Extrusion International 6-2022-USA

73 Extrusion International 6/2022 MEASURING TECHNOLOGY Non-Destructive Measurement of Barrier Layers in Plastic Packaging New measurement system helps achieve effective barrier with less material Plastic packaging consists of different layers of material. The new MV.SENSE b1i optical system from MABRI.VISION now measures the thicknesses of these layers with substantially higher resolution. Even the thicknesses of thin barrier films can be measured with utmost precision. The outstanding measuring accuracy of the system helps users to enhance process security and cut the material costs of their production. T he new MV.SENSE b1i inspection system measures the shape and wall thickness of transparent plastic packaging. Performed in the pro- cess line at production speed, these non-contact measurements enable 100-percent inline inspection of multi- layered packaging material. Non-contact thickness measure- ment of barrier layers, such as EVOH (ethylene vinyl-alcohol copolymer), in food packaging is a very important application for the system. In this case, it measures both the total wall thick- ness of the packaging and the thick- ness of the barrier layer. At measuring frequencies of up to 200 kHz, the system can provide 100 percent inline inspection in produc- tion lines. MABRI.VISION supplies different systems, ranging from units for one-dimensional spot measure- ments to 3D units that can scan large measuring fields at high frequencies of up to 200 Hz. Dr. Nicolai Brill, one of the Manag- ing Directors of MABRI.VISION GmbH, explains the motivation behind the development of the new sensor: “We have been noticing a growing trend towards ever thinner barrier layers in food packaging. As a reaction to this trend, we have developed a sensor that can measure layer thicknesses down to only a few µm. The sensor’s very high measuring accuracy not only makes it possible to measure the layer thicknesses with outstanding accura- cy, but also to control that the layers are exactly as thick as needed. Thus, our customers can reduce the amount of material applied – and save valu- able resources – while achieving the same barrier effect.” The new system is based on the prin- ciple of low-coherence interferometry, which MABRI.VISION also employs on its MV.SENSE inspection platform, a platform several food producers have been using since 2015. Some pilot cus- MV.SENSE b1i measures the thicknesses of thin barrier layers with high precision The new MV.SENSE b1i inspection system measures the shape and wall thicknesses of transparent plastic packaging at production speed in a contact-less process The new MV.SENSE b1i inspection system measures the shape and wall thicknesses of transparent plastic packaging at production speed in a contact-less process The measuring principle of MV.SENSE