Elevate Manufacturing Quality with the Right Glue Sensor

Glue is a Critical Component of Countless Manufacturing Processes

From timber production and automotive components to consumer product packaging, glue and many other types of adhesives are present in production lines of all sizes. Whether you’re seeking to verify the presence of glue for quality control or to confirm other manufacturing processes, being able to seamlessly and rapidly identify glue on parts and products requires a high-speed glue sensor. 

However, integrating a glue sensor into your production environment requires understanding the application and the information needed. For example, do you simply need to know whether the glue is present, or do you need to know more about the glue itself? How will that knowledge be used? These will influence aspects of a glue sensor such as:

• The spot size used for detection
• The distance between the target and sensor
• What sensitivity settings will be needed
• Whether a coating is needed to protect the lens

A Few Application Examples

• Timber Production — Recently, a lumber producer wanted to be able to verify the presence or absence of glue as products moved along the line. The glue being used was a polyurethane adhesive with a UV luminescent tracer, making it ideal for a UV glue sensor. EMX was able to easily meet the need with our UVX luminescence sensor. Learn more about this application here.
• Glue Application Equipment — A major supplier of glue application systems needed to be able to detect an adhesive on its packaging. Due to the speed and sensitivity needed, EMX was able to solve the challenge with our more adjustable luminescence sensor, the UVX-300G-C. Learn more about this application here.

Exploring the UVX Luminescence Sensor Series for Glue Detection

The UVX luminescence sensors from EMX Industries lead the way in the detection of a variety of materials, including glues and adhesives, as long as they contain a luminescent tracer. The sensor emits a small beam of ultraviolet light, which causes the luminescent material to fluoresce (glow). The sensor detects this reaction as well as its intensity and displays that reading on a numerical display, allowing manufacturers to verify the presence of the material and understand more about it, such as whether it meets a desired threshold. When it comes to using the UVX series as glue sensors, we recommend a few specific models.

UVX-100 and UVX-300

The entry-level models in the series, the UVX-100 and UVX-300 models are best if you only need to ensure that a glue or adhesive is present. Both models feature a 0–50 display range. The UVX-100 has standard sensitivity and a 20–100mm operating range, while the UVX-300 has slightly higher sensitivity and a longer operating range of up to 300mm. 

UVX-300G, UVX-300G-C, and UVX-600G-C

For more advanced or specific applications, EMX offers the UVX-300G, UVX-300G-C, and UVX-600G-C. These models enable greater analytical capabilities, such as how much glue or adhesive is present and how much is being released (which in turn informs other processes or identifies issues). This is possible through more configuration and adjustment options, which allow manufacturers to fine-tune the sensors to specific performance or measurement needs. 

All three models have a wider display range than the 100 or 300, our highest sensitivity features, and longer operating ranges of 350mm (300G and 300G-C) to 600mm (600G-C). The 600G-C specifically is designed for long-range applications that require significant sensitivity, such as adhesives that are difficult to detect. 

Find Out If the UVX is the Glue Sensor for You

Understanding which UVX sensor will work in your environment and for your application can be challenging, particularly if you’re unsure about the details of your adhesive, the operating range needed, or the amount of sensitivity required. To help you make the best decision, we offer complimentary sample testing at our facility. 

Simply reach out to us, let us know some details about your application, and send in your sample. Our engineers will conduct testing using one or more sensors and provide a written report with applicable images and recommendations, allowing you to make the right purchase decision and seamlessly integrate the sensor into your environment. 

Reach out to us today to get started.