X-ray scanner with promising prospects

In 2004, after four years of development, Sciteq-Hammel A/S launched a new x-ray scanner that will ease the production of multilayer pipes with less waste material and create a sizeable window of opportunity considering plastic raw materials make up 80% of pipe costs

FORCE Technology has been developing the scanner for four years in collaboration with Sciteq-Hammel A/S that produces markets and sells the scanner. FORCE Technology has supplied key components of the scanners x-ray system

A raw materials money saver

The x-ray scanner is part of a major, joint development project on industrial metrology and offers very accurate measurement of the thickness of pipe layers. The scanner’s measurements are utilised to ensure an accurate thickness without suspension of production. Thus, the tolerance requirements can be precisely met and the materials consumption reduced, which represent a significant advantage with plastics raw materials making up 80% of overall pipe costs.

The patented technology is based on x-raying the pipe and subsequently measuring the attenuation of the x-raying. The x-ray source and detector system are moved up and down using a mechanical scanner to measure a number of parameters, e.g. density changes. Using a special data processing technique, you can determine the thickness of the individual pipe layers.

The metrology equipment was tested at a dedicated plant. FORCE Technology compared the results of geometrical measurements that are based on lab measurements of dimensions and density of random samples. The results were so promising that they led to a contract with Sciteq-Hammel A/S on the delivery of the equipment to a European company. Considering the successful results, Sciteq-Hammel has high expectations for the equipment and FORCE Technology will continue to deliver key components of the system