Swiss company Proceq SA, which focuses on the development of convenient non-destructive testing (NDT) solutions, is celebrating this year the 35th anniversary of Equotip, the portable rebound tester for metal parts.
Proceq has a good reputation for its portable instruments for the metal, construction and paper industries and was the first company to provide portable rebound testers not only for metal parts (Equotip) but also for concrete structures (Original Schmidt) and paper and film rolls (Parotester).
For Equotip’s 35th anniversary celebrations, Proceq recalled that in 1975 its officials Dietmar Leeb and Dr Marco Brandestini invented an alternative hardness testing method to the traditional bench-top testers.
Over the years, the so-called ‘Leeb hardness test’ (also known as ‘Equotip test’) has become extremely popular and widely established. Equotip testers can rapidly measure hardness on large objects with complicated geometries and curved surfaces. They permit measurements in any direction. This adaptability means that Equotip hardness testing remains virtually non-destructive, while a Rockwell or a Brinell test often requires scrapping the object after the test.
The original Leeb tester
Equotip was the original Leeb tester, and is still today referred to as the standard instrument. Modern variants of the original Equotip product are available. They permit optimised applicability to users’ requirements, for example:
• The Equotip Bambino 2/Piccolo 2 have their signal processing platforms firmly connected to the impact device D (interchangeable with DL), while the Equotip 3 platform can be connected to any of the above-mentioned probes via cable.
• While the Equotip Bambino 2 does not store measurements, the Equotip Piccolo 2 and Equotip 3 include memories to document 2,000 and even more than 1 million time-stamped readings, respectively.
• Beside ‘standard conversion curves’, customer-defined conversions can be uploaded to the Equotip Piccolo 2 and Equotip 3 for more accurate test results on special metal alloys.
• With software like Equolink 3, data can be stored on computers for future reference. In Equotip 3, individual file names can be assigned during instrument setup, or workpiece identification barcodes can be scanned to ensure that the user can trace back measurements to specific workpieces.
• The Equotip 3 Automation Package not only gives flexible data access via computers and intra/internet, but also allows for full remote control of the indicating platform.
Roll-out of new products
“As Proceq did in the last 55 years, the company will continue its tradition of constantly rolling out new NDT products into the market,” it said. “These products will further support the industries with their needs for testing solutions. Proceq Middle East and its worldwide sister companies are ready to locally assist its customers with advice, support and services,” Proceq SA said.
