Technical
Info
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One of our skilled technicians
solving customers' problems.
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By definition,
solving new and difficult problems demands an investment in research
and development. This, in fact, may be our chief competetitive advantage.
Whitford Worldwide is a privately held company so we control our destiny,
which importantly includes allocating funds as we see fit.
Whitford
spends a higher percentage of its sales on research and development
than any of its competitors — one reason why Whitford manufactures
the largest, most complete line of fluoropolymer coatings in the
world.
We maintain seven complete R&D centers, one at each of our manufacturing
facilities. The sole responsibility of our skilled technicians is
to solve our customers' problems, frequently by designing tailor-made
products.
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Whitford’s
USA facility, with the building housing the laboratory just behind
the flagpole.
More
equipment, better equipment
The
laboratory has been moved next to manufacturing and has been separated
into six individual labs:
- Development:
dedicated to new products.
- Technical
services: product modification and customer support.
- Applications:
production-line simulation and improvement of processes.
- Powder
coatings: development of powder products and small-scale production.
- Analytical:
quality control, testing and coating analysis.
- Environmental:
corrosion and weathering testing.
Whitford
has three test kitchens in which "in-home" use tests are
performed. One is in Wisconsin, near major cookware manufacturers.
Breadth
of testing equipment
Whitford’s
laboratory has the following equipment and testing capabilities:
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Atomic absorption testing is fast, efficient
— and colorful.
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Infrared
spectroscopy.
- Elemental
analysis by atomic absorption spectroscopy.
- Two
extruders.
- Kesternich
cabinets.
- Salt
spray cabinets.
- Accelerated
weathering tester.
- Melt
indexer.
- Continuously
operating dishwasher.
- Continuous,
automatic stainless steel washer for etching substrates.
- Laser
particle-size analysis.
- Karl
Fischer for incoming quality control.
- Measurement
of coefficient of friction by several methods.
- Reciprocating
abrasion tester.
- Mechanical
scratch tester (a Whitford development).
- Knife
and spatula scratch tester (another Whitford development).
- Tensile
strength tester.
- Roller
coater.
- Two
curtain coaters.
- Digital
recording of test results with central computer files accessible
by technical service and sales.
- Coming:
surface tension measurement technology
New
"Centers of Excellence"
Whitford
now has centers dedicated to excellence in specialized fields to
help take full advantage of its worldwide laboratory facilities.
A few examples: England covers flexible finishes; the USA handles
curtain coating; Brazil and Italy are dedicated to roller coating;
Singapore looks after small appliances.
What’s
next? Says Mike Miller, Worldwide Technical Manager, "We’re
just beginning to do what we want to do. But our objectives are
clear for the years ahead:
- Greater
and faster sharing of information.
- Uniformity
in documentation and reporting.
- Emphasis
on "Centers of Excellence".
- Improve
training/knowledge of technical staff.
- Emphasis
on new product development.
- Make
products easier to use, more environmentally friendly.
- Develop
a base of intellectual property to carry Whitford into the next
century.
Sounds
like a busy time for the research and development laboratory.
To access more technical information, click on the links below:
Testing Procedures
Environmental
Problem Solving
Excalibur Coatings
Request application advice
Design Guide
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