Redesigned Tactile Sensation Analyzer Takes Center Stage at the 66th Japan TAPPI Meeting in Tokyo

The 66th Japan TAPPI Annual Meeting is a prominent event in the pulp and paper industry, gathering experts, researchers, and industry leaders to showcase the latest advancements in the field of tissue paper and paper products. This year, Ms. Kazumi Tanikawa from Sanyo Trading will give a special presentation on the TSA's unique measuring capabilities.

Its predecessor, the TSA Tissue Softness Analyzer, has since become an industry standard for assessing the tactile properties of tissue paper and paper products such as softness, smoothness and flexibility. It has been reviewed in the TAPPI Technical Information Paper (TIP) titled “Objective Determination of the Haptic Properties of Tissue Products, Technical Information Paper TIP 0808-07 (2021),” which covers the theoretical background of haptics, the measuring principles of the device, and application possibilities for the paper manufacturing process and quality assurance. TIPs are critically peer-reviewed and contain practical and readily usable information for the pulp, tissue, and paper industries, among others. Because of the organization’s well-known research and testing standards, being featured in a TAPPI technical paper is widely considered an important recognition within the industry and marks a milestone for the German device manufacturing company.

Significantly, the latest redesign introduces several innovative features that make it even more valuable to the industry. Key highlights of the redesigned TSA Tactile Sensation Analyzer include:

1. Measurement of Thermohaptics: The updated TSA is equipped with state-of-the-art thermohaptics measurement technology, allowing for precise evaluation of surface thermal conductivity and thermal isolation. This feature opens up new possibilities for understanding the tactile experiences of paper products in real-world scenarios, such as for the development of specialty tissue with a cooling effect or the investigation of heat transfer properties in disposable paper cups, for example.

2. Online Virtual Database: One of the standout features of the redesigned TSA is the integration of its measuring data into an online virtual database, the Virtual Haptic Library. This license-based database enables authorized users to easily categorize, store, and reproduce specific properties using sample data, from anywhere in the world, greatly improving and simplifying quality assurance.

3. Enhanced User Experience: The high-quality design of the TSA creates a more intuitive user experience with a state-of-the-art touchscreen, a user-friendly digital interface and simplified mounting, as well as the optional modules for measurements of ball burst strength, compressibility and crumple behavior of tissue paper.

4. High-Resolution Camera: The inclusion of a state-of-the-art camera allows operators to capture a high-resolution image of the sample, showing in great detail the paper structure, texture, and any visual embellishments.

At the meeting, Ms. Kazumi Tanikawa will deliver a special presentation that focuses specifically on the TSA Tactile Sensation Analyzer and its benefits for the paper industry. Attendees can expect an in-depth exploration and demonstration of the analyzer's capabilities and the potential applications in tactile property testing of tissue and paper products.

"We are excited to introduce the new model of the TSA Tactile Sensation Analyzer at the 66th Japan TAPPI Meeting," said Daniel Ohndorf, Area Manager at emtec Electronic, who will be attending the event. "This redesign reflects our commitment to delivering cutting-edge solutions for the paper and tissue industry. With the addition of thermohaptics measurement and the online virtual database, we are confident that the TSA will continue to be an invaluable tool for researchers, manufacturers, and quality control technicians."

Mr. Hiroyuki Miyaoka, also from Sanyo Trading, will also be present at the TAPPI meeting to provide details about the new device and additional emtec devices onsite, such as the CAS touch! Charge Analyzing System and the FPA touch! Fiber Potential Analyzer. These two lab devices are often used in tandem to precisely determine the particle charge of the pulp and zeta potential of the fibers, thus optimizing process control and minimizing resource waste.