Hosokawa will raffle off one Micron Air Jet Sieve on January 7, 2009. Package will include vacuum and sieve screen.

The Micron Air Jet Sieve utilizes a dynamic sifting principle that enhances the accuracy and reproducibility of particle size analysis. Use of this device has become a preferred method for such tasks as quality assurance of incoming raw materials and the confirmation of final product specifications.

While negative pressure draws all the particles below a defined particle size down through a screen, a positive airflow is introduced upwards through a rotating wand. This airflow deagglomerates and disperses any undersized particles. Precise particle size can be quickly determined at sizes from 20 to 4,750 microns. This unique rotating wand method also eliminates the need for tapping or brushing and increases reproducibility with controlled measurements of pressure drop and duration. Additionally, the operation is quieter, cleaner, and requires less space than other types of similar analytical equipment. Where absolute reliability in determining particle size and particle size distribution is essential, the Micron Air Jet Sieve is the industry choice.

The Micron Air Jet Sieve utilizes a dynamic sifting principle that enhances the accuracy and reproducibility of particle size analysis. Use of this device has become a preferred method for such tasks as quality assurance of incoming raw materials and the confirmation of final product specifications.

While negative pressure draws all the particles below a defined particle size down through a screen, a positive airflow is introduced upwards through a rotating wand. This airflow deagglomerates and disperses any undersized particles. Precise particle size can be quickly determined at sizes from 20 to 4,750 microns. This unique rotating wand method also eliminates the need for tapping or brushing and increases reproducibility with controlled measurements of pressure drop and duration. Additionally, the operation is quieter, cleaner, and requires less space than other types of similar analytical equipment. Where absolute reliability in determining particle size and particle size distribution is essential, the Micron Air Jet Sieve is the industry choice.

Basic System Components:

• Vacuum (4 gallon collection capacity)
• Sieve Screen Cover
• Sieve Tapping Hammer
• Sieve Brush

Optional Accessories Include:

• Certified Stainless Steel 200 mm diameter sieve screens ranging from 20 - 4750 micron
• Cyclone
• Fines collection filter pod
• Micro mesh adaptor kit
• Vacuum (6.6 gallon collection capacity)
• HEPA filter for vacuum systems

ASTM Committee D11- Rubber and Rubber Products 'Document Sheet' for- Industry Reference Material IRM- 031 Sulfur

Background:

Industry Reference Materials (IRMs), used for a number of test methods under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D11, are prepared according to ASTM D4678, "Preparation, Testing, Acceptance and Documentation for Industry Reference Materials (IRM)". Refer to this for details not covered in this document. Candidate materials that are intended as IRMs are tested and accepted on the basis if (1) homogeneity of the lot and (2) an Accepted Reference Value or AR-value, for the appropriate properties for any IRM. The AR-value is the test value that should be obtained (within specified limits) for the selected one or more properties. AR-values are of two types: Global AR-values, obtained as an average (with specified 3 s limits) from an interlaboratory test program and Local AR-values, obtained as an average (with specified 3 s limits) for the laboratory involved with the preparation and testing.

Evaluation of the IRM:

This lot of sulfur is a Local AR-value IRM. International Sulfur, Inc. produced it in July 1998 and the blending of the material was done by Akron Dispersions Inc. Homogeneity testing was conducted via the procedures as outlined in ASTM D4678 Annex A.3 on the basis of (%) oil content analysis, via ASTM D4573-95, for eight individual samples taken from the beginning to end of the lot production. The lot was declared to be homogeneous using the procedure as outlined in Annex A.3. The Local AR-value for % of oil content as obtained from the homogeneity testing is given below. One secondary property, wet sieve testing was deemed important and an analysis was conducted for wet sieve analysis (for #100 and #200 sieves) via ASTM D4572-89, on a composite sulfur sample obtained by blending all individual homogeneity samples.

Local AR-value Oil Content, %, (4573-95) +/- 3s= 7.85 +/- 0.56

Secondary Property Wet Sieve (D4572-89) (% through #100) +/- 1s= 99.97 +/- 0.018

Wet Sieve (D4572-89) (% through #200) +/- 1s= 97.0 +/- 0.072

(The 3 s limits are based on 15 DF; 1 s limits are approximate, 3 DF)

Supplementary Information- Store this IRM in a cool dry location; it is expected to remain stable for a period of five years. A full 'Research Report', documenting all the analysis for this IRM, is on file at ASTM Headquarters, 100 Barr Harbor Dr., W. Consholhocken PA, 19428 USA.

