services

Lab Testing

Our laboratories have a human team with extensive experience in the testing, characterization and analysis of the behavior of all types of materials, aimed at a wide diversity of industrial sectors.

services

Lab Testing

Our laboratories have a human team with extensive experience in the testing, characterization and analysis of the behavior of all types of materials, aimed at a wide diversity of industrial sectors.

WHY SHOULD YOU PLACE YOUR TRUST IN US?

  • In the last 10 years, we have carried out more than 80,000 tests and technological services.
  • We are a technological center with extensive and proven experience, with over 100 years of history and certifications and accreditations from the main national and international bodies.
  • We are the leading technology center at a national level and the third biggest Spanish technology center in terms of revenue and private turnover, as well as in attracting European projects.

LABS

CLIMATE AGING
Physical-mechanical (23°C/50% RH)​
Physical-mechanical (20°C/65% RH)
DIMENSIONAL METROLOGY
EMISSIONS AND CHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION
REACTION TO FIRE
MICROSCOPY AND COLORIMETRY
TEXTILE TREATMENTS AND SOLIDS
MICROBIOLOGY

Climate Aging Lab

Our Materials Aging laboratory provides companies with different types of equipment designed to check and determine the behavior of their products with regard to accelerated aging and environmental effects.

The lab performs validation and reliability tests for all types of materials and components in accordance with national and international standards, and also according to the manufacturer’s own specifications, such as those of automotive OEMs. With our equipment, extreme environmental conditions can be simulated to determine the durability, life cycle, compatibility, and wear resistance of materials, components, parts and assemblies.

Main types of lab tests:

Characterization through the use of stoves, freezers, and environmental and climatic chambers. Determination, for example, of deformations, shrinkages, durability, embrittlement, and more. Characterization by means of environmental and climatic chambers. Determination, for example, of hydrolysis, degrees of oxidation, durability of mixtures, condensation tests, and more.

Characterization by means of climate chambers that combine temperature, humidity and light radiation, in continuous or cyclical simulations. Determination, for example, of deformations, shrinkages, embrittlement, wear, durability of electronic components, use cycles, and more.

Characterization by means of solar simulation equipment (with temperature and humidity control), infrared (IR) lamps, xenon arc lamps, weather-ometer (WOM) equipment, and UV light lamps (UV-Test). Determination, for example, of color fastness, surface wear due to light incidence, variation in physical-mechanical characteristics, and more.

Characterization through the use of specific equipment capable of subjecting materials to sudden changes in temperature in a few seconds. Determination, for example, of the behavior of materials to sudden changes in temperature, and the variation of their physical-mechanical characteristics.
Characterization by means of environmental salt spray chambers. Determination, for example, of the occurrence of red corrosion in iron, of white oxide in zinc, erosion of circuits and connectors, and more.
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Physical-mechanical (23°C/50% RH)

Our Physical-Mechanical laboratory, under controlled environmental conditions of temperature and relative humidity (23°C and 50% RH), offers services related to the physical-mechanical properties of mainly plastic materials, as well as those that, according to regulations or standards, have to be tested in these environmental conditions.

The lab is comprehensively equipped for this type of testing and offers companies and manufacturers solutions when it comes to the characterization of their parts, components and materials.

Main types of lab tests:

Characterization using different universal testing machines for the determination of, for example, tensile strength, flexural strength, compressive strength, peel strength, friction strength, adhesion strength, and other mechanical properties. Tests with/without environmental chamber (-40°C to 250°C). Force range up to 10 kN. Accessories: Strain gauges, jaws, fasteners, clamps, and more.

Characterization through the use of various equipment to measure properties such as, for example, mass, density, thickness, melting point, volume, solubility, viscosity, permeability, and more.

Characterization through the use of different equipment for the determination of, for example, surface hardness, adhesion, abrasion wear, scratching, surface impact resistance, chemical resistances, and more.
Characterization of car interior and exterior parts according to manufacturer specifications and regulations. Specific accreditations of the RENAULT Group (Self-Validation), and the VOLKSWAGEN Group as a reliable laboratory.
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Physical-mechanical (20°C/65% RH)

Our Physical-Mechanical lab, under controlled environmental conditions of temperature and relative humidity (20°C and 65% RH), offers services related to the physical-mechanical properties of mainly textile products, and other materials that, according to regulations or standards, have to be tested in these environmental conditions.

The laboratory is comprehensively equipped for this type of test and offers companies and manufacturers solutions for the characterization of fabrics, determination of resistance to use, comfort, liquid repellency, breathability of masks, as well as other specific properties of textile products and their components.

