Block
Laboratory Presses & Sample Prep Equipments from Specac
Specac's precision instruments for FTIR, XRF, and materials testing. High quality British engineering - built to last a lifetime!
Handy tools for the chemistry lab that don’t cost the earth.
Get the best results, fast and clean.
Prep and test your materials with versatility and reliability.
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Expert Technical Support
50+ Years Industry Leading
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Smart sample prep for the infrared spectroscopy lab

Infrared spectroscopy requires optically transparent materials to get the best results. This can be achieved by making them very thin or diluting them in a matrix of non-absorbing material like potassium bromide (KBr).

Mini press - Square - Transparent

Mini-Pellet Press — KBr pellets at your fingertips!

Preparation of KBr pellets has been a mainstay of infrared and Fourier-transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy for decades.
It really couldn’t be simpler with the Mini-Pellet Press kit. It really is a light touch to use and gets you consistent results every time. Even your students and interns can use it.

mini-film-maker

Mini-Film Maker — an instant plastic!

Get clearer insights on plastic formulations with a film maker accessory. The small size and rapid heat-up makes this product a cosy companion to your infrared analysis of plastics.
With the Mini-Film Maker a 15 mm film disc can be prepared in three steps and three minutes. Heat your sample, press it into the mold, and release it from the protective foils.

Preparation of pellets for XRF spectroscopy

XRF spectroscopy is an analytical technique used to determine the elemental composition of materials.
Powder samples are usually pressed into discs to get better analytical results, speed up the time to process many samples, and reduce reliance on sample cups and films.
Liquids can only be analysed in a plastic sample cup with a transparent film window covering that is applied over the open end.

Presses for XRF

Press Model
ATLAS MANUAL
Reliable manual hydraulic press for versatile lab applications
ATLAS AUTOTOUCH
High-throughput automated XRF press with touchscreen interface
APEX 400
High-performance automatic press for demanding XRF applications
Image
Atlas Manual Press
Atlas Autotouch Press
APEX 400 Press
Max Force
250kN (25 tons)
300kN (30 tons)
400kN (40 tons)
Operation Type
Manual hydraulic
Automatic with touchscreen
Automatic sample extraction with touchscreen
Control Interface
Pressure gauge
Digital touchscreen
Digital touchscreen
Programmable Cycles
No
Yes
Yes
Applications
XRF pellets, materials testing, ink blocking
XRF pellets, research, sintering
XRF pellets, advanced materials
Best for
Versatile laboratory sample testing
Programmable pressing platform for general lab use, including XRF sample testing.
Dedicated XRF sample prep in the lab, increasing throughput and decreasing operator strain.
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XRF consumables

Sample-Cups

XRF liquid and powder sample cups

High-quality sample cups for all your XRF analysis needs.

Prolene-Thin-Film-w

XRF thin film windows

Transparent film windows for covering sample cups.

Putting your materials to the test

A laboratory press is a tireless piece of equipment for your lab. It has a number of use cases that range from densification of materials to thermal treatments of surfaces under pressure.

Block testing of inks

345-139 & 345-138 - in autotouch

To simulate the storage conditions at the centre of wound rolls of printed packaging materials, ink manufacturers need to apply a high pressure to their printed samples.

You can see the Atlas Manual Press in use at Sun Chemical’s Rochdale Technical Centre below.

Sintering of high performance engineering materials

Many industries are seeking to create novel and functionalised materials via the powder synthesis route. These materials are then used in a range of applications from electrical systems to biomedical implants.

The raw materials are blended with additives and then compacted using a press. The final compact can then be sintered at high temperature in an inert atmosphere to produce a hardened solid.

Prof Dermot Brabazon’s group at Dublin City University used the Atlas Autotouch press to test metal matrix composites for potential automotive and aerospace applications. Listen to Prof Brabazon’s comments here:

Atlas Pellet Dies and Film Makers — full stack capability

The Atlas range represents the full extent of our capabilities in hydraulic presses and sample prep. Combine the Atlas Manual, Atlas Power, or Atlas Autotouch presses with pellet dies or film makers to create the lab press that fulfils your needs.

Press Model
Atlas Manual
Atlas Power
Atlas Autotouch
Image
Atlas Manual Press
Atlas Power Press
Atlas Autotouch Press
Max Force
250kN (25 tons)
250kN (25 tons)
300kN (30 tons)
Operation Type
Manual hydraulic
Electric hydraulic
Automatic with touchscreen
Control Interface
Pressure gauge
Digital display
Digital touchscreen
Programmable Cycles
No
Limited
Yes
Best For
Budget-conscious labs, versatile testing
Automated operation without touchscreen
High throughput XRF labs
Applications
XRF pellets, materials testing, ink blocking
XRF pellets, materials testing, research
XRF pellets, research, sintering
Learn More
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