Rospen invests £100,000 in new lab

Haslingden-based weighing and metering expert Rospen has invested £100,000 in a new hi-tech laboratory.

A new powder flow tester improves the precision of the company's hopper design which had previously utilised the knowledge and experience of engineers. 

The lab, installed by Brookfield Engineering, accurately assesses powder flow behaviour to inform the design of Rospen’s processing equipment.

It means machinery can be made to precise specifications, whether built to handle coffee beans, building aggregates or hazardous chemicals.

It is the latest move by the company in bringing outsourced services in-house. Rospen’s other investments include the purchase of a £20,000 spray booth, enabling the business to carry out paintwork onsite, and a new laser marking machine that provides the ability to produce serial plates.

Grant McGeever, technical director at Rospen, said: "All powders behave differently, which means they discharge from hoppers in different ways. Previously we’d build equipment based on the experience and knowledge of our engineers, but having accurate readings at our fingertips removes any guesswork, meaning we get it right first time.

"There are benefits to us and the customer because we don’t have to potentially go back and make modifications, so we can reduce lead times."