New LIP Tester Provides Accurate, Repeatable Results

Source from:  Tobacco Reporter 07/09/2010

Cerulean is launching a new Semi Automatic 10 channel LIP Tester to assist cigarette manufacturers in meeting the requirements of the ASTM E2187 standard for Fire Standard Compliant cigarettes. It was difficult to reproduce results using the existing manual LIP test, the company said, because it was labor intensive and prone to subjectivity. But the automation of the new SALT10 enabled controlled testing parameters to be used to provide accurate and easily replicable full length burn, residual burn length and burn time results. It also made it possible for test laboratories to increase productivity significantly. The SALT10 is said to use advanced camera detection technology with established puff engine and mechatronic technology [combined mechanical, electronic, computer, control and systems-design engineering] to provide a simple-to-use device. The sample rods are loaded and lit manually and then the automation takes over. The samples are burnt for a set distance and monitored by a camera before being enclosed and placed on a substrate. The burn termination is then detected by camera and the timings and lengths measured and recorded. The enclosure is then opened ready for a new substrate and rods to be loaded. The SALT10 has 10 test chambers that can be operated simultaneously, which means that test laboratory productivity can be increased. And its ease of use means that it is possible for one operator to run two machines at the same time. A high reproducibility and repeatability of results is made possible through the precise control of lighting and burn determination, as well as by the elimination of the need for subjective judgments concerning burn lengths, as is required by the existing manual LIP test. All of the testing data is recorded within an ODBC (Open Database Connectivity) compliant database with easy-to-use tools allowing export to an external database or LIMS system. A security package designed to comply with the FDA 21 CFR part 11 requirements is also available from Cerulean. Enditem