Nov. 1, 2011

At the end of October 2011, we reached the 200th unit sales milestone of our BOT-3000 Digital Tribometer! As we look ahead toward the year 2012 looming on the horizon, we wish to sincerely thank all of our loyal customers for our continued success! We will always value your ideas and suggestions to help make our products even better! We have learned so much from YOU; and it is your feedback which drives the continuous improvement process. We hope you will be excited as our new ideas and offerings take shape in 2012!

Sept. 14, 2011

It is now possible to assign a limited offset value (positive or negative) to each slider (test foot) to account for small differences in the slider material properties. This is an important new feature because materials such as neolite or leather may exhibit a COF measurement bias due to certain material manufacturing variances, process control limitations, etc. The assigned offset value is displayed on each test result printout. Example: If a reference surface has a known value of 0.52 and repeated testing with a certain slider reports a 0.50 value, then an offset of +0.02 may be applied to that slider. Now, further tests will report the “corrected” value of 0.52
This exciting new feature is available as a firmware upgrade for older units, and included with all new units.

April 11, 2011

We've revised the total distance required to complete an SCOF (static) measurement using the BOT-3000 to just a few inches. This new enhancement will allow testing of many single floor tiles and reduce the potential for tile-to-tile variability. As always, DCOF (dynamic) test measurement distances can be set by the user.

Feb. 2, 2011

We now have a computerized battery analyzer that can fully test a BOT's internal battery and create a detailed discharge profile under different load conditions. This capability allows us to grade the overall health and longevity of the battery.

To get the most out of your BOT's internal battery, maintain a periodic charge - discharge cycle. In other words, regularly use your BOT and then recharge it. Rechargeable batteries do not like to sit around for long periods without use. They actually last much longer if you keep them engaged in "active service".

We now offer a mobile charger so you may recharge your BOT "on-the-go". Also, we have added a battery status icon in the LCD display so you can be certain of the battery charge level!

April 24, 2010

We've all heard it's not easy going green, but we can find ways that are simple and responsible as well. For instance; when shipping your BOT-3000, did you know that you don't even have to use a box? That's right; the standard case is approved not only for airline carry on, but for both domestic and international shipping! Many BOT users prefer to just close up the case and ship! This is because the latches are especially designed to be recessed and not accidentally open. The well padded and waterproof Pelican TM brand case is practically indestructible and has a manufacturer's lifetime warranty. It will protect your BOT wherever you want it to go. You may wish to padlock the case or simply use plastic cable ties to secure it completely. If you decide to padlock the case, please don't forget to send us the key or the combination when shipping to us!

January 7, 2010

A prototype of a new rugged travel case for carrying reference tiles is being tested. The well-padded, waterproof case was designed for notebook computers, but will easily hold three 8 X 12 tiles. The shoulder strap makes it a breeze to carry, and keeps your hands free when traveling.

November 30, 2009

A tiny hand-held computer, known as a "UMPC" or Ultra Mobile Personal Computer, was recently tested with WinRSI; the software program that uploads test results into a PC. The test results were clearly readable on the 5 inch screen, although fairly small as you might expect. The Viliv S5 UMPC allows users to "travel light", besides providing the ability to email test results to anyone!

July 8, 2008

Regan Scientific Instruments and Variosystems Inc recently co-sponsored a technical presentation featuring Dr. Jens Sebald, floor safety expert from Wuppertal University in Germany. A simulcast webinar was hosted by Eric Astrachan from the Tile Council of North America. Attendees represented members from the ASTM F-13 committee, leading safety engineers, and a large group of US and international flooring manufacturers. A number of other individuals joined via the World Wide Web interface. The main theme of Dr. Sebald's presentation was the on-going and future research regarding DIN and EN Standards for COF testing of flooring and footwear, both in the laboratory and in the field.

Also presented were the results of Dr. Sebald's correlation studies between various DCOF measuring methods and instruments including the BOT-3000. We were pleased to note that Dr. Sebald's study both validated and expanded on previous research which demonstrated a high level of correlation between the BOT 3000 and the German Ramp test method. Using a wider array of test sensors, lubricants, and flooring types, Dr. Sebald found that the BOT- 3000 demonstrated a statistically "highly significant” correlationship  with methods such as the Ramp, the DIN GMG-100, the EN-BST Shoe Tester, and (to a lesser degree) the British Pendulum. A summary of Dr. Sebald's presentation is available on request.

Picture Caption:  "Dr. Jens Sebald is a research scientist at the University of Wuppertal, Germany.  He is the author of the research study  " A Systematic Approach to the Evaluation of of the Anti-Slip Properties of Professional Footwear". He also serves on several German and European  comittees developing walkway safety standards.

The English translation of Dr. Jens Sebald's book "System Oriented Concept for Testing and Assessment of the Slip Resistance of Safety, Protective and Occupational Footwear" has been published in a limited edition quantity, and is available until supplies run out. This masterful and exhaustive dissertation is rich with data, charts, graphs, models, formulas, and references which have been orchestrated to illustrate the complex interactions between flooring materials, footwear, and contaminants. Also referenced are many of the current German and European Union DIN and EN Standards applicable to pedestrian safety. Unlike North America, Germany has begun to embrace "action limit" values expressed in Dynamic Coefficient of Friction measurements, and make them applicable to walkway safety. The widely accepted "German Ramp" laboratory test method has now been correlated to several portable tribometers including the BOT-3000, GMG-100, and the "British Pendulum". The correlation coefficients of these devices are listed in a comprehensive matrix and also includes the "BST" which is a sophisticated laboratory shoe testing device, designed for Wuppertal University in northwestern Germany. Dr. Sebald's book summarizes decades of research by himself, several notable professors, safety engineers, scientists, researchers, and others who are dedicated to improving walkway safety, both in public and in the workplace.

If you would like to purchase a copy of Dr. Sebald's book in English, please contact us for pricing and availability.

* Click link below to view page from book

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