Duets by Gemini is committed to the long-term sustainability and quality of its engraving, ADA and architectural sign substrates. Leveraging its comprehensive, long-standing testing program, Gemini thoroughly tests Duets substrates for UV and corrosion resistance. This ensures every sheet of substrate produced in its clean room extrusion facility has superior performance characteristics, even following prolonged exposure to harsh environmental and manufacturing conditions in the field.To test substrates for UV resistance, Gemini laboratory technicians rely upon the Atlas™ Xenon Weather-Ometer, which exposes Duets products to a high watt Xenon Arc bulb with the destructive capability of direct sunlight in addition to varying levels of humidity and darkness to exaggerate and accelerate environmental conditions likely to be encountered in the field. To ensure superior product performance, all Duets products comply with one of the most stringent and widely adopted standards within the automotive industry, which employs the cyclical humidity and temperature features of this machine.
To verify engraving substrates resist corrosion from environmental moisture or chemicals, Gemini utilizes the Advanced Cyclic Corrosion Exposure System to test Duets substrates. This process includes repeated immersion in salt fog, and exposure to moisture and heat cycles to simulate long-term effects of the harshest environmental conditions. After 1000 hours in the chamber, only the most chemical-resistant products pass the test.
Gemini also relies upon continual testing feedback from partners and end users to ensure Duets products always meet and exceed the demanding requirements of today’s lasers and routers. For example, Dave Stevens, Senior Technical Specialist at Universal Laser Systems, Inc., discovered that Duets red on white Laser XT will engrave cleanly in one pass. This positively impacts laser machine throughput and productivity.
Noting the significance of this observation, Stevens notes that, “Not all substrates engrave cleanly because some colors, like reds and blues, do not engrave as well as others. This is caused because some pigments match too closely to the infrared wavelength of the lasers, causing this wavelength of light to pass through these colors without completely removing them, leaving a residue behind no matter what intensity setting is used with the laser.”
Gemini also tests Duets on its own laser machines to verify substrate quality and performance, enhance laserability and ensure field-installed longevity.
Through its comprehensive testing approach, Gemini produces superior products that address the real-world manufacturing needs of engraving and ADA substrate users. “We strongly believe in the quality of our substrates, and only accept the highest standards of performance,” said Gary Harder, Director of Duets by Gemini. “Our customers can be assured that all Duets products have been exhaustively tested for durability, and that they’re also engineered to maximize machine throughput and productivity.”
Gemini’s testing program is used for all products, materials and coatings. MORE INFO