Other Equipment
AWTA Ltd can manufacture a range of other equipment. However, our ability to supply these items will depend upon workload.
These items include:
- AIR BLENDER
The Air Blender is designed to mechanically mix the core sample so that homogenous subsamples can be drawn. This is an essential requirement of the determination of Wool Base and Vegetable Matter Base (IWTO-19-85(E)). The air blender thoroughly mixes the sample without loss of wool fibre or vegetable matter.
- AIRFLOW SYSTEM
The Airflow Fineness Meter is used to determine the fibre diameter of scoured wool which has been dried, cleaned of Vegetable Matter (VM), opened, randomised, and conditioned in a standard atmosphere. Test methods exist for airflow measurement on raw wool core samples (IWTO-28) and wool in the form of combed sliver (IWTO-6). The machine is designed for constant pressure airflow measurements.
- ASH FURNACE
The ash furnace is a gas fired conveyor fed oven set at approximately 750°C+/- 50°C. Crucibles of wool samples are combusted in order to determine residual mineral composition.
- VEGETABLE MATTER MEASUREMENT PREPARATION
Wool is dissolved in caustic soda. Vegetable matter and other alkali insolubles are retained in a sieve and are weighed and sorted.
- CENTRIFUGEThe centrifuge removes excess water from the scoured wool sample, prior to drying the sample to constant mass, according to IWTO-19-85(E).
- WOOL DRIER (12 HEAD)
The forced air drier is used to dry the scoured subsample to constant mass by forcing hot air (105oC) through the subsample. The oven-dry mass can then be determined and used for the calculation of Wool Base and Vegetable Matter Base, according to the International Standard, IWTO-19-85(E).
- LABORATORY WOOL SCOUR (3 BOWL)
The scour is used to wash greasy wool in order to remove extraneous matter such as dirt, suint (sweat salts), grease and other soluble matter, for the determination of Wool Base and Vegetable Matter Base according to the International Standard, IWTO-19-85(E).
- SHIRLEY ANALYSER
This unit is based on the original Shirley Analyser principle. The machine thoroughly opens the wool sample, de-parallelises the wool fibres and removes the vegetable matter. The wool is fed on to a drum covered in card wire and is spread over the surface of the drum. The wool is carried upwards by an air current and the vegetable matter drops to the reject tray. The process is according to IWTO-28.
- SOXHLET TABLE
The soxhlet table and apparatus to heat the extraction flasks, is used to determine the amount of ethyl alcohol extractable material remaining in a wool sample after scouring. Alcohol is passed through a sample washing out grease. The grease and alcohol are washed into a flask sitting on a heated strip. The alcohol is distilled leaving only the grease in the flask. This process is according to IWTO-19.
- MECHANICAL TUFT SAMPLER
This machine is used to sub-sample tufts of wool from a "grab" sample according to IWTO 7-92. Stales are then selected from each of the tufts and measured for length and strength according to IWTO-30-92.
Sampling personnel place the grab sample onto a large conveyor belt. A programmable logic controller is used to automatically feed the sample underneath a set of 3 sampling pliers. Pneumatic pliers remove a pre-programmed number of equi-distant tufts, and place them on a self reeling wire mesh. 10 grab samples can be processed before a new reel is required.
AWTA Ltd can manufacture additional wool testing laboratory items not listed here. Contact us for specific items.
Pricing and specifications can be made available upon application.