ONLINE WET FILM THICKNESS MEASUREMENT (WFM™)
DJH Designs’ Wet Film Measurement (WFM™) technology delivers precise Wet Film Thickness (WFT) measurements directly on the coater roll and strip, while also predicting the final Dry Film Thickness (DFT) before the painting process begins. This enables manufacturers to optimize coating parameters from the very first meter of production, reducing waste and improving product consistency.
Advanced Wet Film Thickness Measurement
The WFM™ system uses sophisticated coating model algorithms to accurately calculate wet film thickness by compensating for multiple process variables, including:
- Paint transfer efficiency between the coater roll and strip
- Paint leakage that does not transfer to the strip
- Electrical effects from coating rolls and coater roll bearings
- Paint ribbing (roping) occurring on the coater roll prior to coating
- Variations between wet paint thickness before and during production
This intelligent compensation ensures highly reliable measurements and stable coating performance.
Note: WFM™ is not recommended in applications where severe ribbing on the coater roll becomes visible on the strip surface.
Simple Principle of Operation
DJH Designs WFM™ utilizes an intrinsically safe confocal sensor system to measure the wet paint surface position on the coater roll and then precisely measure the roll surface itself at the same location.
The system features:
- Fully automated soft wipers positioned on both sides of the sensor
- Gentle paint removal to expose the roll surface
- Direct surface position measurement without calibration requirements
Because the instrument measures actual surface positions rather than relying on indirect calculations, the system delivers highly accurate and repeatable results.
InnovLab Solutions is a Distributor of DJH Designs coating measurement technologies in France, providing advanced Wet Film Measurement (WFM™) systems for the coil coating and paint line industry.
WFM™ is the only system capable of measuring wet film thickness before painting begins, helping ensure coating specifications are achieved immediately at startup. This minimizes scrap, improves production efficiency, and enhances final coating quality across continuous paint line operations.
- Provides accurate Wet Film Thickness (WFT) on the coater roll and the strip, and predicts Dry Film Thickness (DFT) on the strip before painting commences.
- Eliminate out-of-specification product from the first metre of each coil
- Avoid wet film wheel track marks at the start of each coil
- Checks film builds as low as 1µm with ease
- Automated operation