While Nip Control has developed into being a worldwide specialist on hand-held, easy-to-use, high-precision nip measuring instruments, it is now in the process of creating a firm presence in India, Sri Lanka & Bangladesh with its new partner, The Gaurs
Nip Control is a Swedish specialty company focusing on making textile, paper and general converting companies even more efficient through improved and assured nip control of rollers. By doing so, Nip Control has developed into being a worldwide specialist on hand-held, easy-to-use, high-precision nip measuring instruments. The products and solutions currently offered by the company include two different measuring systems:
- Pressure Indicator system that measures nip pressure in N/per sq. centimetre. This features the latest nanotechnology and makes rapid measurements of nip pressure between rollers possible for the very first time. Nip pressure between 3 – 999 N per sq. centimetre can be measured making easier Nip Pressure setting across width.
- Nip Width Indicator system that measures nip width in millimetres. This is a simple-to-use, hand-held device. Just position the tip of the sensor blade between the rollers and the display will show you the reading. Then adjust to the desired level. The instrument is suitable for measuring and setting Nip widths from 2 – 50 millimetres very precisely.
The nip control measuring instrument systems can be used for various types of applications – textile, paper, lamination, coating, sealing, web handling – just to mention a few. In summary, these instrument systems can measure the majority of industrial nips as long as the plastic or rubber roller meets a rubber or metal roller in a nip. It is normally only metal to metal that cannot be measured. The technologies used by Nip Control are proprietary, patented and unique. Older technology can show a nip imprint on a test material, but not a nip pressure value in numbers. Quality control is facilitated by having a measurement value which can define a process corridor. This is especially important as rubber change in, for example, hardness or softness over time and then, as a consequence, also the nip characteristics are changed. With the Nip Control devices the operator can ensure that the nip characteristics stay the same – even with rubber changes.
Elaborating about the company’s presence in the India market, Stefan Wegdell, Managing Director, Nip Control AB, Sweden, says: “Nip Control has been selling instruments to Indian graphic and industrial converting industries since 2008. Some of our key customers include Times of India, 3M, Arcelor Mittal, Tetra Pak, Samsung, Mitsubishi Polyester, Fujifilm, IKEA, etc.”
The company is represented by The Gaurs in India, Sri Lanka & Bangladesh. In this new venture, it is for the first time that Nip Control’s instruments are sold to the textile, Paper, Technical Textiles and Non Woven Industries in this region. Speaking about the factors that have created demand for Nip Control’s instruments in Indian and global markets, Wegdell states: “The most important factor is quality. It is important to control the nip characteristics of process-critical nips and ensure that digital measuring is very accurate. Also, the roller nip status needs to be checked frequently. The process is repeatable and operator-independent. The measurement data facilitates statistical trend analysis and continuous process improvement, ultimately leading to improved product quality and process control, lower product cost through less scrap and more production time. The combination of all such factors leads to higher profit.”
Nip Control has laid out an established network and system to take care of after-sales, service and spares for customers in this region. The calibration system comes along with the equipment ensuring easy and fast calibration. “The functional reliability of the instruments and the calibration units is very high. The only consumable is the AAA batteries and the sensor blades. Customer is given the choice of buying the sensor blades directly from Nip Control AB or from The Gaurs,” Wegdell informs.
Nip Control offers telescopic arm for measuring inaccessible nips having lengths upto 2.0 meters.
As for the company’s plans for introducing new technologies, products and expanding its geographical reach, Wegdell says that the Nip Control development model is in a state of continuous improvement when it comes to existing product line and accessories. The specialty focus on hand-held, easy-to-use, high-precision nip measuring instruments will remain.