Q-Lab Corporation is a global provider of material durability testing products since 1956. Q-Lab designs and manufactures standard test substrates as well as weathering, light stability, and corrosion testers. In addition, contract test services which include accelerated laboratory testing are available at Q-Lab Florida, Q-Lab Arizona, and Q-Lab Deutschland. Outdoor exposure testing for weathering, lightfastness and corrosion are available at Q-Lab Florida and Q-Lab Arizona.
Our weathering products and services are used by material scientists and technicians in numerous industries including: additives and colorants, adhesive and sealants, automotive, building materials (such as roofing and siding), fabrics/textiles, food and beverages, graphic arts/inks, paints and coatings, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, plastics and packaging, and renewable energy (such as solar).
Our modern corporate headquarters, R&D, and manufacturing facilities are located in Westlake, a beautiful suburb of Cleveland, Ohio USA. Q-Lab sales and distribution facilities are located in Manchester, England, Saarbrucken, Germany, and Shanghai, China. Q-Lab's A2LA accredited laboratory and outdoor testing facilities are located in Homestead, Florida and Buckeye, Arizona. We've also just opened a new accelerated testing lab at our Saarbrücken, Germany location.
If you need a reliable weathering tester that will provide you with accurate results of how your products will weather over time, then look no further than the QUV Accelerated Weathering Tester. Utilising a particular kind of florescent UV lamp to mimic the suns natural rays in combination with controlled moisture and temperature levels, this machine can emulate the impact nature would have over months or years in a matter of days or weeks. It is incredibly user friendly and thanks to the use of energy efficient, long-life lamps and ordinary tap water, it is also very affordable. Please see our website for full details of each of the models available.
There are three models of Q-SUN Xenon Test Chambers to choose from; the Xe-1, Xe-2 and Xe-3, each of which has been designed to provide you with a rapid representation of the damage that can be caused by sun exposure over time. The Q-SUN Xe-1 is a simple but reliable tabletop unit that is ideal for facilities where space is restricted. The Q-SUN Xe-2 is a larger standalone rotating rack unit that gives advanced control over critical test parameters, whilst the Q-SUN Xe-3 is a large capacity unit with additional features such as humidity control and chiller options.
Q-Lab Europe has designed and manufactured three models of cyclic corrosion testers, which both provide accurate representation of the effects of natural atmospheric corrosion, by creating a controlled test environment. The Q-FOG SSP & CCT provide a capacity of up to 240 test panels and feature traditional salt spray, prohesion, the majority of cyclic automotive tests, precise fog dispersion, 120 litre internal solution reservoir and fast cycling action when changes need to be made quickly. Our new Q-FOG CRH combines all the superb features of the SSP and CCT whilst enabling even greater control with full variable humidity control and an optional shower function.
If you want to assess the possible impact of outdoor moisture on your product then our QCT condensation tester may present the ideal solution. With 100% condensing humidity, this highly accurate and affordable unit allows users to change the heat and humidity levels inside the test chamber and can be used on metals, paint finishes and organic materials to show what damage will occur over time as a result of dew and rain. Results from this user-friendly tester can be obtained quickly. You can find full details of this unit and comprehensive information on its many features on our website.
At our testing sites in Florida and Arizona we use Q-RACK aluminium outdoor exposure racks and we have done so for many years. We know how well they stand up to the tropical and desert climates in which they are located and are delighted to enable our customers to purchase the same high-quality racks for their own testing. The Q-RACK is supplied as a kit for simple on-site assembly and can be positioned at a 0°, 5°, 45° or 90° angle depending upon your individual requirements. There are several options available, each of which has been manufactured to meet requirements including ISO, ASTM, SAE and other international standards.
When looking for test substrates, you want to put your trust in a company that delivers consistently high quality items and with millions of Q-Lab substrates being sold and used around the globe annually we are proud our substrates are considered as the world standard. We offer an extensive selection of aluminium and steel panels in a variety of shapes for use with paints, plating, adhesives, sealants, rust inhibitors and other coatings that need to undergo various testing processes under various test conditions. Please contact is if you are unable to find a suitable substrate within our extensive standard range as we are also able to meet custom panel requests.
