C-Therm, Metravib partner on material testing line

FREDERICTON, New Brunswick—C-Therm Technologies Ltd., a Canadian producer of thermal conductivity analysis instruments for a wide range of applications, recently reached a partnership with Lyon, France-based Metravib, a "significant partner" moving forward in the complex materials testing market, according to C-Therm.

The Feb. 14 agreement makes C-Therm the exclusive North American distributor of Metravib's dynamic mechanical analysis testing line, known as DMA+, according to Stewart Hillhouse, marketing manager with C-Therm.

"We already serve overlapping customers in the plastics, rubber and composites industries," Hillhouse said. "This is a really nice complement line for us. Metravib has been a good partner over the years and it made sense to finally offer their distribution."

While C-Therm instruments focus on "rapid, non-destructive thermal analysis" and sensor solutions for the research and development, manufacturing and quality control sectors, Metravib's DMA+ line will allow C-Therm to expand its customer base in the high-frequency, high-force markets, Hillhouse said.

Hugues Baurier, Metravib's global sales manager, spoke to the value of partnering with C-Therm in North America.

"They have an impressive team with a very well-equipped lab, possessing strong technical acumen," Baurier said. "We feel they can add a lot of value in the consultancy engagement with our clients and provide very capable technical support. C-Therm does a great job setting the customer up for success."

The DMA+ line can measure elastomeric and polymer properties (including those for resins, composites, adhesives and coatings) for vibration, viscosity, stiffness, creep and fatigue, among other properties, and can determine the physics and structure of materials, according to Metravib.

The DMA+ line also can measure those same properties in asphalts, woods, paper, glass and ceramics, according to Metravib.

"DMA is a really important testing method that all tire and rubber manufacturers would need to consider in early stage testing and quality assurance," Hillhouse said. "Some of the most trusted names in tire manufacturing in Europe choose Metravib instruments to test their new materials before they hit the market."

In particular, the Metravib Xpander impressed officials at C-Therm, Hillhouse said, as the instrument is fully automated.

"Samples can be preloaded and a robotic arm grabs them for testing," he said. "This makes for a controlled way to run experiments, and they can run unassisted. This eliminates human error in dealing with such finite amounts of material. The automation offers unparalleled accuracy and efficiency when it comes to running a lot of samples."

Along with the expanded ability to test a range of metrics, Hillhouse said C-Therm will offer service for the DMA+ line. Metravib will continue to manufacture the DMA+ line of products, and branding will remain the same.

"We will have no part in the manufacturing process," he said. "We will be a North American point of contact, strictly for distribution. We are trying to better serve the polymer, plastics and rubber industries and provide them with the tools they need to innovate."

C-Therm will continue to offer thermal conductivity, effusivity and inertial testing as they relate to material consistency, homogeneity, layering and abnormalities in textiles and polymers, the company said. C-Therm can also test insulation, explosives, heat transfer fluids and metals, among other materials, whether they are in a transient or steady state.

C-Therm has received an "R&D 100 Award" for its breakthroughs in sensor technology, which can be found in ATMs, Polaroid film and anti-lock brakes, according to the Canadian company.

Hillhouse noted that Metravib has been "thriving with innovation in their sector" as well.

"We serve the same industries in rubber and composites, and they really impressed with the quality they offered," he said. "We found that our visions aligned in a lot of places.

"We are very excited to offer this service to our existing customer base and we hope it also encourages collaboration in our industry moving forward."