many label printers, short turnaround times for material analyses have become an important criterion when selecting suppliers. To an increasing extent, even labels are produced just-in-time nowadays, and label users expect to receive offers within shorter and shorter timeframes." Unforeseen interruptions in labelling processes, furthermore, often bring upstream production or downstream logistics workflows to a standstill. "In such cases, it is essential that the cause is identified quickly and reliably," remarks the managing director.

A prompt analysis depends on the availability of an adequate quantity of sample material. "In ideal circumstances, both finished labels and the raw self-adhesive material are placed at our disposal," explains Dr. Baumgärtner. "Exact descriptions of the application and problem, supported by photos or videos, can also prove invaluable."

Climatic tests performed in-house
Apart from the customary paper, film, adhesive and release force measurements, the HERMA laboratory also offers testing services for resistance to extreme climates and temperature changes in particular. "We can very accurately reproduce customers' actual conditions in the climatic tests we perform in-house," insists Dr. Baumgärtner. "We also attach great importance to specific recommendations concerning various printing processes, including flexo, letterpress and offset." HERMA also collaborates closely with the manufacturers of conventional laser, inkjet and thermal printers. "We have our own UV flexo proofing press and a corona pretreatment system as well," adds Dr. Baumgärtner. In order to optimise or test dispensing properties, HERMA can also draw on the extensive know-how of its Labelling Machines division.