Q-Lab has a comprehensive selection of thermometers and radiometers to choose from, each of which benefits from black panel temperature sensors to ensure accurate temperatures are sustained and monitored within the test unit. Apart from the QUV/basic tester, they also feature a Solar Eye Irradiance Control System which enables the irradiance levels to be monitored as well as allowing them to be accurately maintained. Calibration is simple and varies per model and needs to be undertaken periodically. The range includes the QUV tester which acquires its calibration readings via any reference thermometer, whereas the Q-SUN models require the action of a special reference black panel thermometer.
UV light is the key contributor to the photodegradation of durable materials that are subject to outdoor exposure. Our range of QUV ultraviolet fluorescent lamps and Q-SUN full spectrum Xenon arc lamps have been designed to simulate realistic UV light to provide testers with an accurate representation of photostability of their products. The QUV lamps are used to assess resistance to damage from the short-wave UV spectrum and require no filters, whilst Q-SUN provides full spectrum exposure including UV, visible light and infrared radiation. To ensure an accurate representation and the appropriate spectrum is achieved for an individual application, Q-SUN lamps need to be used in conjunction with optical filters.
Alongside our comprehensive range of testing products we also offer a number of ancillary items. These include the QUV and Q-SUN advanced water purification system which can be used in conjunction with some models of QUV and Q-SUN test chambers that feature a water spray function. Its purpose is to eliminate the need for purchasing expensive purified water and, in applications where an extensive amount of spraying is required it can quickly pay for itself. QUV and QCT space saver frames use space efficiently by allowing QUV testers to be stacked. Finally we offer a range of specimen mounting products and speciality holders to maximise space within Q-Lab test chambers. Please see our gallery for ideas of how these mounting products can work.
All of our products have been carefully and considerately designed so that they are simple to service by you the customer, saving time and money on call outs and repairs. We are however available to provide as much assistance as you require and have a field team who can visit you on site and service your testers or remedy any issues you may be experiencing. This service is supported by a help desk that customers can contact by email or telephone. Our thermometers and radiometers require periodical calibration to ensure they continue to deliver accurate and consistent results. This is a simple process that can be carried out on site, however, if you prefer you can send them to one of our accredited global recalibration centres where we will do it for you.
We have two world-class test facilities, one in Florida and one in Arizona. Between the two, these sites give our clients the opportunity to have their products tested in some of the most extreme climates. Our Arizona test facility is situated in the heart of the desert and is one of the largest of its kind in the world. With daytime temperatures of up to 46°C it is an ideal place to conduct natural outdoor exposure testing, Q-TRAC natural sunlight concentrator exposure testing and specimen evaluation services. Our Florida site benefits from a subtropical climate with high temperatures and high humidity levels and is thus perfect for natural outdoor exposure testing. We also offer accelerated laboratory testing.
Our products are successfully used by organisations across the globe and our clients rely on them for a number of different applications. These include, but are not limited to: adhesives & sealants, additives & colourants, automotive, building materials, fabrics & textiles, food & beverage, graphic arts, paints & coatings, pharmaceutical & cosmetics, plastics & packaging and wind & solar. On our website you will find details information on how we help support these industries in the crucial stages of development and testing of their products and packaging.
Info
| Registration Number: | FC027581 |
| VAT Number: | GB306 4172 85 |
| Registered at Companies House: | 1 June, 2007 (16 years and 10 months ago) |
| No of Employees: | 101-250 |
| Annual Turnover: | n/a |
| Importers: | |
| Exporters: | |
| Company Type: |
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Opening Times
| Monday | 08:30 AM - 05:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 08:30 AM - 05:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 08:30 AM - 05:00 PM |
| Thursday | 08:30 AM - 05:00 PM |
| Friday | 08:30 AM - 05:00 PM |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
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