Datacolor: Cost-effective color management solutions

A product’s appearance plays a major role in the customer’s decision-making. In this aspect, the product’s color is the first thing that is noticed. Aside from quality, the finished product should have the right consistent color to distinguish it from other products in the market.   But obtaining the perfect color is not only a mix and match process. It requires an accuracy that can only be achieved by having the right color management tools.

 

Datacolor is a global leader in color management solutions, providing software, hardware and services to deliver the accurate color required for various types of products, images and materials. A Swiss-American company established in 1970s, Datacolor has long been operating in Asia, through its subsidiaries and partnership with domestic companies. 

 

In Thailand, Datacolor is represented by Color Expert Co., Ltd.  “As Asia’s major industries have been growing rapidly over the years, Datacolor has been active in this regional market.  We provide products that include both hardware and software for any industry that is concerned with color evaluation – color appearance or color measurement and calibration.  We are involved in many industries besides plastics,” according to Kongchuch Wongrukmit, Sales Manager for SE Asia/NZ of Datacolor.   

 

Over the years, the world’s leading brands, manufacturers and even creative professionals have used Datacolor’s innovative solutions to achieve the right color.  The company’s expertise and long experience dealing with various types of customers has enabled it to provide cost-effective solutions aimed at meeting the desired color, and achieve higher productivity, accuracy and reduced costs. It serves a wide range of industries including textile and apparel, paint and coatings, automotive, plastics, microscopy, photography, videography, digital imaging, home theater, ink, printing, paper, leather and others. In Thailand, through Color Expert, Datacolor has been offering a host of products and services that it has become a one-stop center for customers looking for the right color management solutions. 

 

Leading-edge technology for a perfect color

 

The Datacolor offerings include complete computerized systems for color measuring, matching, quality control and communication to industries who must manage color accurately from design through production and marketing.  “Datacolor products and services improve efficiency and overall productivity with fast, accurate color matching, color testing and color communication,” Mr. Wongrukmit stressed. 

 

Datacolor Portable 45/0 Spectrophotometer is ideal for automotive interior parts

 

For the plastics industry, Datacolor’s technology is applied in several sectors – among them pigment manufacturers resin manufacturers and producers of finished products.  In pigments productions, manufacturers utilize the Datacolor technology to make sure that the color matches what’s required for the pigment. “In the old days, the colors are basic colors, you have to match it or mix it. It’s when people use their experience and vision to arrive at the desired color. The good one can do 10 to 20 colors per day. But there’s also a limitation because customers would want to have the color as soon as possible to meet their production target,” Mr. Wongrukmit explained. 

 

With color management solutions from Datacolor, customers have the options to work with greater efficiency and accuracy to meet their target delivery.  “More than that, our software system enables the storage of color database electronically, which can be retrieved any time,” he stressed. 

 

One industry that has benefited from Datacolor’s color management system is the automotive industry where color, comfort and quality are important factors, according to Yutthana Kladee, Managing Director.  Datacolor has been providing color communication programs for the automotive industry, and supporting manufacturers of vehicle interior parts in delivering harmony among different materials with various surface textures. 

 

The Portable 45/0 Spectrophotometer, Datacolor 45G CT, provides complete appearance control for the most rigorous supply chain applications. With best-in-class inter-instrument agreement and repeatability, the Datacolor 45G CT is the only portable 45/0 spectrophotometer that offers close tolerance (“CT”) control for both color and gloss. Ideal for supply chain applications such as automotive interior parts, retail hard goods and other applications in plastics, paint, and coil coatings where total appearance control is critical. The spectrometer employs a dual 256 photo-diode array sensor coupled with holographic grating, which deliver 2-nm resolution. This means it is possible to reliably capture the true spectral fingerprint of any color at the highest possible accuracy. As a result, a very close agreement  can be achieved.  The Datacolor 45G CT’s patented illuminator uses a diamond-turned reflector positioned over a circular array of full spectrum LEDs. This optical system provides highly efficient light mixing resulting in exceptionally uniform illumination without any  shadowing effects. This means that it is possible to achieve  excellent repeatability even on highly textured samples, and minimize the need for additional rotational measurements. The Datacolor 45G CT measures color and 60 degree gloss at the same time and displays the results against the given tolerances. This ensures that appearance mismatch can be quickly detected. 

