bespoke testing

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bespoke testing

bespoke testing2023-01-25T15:00:08+00:00

Our Bespoke Testing Services

Impact Solutions understand that our clients have very specific needs and challenges which often aren’t met through standard testing. Thus, we offer a unique bespoke testing service, working with you to develop new standards, test method and equipment to test products to real-world conditions.

We have decades of industry knowledge and technical expertise to draw upon, setting us apart from other test facilities. This work has seen us deliver new methods for testing products across multiple industries from cutting-edge materials to life-saving equipment.

Bespoke testing across different areas:

Medical Devices
Custom Design Packaging
High Performance Materials
Oil and Gas
Trading Standards
Expert Witness

Bespoke Testing: Tree-Pac Case Study

Problem: Requirement of biodegradable tree guards, which hold up against the British weather for at least 5 years.

Solution: Developed the desired formulation to ensure the biodegradable tree guards withstand the British weather long enough for the trees grow.

Impact Solutions have the knowledge and expertise to offer a bespoke testing plan, tailored to your needs. We can work with our customers at any stage of the development of new products or materials, even at the earlier stages of planning.

Impact is part of an Innovate UK project looking to develop a formulation of polymer blend for biodegradable tree guards. These tree guards are being developed to hold up against the British weather for at least 5 years before they begin to biodegrade. The overall goal is to ensure that the developed tree guards will help the trees to grow while protecting them from animals. Once the tree is tall enough, the tree guards should break apart and disintegrate into the soil where they will become food for bacteria.

After a polymer blend was developed, it went through a program of tests including accelerated weathering testing and a series of bespoke biodegradability testing which mimicked the soil conditions you would find in Britain.

Even though we are UKAS accredited testing facility, no. 0402, to carry out industrial composting testing, there is no standard to operate to for the particular requirements of simulating soil conditions for specific countries and environments. Impact had to develop bespoke testing to simulate these conditions.

Impact Solutions is able to employ innovative and bespoke measures that enable us to tailor our testing to various concepts and make further advancements. If there is a unique and particular test you are looking for, get in touch with one of our experts and discover how we can develop an accurate and distinctive test you won’t be able to get anywhere else.

Wheel Bearing Sensor Testing Case Study

Problem: Company required a lab to carry out non-standard testing of wheel bearing sensors.

Solution: As an independent lab, Impact has the capabilities to test to the testing needs and protocol provided by the customer.

Impact Solutions were approached by a company to determine whether or not a product was leak proof under specific temperatures, in which we were asked to perform thermal cycling and shock testing, to the testing protocol provided to us by the company. The products were wheel baring sensors.

Two tests were carried out, including deicing via hot spray and thermal cycling and rain conditions.

We modified our weathering chamber to fit a water spray, allowing it to be used as a spray chamber, in which the water was supplied from a water bath, heated to 50c for the first test.

For the first test, we set the environmental chamber to -8.3c. The sensors were put in the chamber for 2 hours to acclimate. The test subject was subjected to 90 cycles consisting of 60 minutes. Every 60 minutes, the sample was sprayed with the 50c water for 30 seconds. At 45 cycles, the sensors were taken out for 6 hours, in which they were allowed to acclimatise.

For the second test, the environmental chamber was again set to -8.3c following a 2-hour dwell time. The water spray type was then changed to a sprinkle setting, as well as the temperature change to 15c. This test was put on for 10 cycles, with a 300 second spray time and 300 seconds between cycles. After 5 cycles, the sensors were taken out to acclimatise for 6 hours, before continuing with the remaining 5 cycles.

The sensors were put under repeated thermal stress to see how they would handle the conditions. This is important in the automotive industry, where sensors like the ones we tested have to continually update data to the company and be durable under a flurry of weather conditions, potentially in short periods of time, due to the nature of travel and safety concerns.

Medical Devices

Problem: Internationally accepted standard for companies developing, testing and manufacturing medical devices can be very generic.

Solution: Impact gained an understanding of the application for the medical product in order to recommend a bespoke test programme.

With our UKAS accredited lab no.0402, Impact Solutions have the capabilities and state-of-the-art facilities to undergo regulatory testing. One of our specialties lies in medical device testing which involves testing an assortment of devices to ensure they provide adequate protection.

By constantly collaborating with the NHS in a number of medical device testing, we are able to develop safe and cost-efficient products that will enhance the wellbeing of staff and patients.

The standard that is frequently used to ensure the safety and quality of these devices is ISO 13485 “Medical Devices- Quality Management Systems- Requirements for Regulatory Purposes”. This is the most internationally accepted standard for companies developing, testing and manufacturing medical devices. However, this standard can be very generic and lead to “miss-interpretations”.

As a result, it is essential that these devices go through regulatory testing in order to minimise the risk this standard poses and ensure all expectations are met.

For that reason, Impact offers a series of mechanical (tensile, compression, flexural and Fatigue), thermal (climatic tests), chemical resistance and compatibility tests. These enable us to understand the quality of the device and develop recommendations that will further the quality of the product.

Through this type of testing, we have been able to examine the design of blood bags for NHSBT primary blood collection systems in accordance with the requirements set out by the Eurobloodpack Project Validation Protocols in addition to protocols set out by NHSBT. This resulted in us determining whether or not the design of their blood bags was fully functional and recommend any changes. It also enabled us to ensure that the blood bags could not be tampered with or damaged in any way. By being as comprehensive as we can in our tests, we were able to minimise the risk of any design faults that could lead to injury. Therefore, with our significant experience in medical testing, impact is able to provide a superior service like no other.

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