The coating inspection process requires inspection at every stage to ensure compliance to the specification. From the preparation of the surface to be coated, through climatic condition monitoring to the dry film thickness evaluation, visual assessment and gauge-based testing will ensure adequate process control.

For steel surface preparation, the removal of rust and other contamination and the creation of a surface profile is required to enhance the adhesion of the applied coatings. Elcometer offer a range of visual standards for rust removal and a simple test for dust on blast-cleaned surfaces. In order to determine the level of soluble salt contamination of the blast cleaned surface, a range of salt contamination methods are available including the Bresle Patch Method, the Saturated Filter Paper method and the chloride-specific titration tube method.

For climatic condition monitoring Elcometer offer simple bi-metallic magnetic thermometers and electronic thermometers for temperature measurement, with wet and dry bulb hygrometers and electronic dewpoint meters for the measurement and data-logging of relative humidity and dewpoint temperatures. Oven temperature logging and wind velocity measurement are also available.

For coating thickness Elcometer offer wet film combs, mechanical and electronic non-destructive dry film thickness gauges, the destructive paint inspection gauge and the non-contact powder coating thickness gauge.

For post coating assessment of adhesion and porosity of the coating there is a full range of adhesion testers and low and high voltage holiday detectors.