Quality control departments have evolved and joined the frontlines of innovation and risk management. Besides compliance verification, these professionals must make strategic decisions affecting production efficiency and brand reputation. Upholding these metrics involves having top-of-the-line testing machines.
Here’s what to know about these technologies and how brands can empower their engineers.
The Role of Materials Testing Machines
Materials testing machines provide insight into physical properties, such as strength and hardness. For example, companies could use them to gauge the toughness of steel and other metals.
Quality control professionals rely on them for concrete evidence to make decisions during the production process. Employees verify materials before producing parts, so machines are the first line of defense.
Engineers use materials testing machines to make products lighter and stronger. Quality control teams provide performance limits to define safe operating windows, from the point of failure to tensile strength.
By validating new materials, these professionals help companies improve products and lower costs. Their keen eye is essential in ensuring the 100,000th part is identical to the first.
How These Machines Benefit Quality Control Departments
Safety is the primary benefit of materials testing machines. Each test verifies that the materials are safe to use in airplanes, bridges, and other critical structures. It is essential to ensure they can support their expected service loads and keep people safe.
The machines are also necessary for protecting equipment. Facility engineers must conduct thorough risk assessments, which include machine integrity.
Besides safety, there are several other benefits of materials testing machines.
- Regulatory compliance: Materials testing helps engineers meet national and international standards in their fields.
- Waste reduction: These machines identify nonconforming materials early in production cycles, mitigating potential defects and product recalls.
- Research and development: Testing helps engineers understand material behavior when developing new products and working with innovative substances.
- Data accuracy: Materials testing machines provide data to simulation software, helping it generate accurate results.
- Brand reputation: Companies that ship reliable, high-quality products build customer trust and a strong brand reputation.
What Are the Top-Rated Materials Testing Machines for Quality Control?
Materials testing machines are the workhorses of quality control departments. In today’s competitive landscape, manufacturing professionals need to select the right equipment. Here are five companies with industry-leading products and proven track records.
1. Best for Packaging Engineering: Thwing-Albert Instrument Company
Thwing-Albert Instrument Company has built a stellar reputation since its 1899 founding. The New Jersey company designs and manufactures materials testing machines for various components. From packaging to plastics, these experts are trusted across engineering fields.
Thwing-Albert stands out for its packaging engineering expertise. Its machines test materials for puncture, impact resistance, and other critical characteristics.
The company understands the need to withstand rough handling during transportation and to protect components. Thwing-Albert is also helpful in testing paper equipment for COF, burst strength, and tear resistance.
Key features:
- ISO 9001:2015 certification
- Customized testing solutions
- Built-to-order instruments with high-quality standards
- Strategic partnerships with industry leaders
2. Best for Aerospace Engineering: Materials Test Systems
Materials Test Systems is among the industry leaders in testing and simulation solutions. The Minnesota-based company prioritizes speed and efficiency in the production of testing machines. Engineers across the board benefit from its services, from consulting to software support.
Materials Test Systems is renowned among aerospace engineers for simulating real-world stresses in aircraft components. Its comprehensive testing services accommodate full structures, subassemblies, and individual testing.
Key features:
- Serves diverse engineering types
- Testing and simulation solutions
- Comprehensive consulting and engineering services
- Software support plans for continued operations
3. Best for Automotive Engineering: Instron
Instron designs and manufactures high-quality mechanical testing equipment. Engineers use its innovative solutions to test tension, compression, fatigue, and fracture.
It is best for the automotive industry, as it specializes in structural durability testing. Instron uses its Darmstadt, Germany, facility for crash simulation applications.
While based in Massachusetts, Instron has a broad global reach. It has over 30,000 active systems that receive annual service and calibration. The company has over 300 factory-trained service engineers who provide on-site service.
Key features:
- Over 30,000 active Instron systems serviced and calibrated
- Leading provider of mechanical testing systems
- Over 300 field service engineers worldwide
- Cited in over 18,000 patents
4. Best for Medical and Biomedical Engineering: ADMET
ADMET helps companies across the engineering spectrum solve materials testing challenges. Academia, testing labs, and quality control teams rely on its expertise to improve performance. Leading institutions, such as NASA and Google, use ADMET to position themselves as leaders in their niche.
ADMET produces top-rated materials testing machines for quality control in medical engineering. It excels in testing unique products by producing customized grips and fixtures. The BioTense Bioreactor is well-suited for high-resolution analyses of mechanobiological systems.
Key features:
- Over 30 years of materials testing experience
- Retrofits old systems with ADMET controllers
- Predictable and easy-to-use machines
- Repeatable tests according to ASTM and ISO standards
5. Best for Civil Engineering and Construction: CONTROLS
CONTROLS focuses exclusively on the construction and civil engineering sector. It has over 50 years of experience and a global presence to transform quality control teams. The Italian company features five international branches and 100 distributors, making it a global leader in materials testing machines.
CONTROLS offers over 4,000 construction materials testing products. About 15,000 laboratories worldwide use these machines for government ministries and transportation departments. Engineers use its three global brands for on-site precision testing and to meet project requirements.
Key features:
- Over 4,000 construction materials testing products
- Five international branches for local testing
- Over 100 distributors worldwide
- Cutting-edge research for construction materials
Methodology
The top-rated materials testing machines for quality control are innovation cornerstones. This equipment safeguards brand reputation and ensures product safety. Here are six criteria used to determine the best of the market.
| Accuracy and repeatability | The machine must provide accurate and identical results for each specimen tested. |
| Industry standards | Compliance with major international standards is necessary. |
| Test applications | The top machines are versatile and can be upgraded with various grips and fixtures. |
| User experience | The software should be intuitive and user-friendly for complex test methods and daily assessments. |
| Data analysis | Powerful software is necessary for automated test calculation and customizable reports. |
| Automation capabilities | The company should offer automation options, such as full integration with robot-powered samples. |
Choosing Materials Testing Machines for Quality Control
Engineers must select the best materials testing machine based on industry requirements. The needs of automotive professionals vary from those of biomedical or packaging engineers.
Each machine is a direct investment into company integrity, consumer safety, and innovation capacity. It ensures every product contributes to a business’s foundation of manufacturing excellence.