Pricing is as follows:

IRM-031 SULFUR- 6000 grams per carton 1 carton containing 4 bags (1500 grams each) $300.00 plus shipping

Domestic shipments can be made within 48 hours of receipt of purchase order. International shipments can be made within 48 hours of receipt of funds in US currency. Wire transfer, Mastercard/VISA also accepted.

ARDL can provide their clients with complete materials characterization for compositional analysis, purity, thermal analyses, specification compliance certifications and SPC/QC compliance.

They provide a full complement of instrumentation and analytical equipment for the detailed compositional analysis (reverse engineering) of rubber, thermoplastic elastomers and plastic products and raw materials.

· High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)

· Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS)

· Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (ICPAA)

· Ultraviolet Spectroscopy (UV)

· Thermal Analytical Equipment (DMA, TMA, DSC, TGA)

· Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR) and FTIR/Microscope

· Leco Sulfur, Nitrogen, Oxygen, Carbon, Hydrogen Determinator

· Thin Layer Chromatography

· Membrane Permeability, Gas/Liquid

· Particle Size distribution, sieve analysis and carbon black tests

· Extraction, pyrolysis, cross-link density, ash analysis, bloom analysis and optical stereomicroscopy

· Rubber & Plastics Formula Reconstructions

More than just analysis - they apply their years of experience in developing rubber products and solving rubber industry problems to the analysis - to solve your problem.

If you would like more information about their chemical testing services or facilities, or how their chemical testing services can help your business, contact Dennis Coz, at Akron Rubber Development Laboratory, Inc.

If you work in an XTreme™ color change environment (6 or more color changes in an 8 hour shift), you're constantly trying to save time when changing from one color to another. To help you do just that, ITW Gema has created the smartest, most efficient and technologically advanced changeover tool in the industry: the CHAMELEON™ Color Management System. The CHAMELEON provides users with a quicker, smoother color changeover by streamlining the cleaning procedure. CHAMELEON makes it easier to clean and maintain:

• feed hoppers
• powder pumps
• powder hoses
• spray guns

Advanced technology makes color changes simpleBecause the CHAMELEON Color Management System lets you spray powder directly from the powder manufacturer's original shipping container, you need fewer hoppers and associated components to reclaim powder. That means less to buy, and less to clean.

The Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) allows the CHAMELEON to speed color changeover by controlling the internal cleaning of suction tubes, injectors, powder hoses and spray guns. This alone takes minutes off the cleaning process, freeing operators to handle other color-change tasks such as cleaning surfaces with compressed air and vacuums.

Contamination becomes a thing of the past

The CHAMELEON's extremely efficient automated cleaning procedure virtually eliminates the risk of color contamination. It also helps avoid environmental contamination by using an independent exhaust air system in both normal operation and cleaning mode, helping to guarantee a clean working environment.

Efficient, uniform powder delivery

The CHAMELEON Color Management System automatically adjusts for changes in powder level during the spraying process. By using a level sensor to control the position of the suction tube assembly, the CHAMELEON achieves consistent uniform powder delivery. If the powder level falls too low, an alarm will remind the operator to replace the container or introduce powder from an automated replenishment system.

Better color management means better money management

The CHAMELEON Color Management System shortens any color changeover process, saving you money by:

• Reducing color changeover time
• Reducing capital required for additional feed hoppers and components
• Lowering risk of color cross-contamination
• Increasing production line operation and uptime

With these abilities, the CHAMELEON could quickly become the most productive member of your operation.

One of ITW Gema's XTreme Machines™

The CHAMELEON Color Management System is fully integrated with ITW Gema's new XTreme Machine Series, designed specifically for XTreme color change environments.

Optional devices available

Some powder coating operations use a sieving device to screen the powder before it is recirculated through the spray guns. For those applications, an optional vibratory sieve can be added to the CHAMELEON Color Management System, ensuring conditioning and improved quality of the recovered powder. For situations that require the powder to be fluidized, a special fluidizing container is also available.

There's a lot more to tell about the CHAMELEON Color Management System. For additional information or to schedule an Application System Analysis Program (ASAP) visit,* call your ITW Gema representative at 1-800-628-0601.

*ITW Gema's ASAP (Application System Analysis Program) provides you with a comprehensive review of your finishing system, informing you of opportunities that will improve your bottom line. After a thorough analysis of your operation, our representatives will present a cost/benefit analysis custom-tailored to your needs, including anticipated return on your investment.

