Using Force Measurement to Ensure Product Integrity

Mark-10 force testers can be used in a variety of industries. We focus heavily on uses in the packaging, medical, and automotive industries, but did you know that our products have also been used to test the integrity of candle wicks?

A candle manufacturer approached Mark-10 when they needed to improve their production process to help minimize rework and recalls. When a candle is made, the wick must be centered and straight throughout the entire profile of the candle to ensure the candle burns evenly. Most candles have a wick secured to a metal clip crimped to one end, which helps to stabilize the wick during the candle manufacturing process. Tension is applied to the free end of the wick during the wax solidification process to ensure it stays centered. However, the tension could end up separating the wick from the clip, resulting in a manufacturing failure and lost product. 

To help the candle manufacturer reduce these failures, Mark-10 supplied a pull tester that measured the force required to separate the candle wick from the clip. The tester then transmits the data to a PC for further analysis, which helped the candle manufacturer improve quality and consistency of their products.

To read more case studies and to learn how Mark-10 can help your company reduce manufacturing failures, visit our website. We also post more company updates on our Twitter and LinkedIn pages.

Growth in Pharmaceutical Packaging

As 2014 comes to a close we’re looking ahead to what the new year will bring and, according to a new report,the North American pharmaceutical packaging market is set to expand. According to the report, the market is expected to reach more than $26 billion by 2019 due to several factors which are driving exponential growth in the pharmaceutical industry.

In 2012 North America accounted for more than 40% of pharmaceutical sales worldwide, and now there is a larger focus on healthcare by the government, as well as a changing lifestyles and screening technologies, leading to more diagnoses and self-medication.

As pharmaceuticals rise so too must the packaging industry. For pharmaceutical and medical device packaging there are a variety of regulations that packagers must meet including environmental, consumer safety, and labeling compliances. At Mark-10 our force and torque measurement products can help the pharmaceutical and medical device industries achieve quality control objectives through applications such as tablet crush force, needle penetration force, syringe plunger force, bottle cap torque testing, and more. To learn more about our products, visit us online. We are also active on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook where we post more company updates and pharmaceutical news.