Proficiency Services for Tissue Manufacturers and Converters

Smithers Pira offers a comparative testing service ideal for quality control laboratories at tissue paper manufacturers and converters. The service incorporates five tests, each having two sample levels:

• Thickness (EN 12625-3)
• Dry tensile strength and stretch (EN 12625-4)
• Dry tensile stretch to break (EN 12625-4)
• Wet tensile - Finch method (EN 12625-5)
• Grammage (EN 12625-6)

In addition to the above a foil and paper sample are supplied, which allows the laboratory to establish/check the relative humidity of the testing conditions.

The service is provided as an annual subscription with samples supplied four times per year in January, April, July and October. Customers are provided with two test materials which are assessed/measured using the customer's normal laboratory procedure. The results are then returned to Smithers Pira for statistical analysis and reporting.

The annual cost of participation is £560+VAT.

Why is proficiency testing so crucial?

The need for ongoing confidence in laboratory performance is not only essential for laboratories and their customers but also for other interested parties, such as regulators, laboratory accreditation bodies (eg for ISO 17025) and other external auditors. The benefits of Smithers Pira's Proficiency Services include:

• Independent evaluation of the performance of laboratories for specific tests
• Independent monitoring of laboratories' continuing performance
• Identifies problems in laboratories which may relate to inadequate test or measurement procedures, the effectiveness of staff training and supervision, or calibration of equipment
• Establishes the effectiveness and comparability of test methods
• Provides additional confidence to laboratory customers
• Identifies any inter-laboratory differences
• Educates participating laboratories based on the outcomes of such comparisons
• Validates the tolerances and uncertainty claims made by laboratories