Suzanne de Lemos-Williams, Senior Automation Applications Engineer, has a broad knowledge of materials testing programs, especially rubbers and elastomers. At this year’s International Tire Exhibition & Conference (ITEC), she had the opportunity to present to lab managers and technicians in the tire manufacturing industry. She addressed how to identify typical challenges that could be relieved through automation and how to make better use of skilled labor and improve efficiency with automated solutions.

Quality Control involves a large amount of mechanical testing, tensile and flex primarily. These tests are well defined by standards and demand a high level of consistency. They can be time-consuming and repetitive, and subject to variability.

To highlight one automation solution for QC, we can look at the AT3. Designed to meet the testing requirements of ASTM D638, D790 and ISO 527, 178, the AT3 offers many of the benefits of the Instron^® robotic AT6 systems, but in a smaller footprint and at a significantly lower cost. Processing up to 80 specimens per run, standard options include specimen barcode read capability as well as automatic dual-axis specimen measurement and loader. The AT3 removes human error and increases safety by keeping the operator away from the testing area. Depending on the materials and the tests performed, operators can save up to 75% of their time—time that can be reallocated for higher value-added tasks.

Watch the AT3 video to experience this small, yet powerful automated testing system: