Ace Every Test

A professional and customer focused accredited laboratory with experience in diverse industrial sectors testing products for vibration, climatic, corrosive atmospheres, ingress protection and shock

Axis Test Laboratories is a provider of comprehensive environmental testing that enables designers and engineers to qualify and evaluate the behaviour and performance of their products whilst ensuring all legal requirements are satisfied. With experience in offshore, deep sea, rail, road and military product approvals, the procedures employed by Axis Test Laboratories can be applied to highlight where the exposure to environmental conditions can present a potential hazard or cause performance issues to equipment.

The company was established in 2010 to meet the testing requirements of the marine and subsea sectors, and has expanded so it now provides environmental testing to industries ranging from; rail, military, aerospace, industrial, as well as packaging and transportation testing.

The team are on hand to offer extensive advice, drawing from the experiences of an expert team of Engineers to guide customers through every step of the testing process. This expertise allows Axis Test Laboratories to provide insight and potential solutions, to shorten development times and help reduce the costs by finalising an optimal design as quickly as possible.

Vibration testing involves the repeated oscillation about a central point at a specific level and frequency, meant to mimic the effects of ‘shaking’ experienced by products in everyday use. This shaking can be a result of nearby reciprocal machinery or the uneven road surface experienced during transportation from factory to customer. Imbalances in the construction can stress the materials and cause metal fatigue, which can result in cracks, fractures and breakages resulting in the product not being able to carry out its intended function and potentially resulting in injury. Vibration testing identifies weaknesses in the construction and can locate problems before they occur.

The assessment is not just limited to the physical observations. For many products, full functionality is a requirement, particularly for safety critical equipment. As part of the vibration test schedule at Axis Test Laboratories, inputs and outputs of systems can be monitored to ensure no loss in signal or degradation of performance and that the equipment under test continues to function as normal both after and during any testing experience.

Axis Test Laboratories can offer tailored testing strategies to give a broad analysis of how a product is affected by exposure to corrosive atmospheres. Multiple exposure periods are offered, ranging from several days to multiple weeks depending on the specified requirements.

Corrosion testing involves creating a damp, warm, high concentration salt atmosphere in which a product can be observed to see how resistant the materials are to the corrosive effects of the chemicals which occur naturally in outside conditions.

The effects of a corrosive atmospheres can adversely affect the performance of products, and can even render products useless. Corrosion testing, as performed at Axis Test Laboratories is an efficient way to ensure the effectiveness of protective coatings and to identify any areas that may cause issues over the lifetime of a product.

Climatic testing is useful in various industries to examine the effects that extremities of environmental conditions have on the functionality and reliability of products. Climate can affect the structural integrity of materials, can contribute to unexpected problems with electronics and interfere with safety critical sensors.

Performed to the highest of good engineering practices and by the methods outlined in BS EN 60068. Testing is carried out with accreditation from UKAS ensuring confidence in the robustness of the practices, precision of the equipment and accuracy of reporting.

The following conditions are trialled as part of the climatic testing at Axis Test Laboratories:

• Cold – simulates the effects of freezing conditions and general areas of low temperature such as what may be experienced in the Arctic and Siberia.

• Dry heat – ideal for simulation of hot, dry conditions such as engine rooms and deserts.

• Humidity – this test can detect problems caused by damp atmospheres. Changing humidity and temperature can cause condensation to form in areas of the product which may inhibit correct operation.

It is essential that rail equipment is proven to be safe and reliable, and is able to withstand any harsh environment. Axis Test Laboratories provides a range of suite testing to ensure that all equipment meets the rail industry requirements.

The types of testing done includes:

• Vibration.

• Shock and bump.

• Salt mist and corrosive atmospheres.

• Cold, Dry heat, Cyclic Humidity, High/ Low Temperature Storage.

• EMC, Stress and Voltage Testing.

The unique business model Axis Test Laboratories employs enables customers to send their equipment from anywhere in the world to their laboratory in Durham for environmental testing, and receive a full test report back within ten days or less of the completion of testing. For more information or to speak to the team, get in touch via the contact information below.

Tel: 0191 3784653

Email: info@axistestlaboratories.co.uk

Visit: www.axistestlaboratories.co.uk

Address: Axis Test Laboratories

Unit 11A, Oakway Court, Meadowfield Industrial Estate, Meadowfield, Durham DH7 8XD