TEGAM’s SureGrip Polymer Cover for Instrument AND Equipment Protection Adds Innovation

Advanced Energy's TEGAM announces our new SureGrip™ polymer cover to fit the 912 and 911 digital thermometers, 931 and 932 datalogging thermometers, and the 940 Series Temperature Calibrators. This same cover also fits the TEGAM 700 Series line of handheld bond meters. The new cover glove is soft and flexible, and it makes the instruments easier to hold. The new cover also adds additional drop protection to both the instrument and to the surface it is dropped upon, which, as you’ll read below, can be as important as protecting the measuring device itself.

When TEGAM developed its new 911 and 912 precision thermocouple thermometers, one of our targets was the food industry. For use in the food industry, handheld thermometers must be cleanable, with no crevices in the case where food can get caught and then grow bacteria. The case also has to be shock and vibration resistant without a protective cover. The TEGAM team worked hard to accomplish this design and engineering feat. Our new handheld case has an ergonomic design to make it comfortable to hold AND is made from food-grade plastic resin. It also protects the instrument and passes Mil-Spec shock, drop and vibration standards for a portable instrument. No rubber boot needed!

However, when we visited an aircraft manufacturer and showed them the 900 Series digital thermometers and Dataloggers, they asked, “is there a rubber boot for it?” Further discussions with this manufacturer revealed that the new composite construction airframes often have special coatings applied to them that need protection from dings and scratches. They were not concerned about the thermometer getting damaged by being dropped, but rather, very concerned about their aircraft parts getting damaged by the thermometer being dropped on to them. TEGAM was attentive to protecting our measuring device, the aircraft manufacturer was concerned about protecting their product! And rightly so.

To meet that requirement, TEGAM set out to develop a soft polymer “glove” that would fit onto the 900 Series Digital Thermometer and Temperature Calibrators as well as a new line of handheld Bond Meters we’ve been developing. Our engineering team had to find a polymer that was soft and flexible in order to work with our digital thermometer case while also protecting the aircraft components from impact – PLUS, it could not contain any Silicone. The reason this caveat was so important is because Silicone is harmful to the composite construction process used in aircraft and to many molding applications. If it comes in contact with a material surface or mold, Silicone can actually prevent proper bonding, or even contaminate the molds!

The material we chose is strong, soft, flexible, contains no Silicone, and has the added advantage of making the case less slippery and easier to hold. The new SureGrip cover is Silicone-free so it can be used in composite construction and molding applications. In addition, it improves the grip while adding extra drop protection to the instrument and the surface it may be dropped upon. Yet another example of TEGAM foresight and product innovation!

Interested in TEGAM designs and innovations in thermometry and measurement? Please reach out here to get started with TEGAM instrumentation. And thanks for reading.