All the various advantages of steel are opposed by one indisputable disadvantage: Steel corrodes. Alloys and coating materials for anti-corrosion protection can be a solution however.
Passive anti-.corrosion protection requires the application of organic or inorganic coating material. Inorganic protective coatings are mostly manufactured using various galvanising processes. The impermeability against affecting media of the coating material used is of special importance to its protective capability. Pores can lead to sub-surface corrosion and destruction of the coating. Therefore, several layers of coatings are applied to ensure lasting protection of large steel constructions. In addition to the careful selection of accurate coating, material the quality of the coating work is of utmost importance to the durability of the coatings applied.

Safety through anti-corrosion protection inspections.
The cost of anti-corrosion protection is compared to the possible obsolescence of constructions and the additional cost caused by downtime (e.g. breaking of transmission line lattice masts and the following power outage) usually very low.
Due to the enormous importance of anti-corrosion protection to economy and business, its safe completion and inspection are subject to numerous rules and regulations. In Germany, for instance DIN standards regulate the inspection of coating thicknesses.
As the protection and safety of large steel constructions is of such importance the DIN EN ISO 12944 Part 7 “Corrosion protection of steel structures by paint systems - execution and supervision of coating work“ explicitly specifies under sub-section 6.3 the use of magnet-inductive or eddy-current devices. In praxis, such anti-corrosion protection measurement devices are of particular advantage when easy-to-calibrate and safe-to-use.

Transmitting measurements accurately and without interference via radio, state-of-the-art wireless measurement devices offer increased safety.
Working on steel constructions such as lattice masts and antennae, where coating thickness can only be determined when climbing the QNix® Keyless-devices and the modular measurement system QNix® 8500 have proven to be of particular advantage. Thanks to the hand-strip fitted to the extremely small measurement probes of the 8500 system, free movement and safe undisrupted measuring is possible. Additionally, the radio-controlled probe QNix® 8500 allows wireless transmission of measurements via radio to a basis station on the ground, where the data can be checked, recorded and documented conveniently and without error. The world wide new radio-controlled probe from AUTOMATION Dr. Nix safely transmits data measured for instance in the great height of an energy mast without interference to a basis station 50 meters distant: a notebook or a PC with which thousands of measurements can be processed and documented using Excel.

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Coating Check – especially developed for TÜV SÜD – is part of a modular measurement system. With basic equipment alone precise measurement of coating thickness on Fe, substrates (e.g. steel sheet) and NFe substrates (e.g. aluminium) are possible. The determination of base substrate on which the coating is measured is achieved in a fully automated procedure. Safety first – as a wrongly chosen measuring mode is immediately corrected during first measurement, with the device automatically switching to the correct measuring mode. Wrong measurements due to selection of the wrong substrate are impossible that way. Additionally included in the basic equipment is a dual probe allowing measurements of coating thicknesses within a range of up to 5000 µm of lacquer and anti-corrosion protection.

Technical options of the future.
The modular measurement system Coating Check especially developed for TÜV SÜD guarantees variable, versatile and persisting applications for different measurement tasks – not only in the motor vehicle area but also during safety measurements on steel constructions such as bridges or bulk containers. By means of a simple change of different measurement probes, coating thickness within a range of up to 5000 µm can be precisely determined. In safety engineering a only thump-sized and 30 grams light radio-controlled probe allows precise measurements even on difficult to access measuring surfaces, or spots considered inaccessible until now, and a wireless data transmission to the gauge. With this radio, connections to the companies own computer system further options are available. Using the operating system additional, application specific features of the Coating Check TÜV SÜD measurement system can be integrated. For instance: the continuous measurement for statistical recording and documentation of a complete series of measurement without taking the measuring device off the object; or the simultaneous determination of a zinc and paint coating on Fe underground. A systematic measurement and evaluation of vehicles are possible using specific software solutions. So the completely saved and printed documentation of the measurement work – including graphical and tabular illustration of measurement values and integration in an Excel spread sheet – guarantees high safety and conclusiveness, which are of particular importance to the expert opinions and technical assessments prepared by TÜV SÜD, Germany.

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Innovative solutions for future tasks.
Already today TÜV SÜD, Germany can take on future measurement tasks using the new measurement system Coating Check from AUTOMATION Dr. Nix GmbH, Cologne. The novel system’s integrated radio-controlled probe is a convincing example of this future-oriented technology. Where usual measuring devices fail, in inaccessible measuring spots that are crucial to safety, a 30 grams light and only thump-sized measurement probe can still perform with precision, safety and reliability. Precise measurements of lacquer and anti-corrosion coatings can be transmitted wirelessly via radio, recorded and evaluated individually.
Wherever only the thump fits.
The word wide new radio-controlled probe of the QNix® measurement program is part of the measurement system used by the German TÜV SÜD and an example of the exceptional versatility and adaptability of a novel system.
At the same time the use of the world wide new miniature radio-controlled probe enables TÜV SÜD to find new possible uses and enter new areas of applications, for instance on large surfaces, difficult to access measurement spots during lacquer and anti-corrosion protection measurements, safety and inspection measurements during the construction of bridges aircraft, motorcars and ships.
No longer, cables disturb the measurement process, as the measurements are safely transmitted wirelessly via radio, recorded and completely documented.
Wherever the thump fits, TÜV SÜD can also safely measure.

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