ATC, Inc. Offers Alternative Leak Test Solution to Replace Helium Leak Testing

INDIANAPOLIS - Oct. 14, 2014 - PRLog -- ATC Inc. is offering an alternative to helium leak testing in order to provide a more cost-effective option for their clients. Due to the limited availability and high cost of helium, many manufacturers are faced with rising operating costs for their leak test systems which are necessary to ensure the safety and viability of their products. By using air-based leak testing, ATC Inc. helps companies keep their quality standards high without unnecessarily high operating costs.

Automotive, HVAC, and medical device manufacturers are three of the many industries that had previously utilized helium leak testing to evaluate their products and have recently converted leak test operations to air. Leak testing is a tool used to ensure that manufactured products exceed the quality requirements and, in many cases, meet government regulations.

A shortage of helium is causing prices to rise, which makes helium testing expensive. Another disadvantage of helium testing is the level of equipment complication and required maintenance. ATC Inc.'s patented Micro-Flow technology can reliably test products at the same sensitivity without use of helium, offering an effective alternative that helps drive down manufacturing costs. ATC’s system typically uses less tooling and hardware which significantly reduces complexity and maintenance requirements.

ATC's Micro-Flow systems use air as the test medium. This eliminates the need for special gases and reduces the cost of the leak test operation. Additionally, Micro-Flow technology requires less maintenance and takes up less floor space. These qualities make Micro-Flow technology based systems a preferable option for many.

ATC, Inc. is confident that their Micro-Flow technology will be beneficial for many companies determined to keep their quality standards high in spite of the cost of helium.

"Many customers were able to justify the cost of replacement leak test equipment solely on the savings due to elimination of helium. As a significant side benefit they have realized reduced maintenance cost and equipment downtime," said Larry Bishop, ATC Inc.'s Vice President of Engineering.

However, some customer specifications reference helium as the test gas along with a helium flow rate. ATC is able to help their customers meet the same leak test sensitivity by defining their leak tightness requirements with the geometric approach which does not specify the use of any particular gas or test method. This geometric approach provides the most flexibility for product manufacturers.

Larry explained, "Changing from helium to air leak testing can be complicated. ATC is uniquely positioned to address this challenge with our Micro-Flow technology and years of testing experience. ATC can correlate the flow characteristics of the two gases to help support the change from helium to air testing."

ATC Inc. assists a wide variety of industries through many products and services. With the helium shortage showing no signs of ending, many companies will likely turn to ATC, Inc. to see if their Micro-Flow based systems can reduce their business's expenditures without compromising product integrity.

About ATC Inc.

ATC Inc. has over 25 years of experience in leak detection technology. Offering pressure leak testing, mass extraction leak testing, leak test accessories, and much more. They continue to prioritize high quality products and innovation. To learn more about ATC’s technologies and products, visit atcinc.net.