A weekly look at new products, innovations

Editor's Note: Each week, Rubber & Plastics News will take a look at some of the rubber industry's new products and innovations on www.rubbernews.com. Does your company have a new product or new innovation? To be considered for inclusion in this recurring feature, email [email protected].

TA Instruments has introduced a line of thermogravimetric analyzers that feature a new system design resulting in what the company said is improved performance in sensitivity, temperature control and atmosphere control.

The Discovery TGA 5500, TGA 550 and TGA 55 include TA Instrument's Tru-Mass balance system, which the firm said delivers high sensitivity and accurate real time weight data. A new app-style user interface is standard with each model, according to the company, and combined with a new TRIOS software, automated calibration and verification routines are improved to help laboratory workflows and productivity.

The Discovery TGA measures sample weight changes under controlled conditions of temperature, time and atmosphere, TA Instruments said, and it is used to characterize the thermal stability and composition of a wide range of materials including polymers, elastomers, composites, pharmaceuticals, electronics and inorganics.

The TGA 5500 comes standard with options including TA's IR Furnace that provides the fast heating and cooling rates, the company claimed, as well as a new 25-position autosampler that allows flexibility in programming experiments and in auto calibration and verification routines.

TA Instruments said the TGA 550 is a flexible and configurable research-grade TGA, and is a cost-effective and easy to use.

For more information, go to www.tainstruments.com.

Jet Edge Inc., a waterjet systems manufacturer, has introduced Permalign V-series mini hopper for abrasive waterjet cutting.

The company said the variable aperture Permalign V-series mini hopper increases abrasive waterjet cutting productivity by allowing waterjet operators to make adjustments to abrasive flow, minimizing abrasive consumption.

The device's water resistant design helps prevent abrasive clogs that can cause stoppages, the company said. The mini hopper does not require an enclosure, according to the firm, allowing for cleaner operation, and is between 0.10 pounds per minute to 2 pounds per minute, with improved venting of excess abrasive.

Jet Edge said the Permalign V-series mini hopper is available as a replacement part for all of the firm's abrasive waterjet cutting systems.

For more information, visit www.jetedge.com; e-mail [email protected]; or call 1-763-497-8700.

Comau has introduced two new robots, Racer5-0.63 and Racer5-0.80, expanding its small robot family for applications in restricted spaces, including handling, assembly and pick and place.

The company said both are controlled by the R1C 19-inch rack-mounted controller, which can be integrated into a single cabinet to control an entire line. The robots are available in the openROBOTICS version where the robot is directly integrated into the existing machine/line automation controlled by B&R technologies, the company said.

Both robots are built on the Racer3 technological platform, Comau said, thus offering solutions that share the same components and parts.

The two new robots expand the capacity of Racer3 in terms of payload and reach, the company said. Racer5-0.63 features a reach of 630mm and payload of 5kg. Racer5-0.80 is rated for a payload of 5kg, but has an extended reach of 809mm, according to the company. All the other features of Racer3 remain the same.

For additional details, go to www.comau.com