Axios FAST and the exciting process control revolution in metals

by Uwe König, Tuesday, 10th January 2023

Do you have a need for speed? These days, you don’t need to be a racing driver to be saving precious seconds at work – time is of the essence in many industries, not least for those of us who work in metals and mining. Global demand for metal is predicted to keep increasing, and the Axios FAST X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometer is helping metal producers to keep their throughput high and efficient more easily than ever before.

Fast train symbolizes the speed of Axios FAST

Time is ticking

The production of metals is famous – or infamous – for consuming a lot of energy and emitting greenhouse gases. To comply with regulations or achieve their sustainability goals, metal producers need to reduce their environmental impact without reducing their throughput to meet demand. A key lever in making this change is improving efficiency through process control.

One important technique used to control a wide range of processes is elemental analysis, often using XRF, which is accurate and non-destructive. However, the efficiency of traditional XRF spectrometers can be limited by several factors. Slow sample loading, low concentrations or low sensitivity, and the need for repeated calibration as X-ray tubes age can all significantly reduce the speed and accuracy of the analysis.

Thanks to its simultaneous fixed-channel measurements of up to 28 elements, the Axios FAST XRF spectrometer provides extremely rapid routine elemental analysis – making it perfect for at-line process control in almost real-time. It’s also fitted with the advanced SST-mAX X-ray tube, which eliminates the effects of tube aging thanks to Malvern Panalytical’s ground-breaking ZETA technology. That ‘new tube’ performance is here to stay!

Sampling against the clock

There are specific processes in metal production that always need to be carried out quickly, with one good example being the analysis of samples for melting control of stainless steel. It’s crucial to be quick off the mark with these samples – not only to maximize efficiency and keep production moving but also to avoid melting losses that could compromise your results.

The Axios FAST can provide unrivaled turnaround: you can have a complete, highly accurate, and repeatable steel analysis in 20 seconds! Its innovative sample loading mechanism means that high throughput is built in, so these rapid results aren’t a one-off.

Versatile resilience

Perhaps the most impactful step in maximizing efficiency is bringing in automation. There’s no need to be worried about the robot uprising (or at least, not yet) – automation can be simple, and the Axios FAST proves it. The spectrometer is designed to fit easily into existing automation setups, from the simplest to the most complex, and a sample changer makes it easy to carry out batch analysis even while the machine is unattended.

Need to multitask? No problem. You can add up to four programmable goniometers to the instrument, making it even more flexible for any application need. It’s tough, too, having been carefully designed to withstand the pressures of a busy industrial environment.

Speeding toward a greener future

Continuing demand for metal and the need to reduce environmental impact can seem to be pulling producers in different directions, but implementing an efficient analytical strategy can enable you to work toward both priorities and bring your business into the future. It’s clear that efficiency is the future – and the future is fast.

To discover the power of high-throughput analysis in your processes, contact us below.

Download the Axios FAST brochure and explore the range further here.

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