Kerry Pianoforte, Editor05.05.25
CW: How was demand for lab/testing equipment in 2024? What is driving growth?
BYK-Gardner USA: Demand for lab testing equipment in 2024 was flat. There are not many new labs opening and there is definitely some consolidation occurring.
ROSS: At ROSS, we’ve seen increased activity at our Hauppauge, NY Test & Development Center, where customers across the coatings, inks and specialty chemicals sectors are able to test a full range of pilot and laboratory scale mixers to simulate their real-world processing conditions. The ability to perform trials before investing in full-scale equipment helps formulators optimize their process, reduce risk, and get new products to market faster. Whether they were developing new water-based systems, experimenting with bio-based resins, or reworking existing formulas to meet VOC regulations, customers are leveraging our center’s resources and expert team to simulate their process at scale – without interrupting their in-house operations – saving time and resources.
Additionally, ongoing volatility in raw material sourcing and availability has made reformulation and material substitution more common. R&D teams are under increasing pressure to evaluate alternative ingredients quickly and efficiently. To support these needs, we also maintain a large in-stock inventory of laboratory and pilot-scale mixers — including high-shear, planetary, and multi-shaft systems — available for fast delivery. This ensures that formulators not only have access to expert testing resources, but also to the equipment they need with minimal lead time.
CW: What is driving growth?
BYK-Gardner USA: Growth is driven by new product development and new or improved applications that require additional testing. While there are not many new test methods being employed, there are always improvements being made for existing products that require higher standards. Therefore testing of wet and dry properties of coatings will always be in demand.
CW: What are the latest products launched and what are their applications?
BYK-Gardner USA: One area we are seeing high interest and even expansion is in the dispersion area. The new VMA Getzmann Dispermat CV3evo is a new offering for lab applications. With the modular quick-change systems, the DISPERMAT CV3evo dissolver can also be used as APS Bead Mill, TORUSMILL TML Basket Mill, CDS Vacuum Dispersion System and SR Rotor-Stator Homogenizer. The modular design offers extreme flexibility for dispersion options while minimizing lab space and delivering quick dispersion times with ultra quiet operational noise. We are seeing growth in the pilot and production scale dispersion units. These system are typically built to specification and require a longer delivery time, but the pay back in reduced dispersion time quickly pays back on the investment.
ROSS: We maintain a wide range of High Shear Mixers, Multi-Shaft Mixers, Planetary Mixers and Ribbon Blenders at our ROSS Test & Development Center, which are all available for hands-on trials. In addition, we are continuously enhancing our lab scale equipment to meet the evolving needs of formulators. Most recently, we installed a new VersaMix Model VMC-2, a laboratory scale triple-shaft mixer designed for maximum batch flexibility and process versatility. This system offers robust agitation and high-speed dispersive mixing, making it well-suited for challenging formulations such as coatings, sealants, emulsions, suspensions, and other complex dispersions.
BYK-Gardner USA: Demand for lab testing equipment in 2024 was flat. There are not many new labs opening and there is definitely some consolidation occurring.
ROSS: At ROSS, we’ve seen increased activity at our Hauppauge, NY Test & Development Center, where customers across the coatings, inks and specialty chemicals sectors are able to test a full range of pilot and laboratory scale mixers to simulate their real-world processing conditions. The ability to perform trials before investing in full-scale equipment helps formulators optimize their process, reduce risk, and get new products to market faster. Whether they were developing new water-based systems, experimenting with bio-based resins, or reworking existing formulas to meet VOC regulations, customers are leveraging our center’s resources and expert team to simulate their process at scale – without interrupting their in-house operations – saving time and resources.
Additionally, ongoing volatility in raw material sourcing and availability has made reformulation and material substitution more common. R&D teams are under increasing pressure to evaluate alternative ingredients quickly and efficiently. To support these needs, we also maintain a large in-stock inventory of laboratory and pilot-scale mixers — including high-shear, planetary, and multi-shaft systems — available for fast delivery. This ensures that formulators not only have access to expert testing resources, but also to the equipment they need with minimal lead time.
CW: What is driving growth?
BYK-Gardner USA: Growth is driven by new product development and new or improved applications that require additional testing. While there are not many new test methods being employed, there are always improvements being made for existing products that require higher standards. Therefore testing of wet and dry properties of coatings will always be in demand.
CW: What are the latest products launched and what are their applications?
BYK-Gardner USA: One area we are seeing high interest and even expansion is in the dispersion area. The new VMA Getzmann Dispermat CV3evo is a new offering for lab applications. With the modular quick-change systems, the DISPERMAT CV3evo dissolver can also be used as APS Bead Mill, TORUSMILL TML Basket Mill, CDS Vacuum Dispersion System and SR Rotor-Stator Homogenizer. The modular design offers extreme flexibility for dispersion options while minimizing lab space and delivering quick dispersion times with ultra quiet operational noise. We are seeing growth in the pilot and production scale dispersion units. These system are typically built to specification and require a longer delivery time, but the pay back in reduced dispersion time quickly pays back on the investment.
ROSS: We maintain a wide range of High Shear Mixers, Multi-Shaft Mixers, Planetary Mixers and Ribbon Blenders at our ROSS Test & Development Center, which are all available for hands-on trials. In addition, we are continuously enhancing our lab scale equipment to meet the evolving needs of formulators. Most recently, we installed a new VersaMix Model VMC-2, a laboratory scale triple-shaft mixer designed for maximum batch flexibility and process versatility. This system offers robust agitation and high-speed dispersive mixing, making it well-suited for challenging formulations such as coatings, sealants, emulsions, suspensions, and other complex dispersions.