Main types of lab tests:

Various standardized testing machines for the determination, under accredited regulations, of tensile strength, tears, punches, seam strength, elasticities, bursts, and other physical-mechanical properties.

Accredited standards for determining grammages, density, thread count, thickness, structures, and more.

Martindale abrasion and pilling, pilling box, random pilling, snagging, and other accredited standards for these types of properties.
Chemical penetration, air and water tightness, detergency, glove integrity, knuckle impact, and more. In garments, high-visibility color coordinates, surface and design, and retroreflection, among others.
Accredited regulations for the simulation of heat and moisture transfer processes through materials close to the skin, measuring their transfer speed. Other tests such as air permeability, drying rate, and MMT (Moisture Management Tester, the only instrument on the market that can accurately measure the properties of a fabric in contact with a liquid, describing its dynamic behavior and performance).
Water column tests, Bundesmann rain gauge, spray test, and others.
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Dimensional Metrology Lab

Our Dimensional Metrology laboratory is accredited according to ISO/IEC 17025 for measurement by direct palpation, being the only one in Catalonia, and one of the few in Spain, that can offer the performance of three-dimensional measurement tests with coordinate measurement equipment (CMM).

We offer measurement services to companies in sectors as diverse as the automotive, construction, medical, 3D printing, and aeronautics sectors, ensuring the high added value of their products.

These types of measurements are essential for companies and manufacturers to ensure:

  • Reliability and prestige of their products.
  • Reduced possibilities of producing items that do not conform to specification.
  • In the event of legal action, the ability to demonstrate that the company has acted diligently.
  • Access to contracting through Public Sector specifications.
  • Ready access to foreign markets.

These guarantees set them apart in front of their customers and other stakeholders.

In addition, the lab has other non-contact measurement systems for companies that need them.

Main types of lab tests:

Measurement of parts, assemblies, components, casting certification reports, molds, and more. Measurement reports and graphs based on the CAD comparative method. Dimensional study for assembly failure analysis, and more.
Reading on two Cartesian axes with micrometric precision, using optical vision equipment.

Obtained with calibrated equipment. Lengths, profiles, thicknesses, heights, depths, and more.

Digitizing parts; extracting groups of points and curves; modeling surfaces, and more.

Control of the most common parameters of surface roughness (Ra, Rz, Rq), roughness meter, profilometer, and more.
Non-destructive measurements and inspections using X-ray scanning. Non-proprietary technology (in agreement with a business partner for the service).
Capacity and statistical process control (Cp, Cpk and SPC indices). Quality metrics and 6 sigma strategies.
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Emissions and chemical characterization Lab

Our Emissions and Chemical Characterization laboratory provides companies with equipment and personnel specialized in determining the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and in the characterization of physicochemical properties in materials such as plastics, textiles, metals, and more.

We help manufacturers improve their materials and develop new ones that provide greater value and are more sustainable.

Main types of lab tests:

Identification and characterization of polymers and additives, reinforcements and supplements, residual substances, metal components, additives, and more. Calorimetry, crystallinity, melting temperature (DSC), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), IR-ATR spectrophotometer, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), melt flow rates (MFI/MVI), inorganic filler content, and more.
Ion Chromatography; Micro-Gas Chromatography; HPLC-PDA Chromatography; Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC), and more.
Surface tension studies, contact angles, wettability, and more.
Characterization, for example, by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) of crystallinity, melting temperatures and phase transition. Performing thermogravimetric analysis (TGA).
Automotive fogging tests, carbon emission determination, formaldehyde emission tests, odor tests, VOC emission tests, and more.

Brugger test; Microtap test; Reichert test. Melt flow testers, viscometers, and more.

Determination of permethrin in wool, resistance to chemical permeation and penetration, chromium content, phthalate content, nickel, and more.
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Reaction to fire lab

Our accredited Fire Reaction laboratory enables companies and manufacturers to characterize their products and materials, ensuring fire safety and evacuation feasibility in the event of a fire.

This type of testing is a regulated and standardized requirement in sectors such as the automotive industry, where materials are usually tested according to particular regulations and requirements determined by each manufacturer (OEM), and construction, where they are usually included in Technical Codes. Reaction to fire is also an important parameter in other areas, such as rail, maritime, and more.

The laboratory also has the capability to provide these types of services for materials in liquid or semi-liquid states, such as greases, lubricating oils, and more.

Main types of lab tests:

Materials and garments intended for protective clothing and equipment.

Laboratory validated by AESA (State Aviation Safety Agency) for textile and polymeric products according to test method FAR/CS-25.853.

