Press Release

Beta LaserMike LaserSpeed® Non-Contact Length & Speed Measurement System Demonstrates Productivity Advantages and Savings to Converters at ICE USA 2015

Orlando, FL – December 17, 2014 – NDC Technologies, a leading global provider of precision measurement and control solutions, will be exhibiting the Beta LaserMike LaserSpeed® non-contact length and speed encoder at ICE USA in Orlando Florida from February 10 - 12, 2015 at the Orlando Convention Center (Booth 901). LaserSpeed is widely meeting the converting industry’s growing demand for highly accurate product length and speed measurements, resulting in increased productivity, improved product quality, and decreased production loss.

Converters of paper, film, and foil products have applications where they need to tightly control the length and speed of product during production. Applications include continuous length measurement, differential speed control, cut-to-length control, product positioning, printing and coating application control, and other demands. Most manufacturers depend on the accuracy of their drive speeds or mechanical contact encoders. But, mechanical encoders can lose contact on various product surfaces due to slippage or web vibration, and require frequent calibration because of mechanical wear and tear. A contact encoder with inaccuracies as much as 2% can cost a converter a significant amount of money due to product give-away, waste, maintenance, and system downtime. To solve this problem, manufacturers have installed the LaserSpeed non-contact encoder on their production lines to directly measure the length and speed of product.

The LaserSpeed encoder uses advanced, laser-based technology to precisely measure the length and speed of product during production without making contact with the material. This laser encoder projects a unique pattern on the surface of the product. As the product moves, light is scattered back to the LaserSpeed unit. This information is translated into product speed and pulses are produced to determine the product length. Length and speed measurements are captured with ±0.05% accuracy and ±0.02% repeatability. LaserSpeed encoders are used in a wide range of web and packaging converting processes for precisely measuring product length and speed at the slitter/rewinder, regulating coating/laminating applications, controlling critical length cutting operations, and monitoring web tension of products, to name a few. As a result of the higher measurement accuracies and tighter process controls, converters are realizing a number of production efficiencies and bottom-line advantages.

LaserSpeed is available in a range of models with measurement speeds from 0 m/min up to 12000 m/min (39,400 ft/min), standoff distances up to 1000 mm (39.4 in), and measurement depth of field up to 100 mm (3.0 in). LaserSpeed models are also available to measure forward and reverse directions, as well as down to true zero speed (no motion).

About NDC Technologies and Beta LaserMike Products
NDC Technologies is a global organization committed to the innovation, design, and manufacture of precision measurement and control systems for a wide range of industries. The Beta LaserMike line of laser and ultrasonic measurement technology provides in-process dimensional monitoring and sample/part inspection of products such as wire and cable, fiber optics, metals, rubber and plastic, flat rolled goods, tube and pipe, and other manufactured goods. Characterized by their ease of use, intuitive interfaces and low maintenance, NDC Technologies' products are supported worldwide by our Customer Care team, with local support in over 60 countries.