 

Within the Datacolor 45 series, Datacolor 45G provides simultaneous control of color appearance and gloss with best-in-class repeatability, even on textured surfaces. Besides featuring a built-in 60° glossmeter, it also enables gloss correlation with standalone glossmeters for flexible communication with the supply chain. The 45G is ideal for inspection and control of total color appearance of hard goods, consumer electronics, large appliances, and other applications involving plastic parts, painted surfaces and coil coatings.

 

Datacolor 45S provides highly accurate color appearance control to achieve a close correlation with visual assessment. It is best suited for applications where color appearance needs to be controlled but the workflow requires other than 60o gloss or no gloss control. The instrument does not include a glossmeter. The 45S provides an excellent combination of performance and value and is ideal for inspection and control of color appearance of hard goods, building materials and other applications involving plastic parts, painted surfaces and coil coatings.

 

Datacolor CHECK 3 delivers accurate color data to meet formulation or quality control needs.

 

The  Datacolor CHECK  3  portable  spectrophotometer  continues  the  tradition  of  best-in-class color measurement performance. Improved ease of use features includes a new modern user interface, enhanced Bluetooth functionality, and an illuminated sample port.  This gives the assurance that the CHECK 3 will consistently deliver accurate color data to meet formulation or quality control needs in paint and coatings, plastics, or textile applications.  With its exceptional measurement performance, CHECK 3 offers excellent correlation to Datacolor’s world-renowned bench-top spectrophotometers and shares 

the same high-accuracy SP2000 spectrometer as reference grade Datacolor 600 benchtop instrument.  This makes CHECK 3 an instrument ideal for highly accurate color data from measurement to measurement, and from vendor to customer, throughout the customer’s supply chain. Moreover, the horizontal orientation of the CHECK 3 allows the user to take measurements even in height constrained  areas, improving ease of use.  

 

The Datacolor  500 family of benchtop spectrophotometers, with its new embedded processor and data storage, provides a platform for increased efficiency and color measurement confidence, while delivering  Datacolor’s economical, superior performance and fleet compatibility.  For decades, Datacolor’s instruments have been selected by the world’s leading manufacturers and brands to specify, formulate and control critical color for reflectance (DC500/500UV) and transmission (DC550). 

 

The Datacolor 800 family of benchtop spectrophotometers, with its new embedded processor and data storage, provides a platform for increased efficiency and color measurement confidence, while delivering Datacolor’s best-in-class precision, accuracy and fleet compatibility.  For decades, Datacolor’s reference grade instruments have been selected by the world’s leading manufacturers and brands to specify, formulate and control critical color for reflectance (DC800/800V) and transmission (DC850). 

 

Datacolor spectrophotometers utilize Datacolor’s proprietary SP2000 which captures the true spectral fingerprint of any color at the highest possible accuracy.  As a result, it is possible to achieve very close agreement among all instruments in the customer’s supply chain. 

 

Strong and reliable support services

 

The color communication program of Datacolor offers the best solutions for customers looking for a perfectly matched program to achieve the right workflow that will yield the desired results.   The company pioneers in digital color communication system that guarantees improved productivity for higher profit – and at lesser costs. The system’s efficiency, accuracy and excellent communication process is globally recognized. 

 

“The color evaluation devices, that include both spectrometer and software,  can be installed in any part of customer’s production facility to make it easier to integrate the system to the workflow. But usually, these can be found in the laboratory,” according to Mr. Wongrukmit. 

 

Mr. Yutthana Kladee, Managing Director of Color Expert & Mr. Kongchuch Wongrukmit, Sales Manager,  SE Asia / ANZ of Datacolor

 

“Color Expert has a full team providing support starting from pre-sales, sales and post-sales,” according to Mr. Kladee.  The team is capable of training the customer on how to fully utilize the Datacolor solutions. Expert members of the team go to the customer’s factory to sit down with the customer’s staff and integrate the color management solution to the workflow.  

 

For the plastics industry where customers’ requirements are more detailed or when demand for accuracy is high, Datacolor technology is found ideal in arriving at the right and consistent color from the laboratory to production up to the final quality control check of the finished product prior to packing and delivery to the market.  

 

 

Color Expert Co.,Ltd.

206/167 Chaiyapruek Bangbuathong, Moo1, Pimonrat,

Bangbuathong, Nonthaburi 11110 Thailand

Phone: +662 5710663-4

Fax: +662 5710667

Website: www.colorexpert.co.th