Advanced Photonix intros new terahertz product at NPE

ANN ARBOR, USA: Advanced Photonix Inc. is introducing a new terahertz product at the National Plastics Exposition (NPE) in Orlando, Florida. The new system, called T-Gauge, was developed for the industrial market to be used on the factory floor for quality and process control, including manufacturers of web processing and converting products.

The ability of terahertz energy to penetrate non-conducting materials combined with the system’s high speed data processing enables non-destructive inspection of web based products with feedback for continuous process adjustments. The T-Gauge is non-nuclear and provides sensitivity to both physical and chemical composition changes in products. It has the ability to measure single and multi-layer thickness, density, basis weight, and can detect subsurface defect and delamination which can be used to monitor process and product quality.

API is the first company to commercialize terahertz technology and deploy it to the factory floor through the use of its patented fiber-coupled sensors. This enabling technology gives manufacturers the flexibility to mount the sensors on a scanning frame without contacting or impeding the product, and to collect more information than previously possible to control the manufacturing process for tighter tolerances, resulting in cost savings and improved quality.

"We are excited to introduce the T-Gauge system. This technology is aimed at replacing nuclear gauges while improving quality control and saving material at our customers. Web processing and converting is one of many markets we are working with globally to take the terahertz technology to the factory floor. API, along with our value-added reseller channel, is driving hard to optimize our product offering to meet the needs of the industrial market," said Richard Kurtz, CEO of API.