Check that your products have the right balance of grip and slip. For quality control, these testers are commonly used to measure friction generated by packaging materials such as plastic film and cardboard. They’re also used in critical applications, such as to confirm separator film in EV batteries is slippery enough to resist tearing during assembly.

These testers are both easier to use and more sophisticated than performing a tilt test or dragging a force gauge by hand. Just place a sample of material on the platform and dial in your setting on the built-in screen. The test weight drags across your sample, generating readings for both static and dynamic coefficient of friction (COF), the force required to first move an object and keep it in motion. The included software charts measurements in real time on your PC for analysis and documentation. All meet ASTM D1894 standards for friction testers.

Testers with 17 oz. force capacity are suitable for measuring materials that you’d expect to slide, including plastic and cardboard. Testers with 4 lbs. force capacity are for rougher surfaces with a higher COF, such as textured rubber.