Amid the current corona pandemic, the prevention of infections is a hot topic. The European AMiCI ePlatform network, in which Sirris is also involved, aims to accelerate the knowledge building in relation to new antimicrobial surfaces as a tool in the fight against resistant bacteria that are becoming an increasingly strong enemy in hospitals. In order to introduce the knowledge gained to the market, this project will now be followed up with an ePlatform for a test bed tool across the EU, for antimicrobial coating solutions in healthcare that will be launched on the market. Read more »

Even in these corona times, our employees are at your service, both from home and at our various sites. This means that our labs are operating and we continue to test for you! Read more »

From 30 November to 2 December, VWT, in collaboration with A3TS, is organising a three-day conference on carburizing, carbonitriding and carbon-based surface layers in Antwerp. (is new date for postponed March edition due to corona crisis) Read more »

The problem of particulate matter is a hot topic as can be derived from the introduction of LEZ zones in some cities. The origin of fine dust is complex. Not only do wood and coal stoves cause the emission of soot particles, the increasing car and bus transport also causes quite some pollution in cities. Read more »

Many drivers opt for light alloy wheels for their car, mainly because of the original design and the tough, sporty look that attracts attention and emphasises the character of the car. But are light alloy wheels not just an attractive accessory? Rio Tinto, one of the world's leading aluminium producers, has recently developed a new revolutionary alloy with interesting properties for the automotive industry. Read more »

It is no secret that good adhesion is a basic requirement for taking full advantage of the functionalities of a coating or paint. After all, flaking paint layers needing to be repaired imply high costs for companies and governments. The adhesion between paint and surface is decisive for a high-quality finish. Read more »

Cowboy’s e-bike enters the European market this year. The company worked together with Sirris on the e-bike design as well as standardised and customised testing. Read more »

Fibre reinforced plastics (or composites) are gaining popularity in a wide range of industries due to their excellent properties, such as specific stiffness and strength and good resistance to environmental conditions. However, their complex structure brings also some challenges, detecting damage being one of them. This ninth white paper focusses non-destructive testing. Read more »

Sirris has a scanning microscope allowing us to carry out structural and dimensional analysis. With this equipment we are able to help companies both identify the origin of a defect in a product and to control its quality. There are many applications, especially in materials science, biology and electronics. Read more »

A new European directive has considerably limited the use of disposable plastics, imposing other restrictions that may impact the design of these products. Sirris can help you! Read more »

The Sirris test laboratories are investigating the reliability of material certificates that come with metals. Do you want to know how reliable your certificate is? Send us a metal sample with material certificate and we will examine the chemical composition or tensile strength of your sample free of charge! Read more »

Shorter product-to-market-times and higher expectations for sustainability, reliability and quality have ensured that product tests form an important link in the development process of products. Read more »

Because a short lead time is also essential in the services provided by Sirris, we examined our own operations to see if we could improve and reduce our lead times. To this end we called on our own expertise in quick response manufacturing (QRM). Read more »

Testing is essential to guarantee continuous quality to your customer. However, you have to make sure the test results are reliable and correct. Standards are constantly increasing. And Sirris is more than aware of that. That is why we want to expand our network of accredited quality tests. An accreditation according to ISO 17025 offers much more security, also as an extra check for those who have their own test lab. Read more »

New developments arise from the demand for sustainable, more qualitative coatings which combine functionalities. The use of new materials in different sectors and stricter regulations in terms of the use of harmful substances, make it necessary for coating and paint manufacturers to regularly adjust their formulas. In order to correctly evaluate newly developed compositions, it is essential to test them by means of methods which both focus on the coating and on the substrate. Read more »

In the context of the event 'Optimising Wind Farms In Cold Climates' which took place on 17 and 18 October in Antwerp, OWI-Lab welcomed a delegation from the wind industry. The event focuses both on the commercial and technical complexities, which form an obstacle for the operation of wind farms. This was perfectly demonstrated in the climate chamber of OWI-Lab. Read more »

The Sirris Coating Lab has recently purchased a TQC Scrub Abrasion and Washability Tester to perform scrub abrasion and washability tests on coated materials. Read more »

In order to meet the needs of today and tomorrow, product developments are heading for ecology, sustainability, higher performance and longer service life. This also applies to coatings. Such innovations cannot come about without thorough testing. With their state-of-the-art testing laboratory, Sirris is meeting industries’ needs. Read more »

Coatings can be used to protect materials against the effects of rust, mould or dirt. This is why the Nanex Company, a manufacturer of protective products, is collaborating with the Sirris Smart Coating Lab in using nanotechnology to develop and improve existing product formulations. Read more »

Our test labs are probably one of our strengths. We do not only want to keep it like that, we would also like to expand in the future. High time to introduce you to these extended services, during a few open house days. Read more »