Horizontal and vertical combustibility tests for automotive interior products.
Small and large iron and aluminum splashes.
Enclosures made of textile elements (marquees) and temporary structures (tents). Coated fabrics. Decorative and furniture elements in buildings and establishments for public use. Upholstered fixed seats and chairs. Suspended textile elements, such as curtains, drapes, draperies, etc.
Materials and garments intended for protective clothing and equipment (resistivity, vertical resistance, load dissipation).
Ignition test on a multiple junction tube (Manifold, ISO 20823), determination of flame persistence in a wick impregnated with a fire-resistant fluid (Wick test, ISO 14935), and others.
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Microscopy and Colorimetry Lab

Our Microscopy and Colorimetry laboratory is equipped with different optical microscopy (MO) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipment, profilometer and spectrophotometers. It also has the equipment to make the necessary preparations in each case (microtomes, polisher, resins, stains, etc.), as well as a photographic studio, digital cameras and image processing software.

These types of microscopic services help companies and organizations to characterize and analyze their materials and are very useful for the analysis of surfaces, morphology, topography and cross-section, composition of elements, specific properties of textile fibers and their qualitative identification, fault diagnosis, defect inspection, and more. These techniques make it possible to obtain valuable information by capturing images of certain structures that are not visible to the human eye.

Knowledge of this information helps manufacturers choose between the best materials, develop new products, analyze defects, optimize their processes and reduce costs.

The lab also has different types of colorimeters, spectrophotometers, glossmeters and visual comparison booths. This equipment is used for the determination of color coordinates, degree of white, comparison between colors to detect color differences, UV and NIR protection, as well as the determination of other specific properties of materials, such as surface gloss, metamerism, and more.

Main types of lab tests:

Measurement of distances, angles, areas, depths, thicknesses, cross-sections and more.

Fibers, microcapsules, contaminants, and more.
Plastics, textiles, hair, coated materials, surface degradation, morphology and more.
UV and NIR protection, color measurement and evaluation. Desktop and portable equipment. Directional geometry (45°/0°) and diffuse geometry (d/8°).

Surface gloss measurement of flat materials (reflection of light incident on the surface) at 20°, 60° and 85° (high, medium and low gloss finishes). Large and small measuring areas.

GRETAGMACBETH SPECTRALIGHT III, widely used in the automotive sector, for visual comparisons in various lighting conditions (e.g., D65, Horizon, TL84, UV), for metamerism detection, grayscale determinations, and others.
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Textile treatments and fastness lab

Our Textile and Solid Fatness laboratory offers all kinds of services related to the determination of the color resistance and wear of textile products against various external agents (e.g., sweat, washing, rubbing, water, light, chemicals, and more).

The services of this laboratory help manufacturers determine the behavior of their textile products in different washing and drying processes (domestic, industrial, or dry), and determine other important parameters (e.g., pH of the aqueous extract, quantitative composition of fibers, and more).

Main types of lab tests:

Accredited domestic washing and drying processes.

Accredited industrial washing and drying processes (tumble dry only).

Accredited standards for high-temperature artificial light fastness, artificial light fastness, domestic and commercial wash fastness, dry cleaning fastness, water fastness, sweat fastness, hypochlorite bleach fastness, iron fastness, rub fastness, and more.

Accredited standards for the determination of dimensional variations after domestic, commercial and dry cleaning, determination of pH in aqueous extract, resistance to hydrocarbons, calculation of absorbent power, determination of the degree of polymerization, determination of organic scale, and more.

Determination of binary and ternary fiber compositions, and more.

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Microbiology lab

Our Microbiology laboratory works on a wide range of services that ensure the highest technical competence, quality and reliability of its results. We analyze any type of sample following different testing regulations or by applying other non-standardized methodologies, adapting each service to the client’s needs.

Main types of lab tests:

Antibacterial and antifungal activity in textile materials. Determination of microbial load (bioburden for surgical masks, drapes, gowns and clean air suits), resistance to wet or dry bacterial penetration, and bacterial filtration efficiency (BFE).

Microbiological analysis of fertilizers, soils, water and all types of food and feed products (Salmonella, Listeria, E.coli, Bacillus, Clostridium, etc.); microbiological control of aerobic microorganisms, fungi and pathogens/indicators in water and sediments.

Evaluation of antimicrobial efficacy.
Evaluation of the potency of antimicrobial agents to determine the lowest level that inhibits microbial growth or death using the mic/MBC test, during the R&D phase of the products to determine the appropriate concentrations required in the final product.
TAMC and TYMC (total aerobic microbiological count and yeast count) and microbial stability tests (Challenge test); microbiological tests for non-sterile pharmaceutical products.

Identification of bacteria and fungi using molecular techniques and analytical microbiology.

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