PRESS RELEASE
April 2, 1996
Beta formation tester
supplants optical methods

Formation is one of the most important factors influencing paper quality , because of its effect on practically all the other properties of paper.
The Beta Formation Tester manufactured by the Finnish company Ambertec Oy is reported to allow faster and more accurate measurement of formation than testers based on optical methods.
Typical users of the instrument are paper and board mills, and paper machine, wire and chemical manufacturers.

Traditionally, formation, i.e. basis weight variation in small scale, was visually checked by the paper machine crew. Later, formation testers based on optical measurement and imitating the human eye, replaced visual inspection.
It is a recognised fact, however, that optical measurement is easily confused by various factors, which are always present in the modern paper manufacturing process. For this reason, visual assessment and optical evaluation should be replaced by a measurement that gives reliable results independent on paper grade and manufacturing process.
The Ambertec Beta Formation Tester is the only commercially available tester of its kind on the market. It is reported to be insensitive to variations in the fibre and filler materials or to other chemicals used. In addition, it is neither disturbed by the type of paper coating nor the various stages of the paper manufacturing process such as calendering. Results from different grades of paper are therefore directly comparable with each other. This is not possible with the optical methods commonly in use. Even coloured or printed papers within a basis weight range of 25–350 g/m2 can be tested.
The operation of the tester is based on the measurement of fluctuations in the penetration of beta radiation through the paper. Thanks to the calibration of the instrument, readings can be converted to real basis weight values. Standard deviation of the basis weight is used as the formation index. The results are stored in a PC and can, for example, be transmitted to the mill system./ins


Caption:
The Ambertec Beta Formation Tester for measuring paper formation is acknowledged to be superior to optical methods in terms of accuracy and reliability. Optical non-homogeneity caused by raw materials or by process variables does not affect the results of beta-radiation based measurement.


For further information, please contact:
AMBERTEC Oy
Managing Director Olavi Komppa
P.O.Box 58
FIN-02271 ESPOO
Finland
Tel: +358 0 882 902
Fax: +358 0 882 963