Waters Corporation unveils instrument for advanced material testing

Waters Corporation has introduced the TA Instruments ElectroForce Apex 1, a cutting-edge mechanical testing instrument designed for greater versatility, speed, and ease of use. This new system supports precise tensile and fatigue testing for high-performance polymers and composites, making it an essential tool for industries such as medical devices, aerospace, automotive, and additive manufacturing.

Javier Ramos, Chief Technology Officer at Inkbit Corporation, shared his experience with the instrument: “As a 3D-printing company, we create polymer parts for demanding applications where strength and durability are crucial. After a brief training, we easily conducted tensile and fatigue testing with the ElectroForce Apex 1, allowing us to confidently explore and push the limits of our materials.”

With a motor stroke range at least 43% greater than competitors, the ElectroForce Apex 1 provides unmatched testing versatility and speeds up testing by up to 30%. This efficiency helps manufacturers reduce costs early in development by identifying material weaknesses before reaching validation or post-launch phases.

Yu Cheng, Vice President of Research and Development at TA Instruments, emphasized the instrument’s impact: “As manufacturers shift toward sustainable, high-quality materials, the need for simple, precise, and cost-effective mechanical testing grows. The ElectroForce Apex 1 delivers accurate, safe, and reliable testing to improve material selection and product performance.”

The system also features TuneIQ™ Technology, which automatically calibrates the instrument without operator input, reducing errors and improving efficiency. Additionally, its new motor control system enhances break-stop capabilities, allowing for longer, unsupervised experiments, including overnight testing. With intelligent data acquisition, the system optimizes data collection, preventing hard drive overload and ensuring more manageable, high-quality results.