ITW Gema's Magic Compact® powder coating system offers fast color changes, yet its compact design fits into any XTreme Color Change Environment.™

Lean manufacturing is a trend in many industries. Whether you are a lean operation or not, ITW Gema has equipment solutions that can provide higher productivity at a lower cost. One such example is ITW Gema's Magic Compact Series Powder Coating Booth!

The Magic Compact is designed for automatic powder coating with XTreme Color Change requirements. When required, manual stations can be added to the booth cabin, allowing operators to effectively apply powder to your products. Whether automatic, manual or both, the overall booth footprint of the Magic Compact is small and easy to use.

The Magic Compact booth incorporates all of ITW Gema's industry leading, field-proven technology, like the OptiGuns®, OptiStar® Advanced Control Units and Chameleon Color Management System™, and is more than capable of meeting the needs of your rapidly changing manufacturing environment. The Magic Compact is designed to be a fully integrated system that delivers the speed and flexibility needed to handle your frequent color changes.

Fast and Simple Color Change

The Magic Compact is a quick color change system. This is due in part to a compact booth design that reduces powder accumulation, making cleaning faster and easier. By integrating the Chameleon Color Management System, much of the cleaning process is automated and guarantees the highest quality color change. Training personnel is a painless process, after which, color changes can be carried out quickly with only one or two technicians. You can change colors so fast with a Magic Compact, you may not need another booth!

Built for XTreme Color Change Environments

Like all ITW Gema automatic powder coating booth systems, the Magic Compact is engineered for high performance and minimal powder consumption. Here's how it all comes together:

1. The Magic Compact is a platform for the the world's best powder coating guns... the OptiGun automatic series and the OptiSelect® manual series. Both guns feature 100,000 volts of FirstPass Power™ to allow you to coat your parts right the first time – every time. The guns have fewer wear parts than other manufacturers' guns and the self-cleaning electrode ensures uniform particle charging for optimal transfer efficiency.

2. The Luminaire™ plastic sandwich-wall booth surfaces are non-conductive to minimize powder accumulation in the cabin for a faster color changeover. Easy-access booth design allows an operator to quickly perform any manual cleaning procedures from outside the booth.

3. Seamless ductwork is maintenance-free and substantially minimizes the risk of color contamination. Magic Compact's advanced mono-cyclone has a built-in sieve that screens out contaminates, making clean-up a snap. Dense-phase transport technology, that uses less compressed air than traditional transfer pumps, offers improved material handling of the recovered powder from the cyclone to the Chameleon.

4. ITW Gema's patented Twin-Air Deck™ design keeps powder from accumulating on the floor. Coupling a uniform downdraft air flow across the entire floor, along with automatic cleaning of the booth floor, keeps powder in process. Color changes are performed quickly and easily!

5. Along with the Magic Compact, the integrated Chameleon Color Management System uses PLC intelligence to automate cleaning by pulsing compressed air over the gun exterior and throughout the powder path, including suction tubes, pumps, powder hose and gun. This process cleans so effectively that color contamination is virtually eliminated. The Chameleon also improves performance by allowing powder to be sprayed directly from the powder manufacturer's original shipping container. This minimizes the number of hoppers and dedicated equipment typically required to reclaim powder.

6. With a focus on automatic applications, the Magic Compact incorporates ITW Gema's newest control system, the OptiStar Advanced Control Unit. OptiStar offers individually programmable coating parameters for each gun. Tying the OptiStar controllers together is the OptiControl™ PC-based control system that automates the powder application equipment. OptiControl can recognize incoming parts and trigger guns in one of 3 automatic ways to apply powder to the parts uniformly, saving powder and minimizing operating costs. OptiControl can extend to other production systems as well, for absolute coordination of all coating processes. PC-based technology makes it easy to set up and use, requiring minimal training for the operators.

Find out more about the full line of Magic Series™ booths and the XTreme-Machines™ from someone who's actually using them now! Call your ITW Gema representative at 1-800-628-0601. And, if you'd like to participate in the Application Systems Analysis Program (ASAP™), we'll be glad to schedule your initial consultation at that time.*

*ITW Gema's ASAP (Application Systems Analysis Program) provides you with a comprehensive review of your finishing systems, informing you of opportunities that will improve your bottom line. After a thorough analysis of your operation, our representative will present a cost/benefit analysis customer-tailored to your needs, including anticipated return on your investment.