Specac Desktop Press

Creating a Leading Laboratory Press

Specac (Smiths Group)
25 tonne hydraulic desktop press

IDC created an exceptional 25 tonne hydraulic press that reduces both cost and weight. The Atlas press has become the leading laboratory press for sample preparation. Specac required a useable design that could be easily integrated into the Laboratory environment. IDC achieved all the necessary requirements by working in conjunction to these needs.

The brief of the project was to develop a set of enclosures and other components for a programmable 25-ton hydraulic press used for laboratory sample preparation. The aim was to achieve an attractive, cost-effective, and easy-to-use product able to withstand the substantial loads. Due to the critical performance parameters, Finite Element modelling was used to assess the safety margins before proceeding with production. The solutions that were prototyped and batched were produced by IDC. After extensive qualification testing, the press could move to production.

Our industrial designers refined the basic geometry and created a new control housing, designed to compliment the press form and provide an attractive and user-friendly interface. Polyurethane castings were used for the instrument cover and to provide a safety guard to give a high-quality feel and finish, without the high tooling costs.

The Specac Atlas Automatic Lab Press was finished with an attractive, modern and thought out design that allows it to stand out in a crowded market.