Coating Thickness Gauges

Coating Thickness Measurement

Coating thickness is one of the most frequently checked quality parameters in industry – from anti-corrosion paint and hot-dip galvanising to electroplated, anodised and powder coatings. UAB „Matavimo technologijos“ offers industrial coating thickness gauges from Helmut Fischer, Karl Deutsch and OptiSense covering all the main non-destructive and destructive methods.
Which method to choose?

Magnetic induction method (DIN EN ISO 2178) – non-magnetic coatings (paint, zinc, chrome, plastic) on steel and cast iron.
Eddy current method (DIN EN ISO 2360) – insulating coatings (paint, anodising, lacquer) on non-ferrous metals: aluminium, copper, brass.
Phase-sensitive eddy current method (ISO 21968) – conductive metallic coatings, e.g. zinc under a paint layer (duplex systems), nickel on steel.
Photothermal method (DIN EN 15042-2) – non-contact: wet, soft and uncured powder coatings, small parts, robotic lines.
Coulometric method (DIN EN ISO 2177) – destructive, but accurate and low-cost measurement of metallic coatings (Zn, Ni, Cu, Sn) where X-ray fluorescence reaches its limits.

Besides coating thickness, the same instrument families measure ferrite content in austenitic and duplex steel, electrical conductivity (MS/m, % IACS) and test coatings for porosity using the high-voltage method.
What to include in your enquiry: the base material (steel, aluminium, copper, plastic), the coating type and number of layers, the expected thickness range, the part shape and size (flat, cylindrical, small, rough surface), the required standards or certificates (DAkkS, ISO 17025), and whether measurements will be taken in the laboratory, in production or on site.

Handheld and benchtop coating thickness gauges for industry: paint and powder coatings, hot-dip galvanising, electroplated and anodised coatings. Helmut Fischer offers compact MP0 gauges for corrosion protection and the versatile DMP series with interchangeable probes. DUALSCOPE gauges include inspection plans for regulated tasks, PHASCOPE is designed for metallic and duplex coatings, SR-SCOPE for copper thickness on PCBs, and the MMS PC2 benchtop system for the laboratory. Karl Deutsch LEPTOSKOP gauges with probes measure from a few microns up to 20 mm. The right method depends on the substrate (steel or non-ferrous metal) and the coating type.

Coulometric Coating Thickness Measurement

The coulometric (anodic stripping) method measures the thickness of metallic coatings by dissolving the coating step by step over a small area. It is suitable for almost all metallic coatings on metallic and non-metallic substrates, including multi-layer systems where the thickness of each layer must be determined separately. Helmut Fischer COULOSCOPE CMS2 and CMS2 STEP are benchtop instruments for this kind of testing.

Electrical Conductivity Meters

Electrical conductivity (MS/m or % IACS) is a quick indirect indicator of the properties of non-ferrous metals: it is used to assess heat treatment condition, the hardness and strength of aluminium alloys and alloy homogeneity, and to detect thermal damage and fatigue. Helmut Fischer SIGMASCOPE instruments use the phase-sensitive eddy current method according to DIN 50994 and can measure through paint or plastic coatings. SIGMASCOPE GOLD versions are designed to check the authenticity of gold bars and coins – they detect tungsten inclusions that a density test does not reveal.

Photothermal Coating Thickness Gauges

Photothermal gauges determine coating thickness without touching the surface – a short light pulse heats the coating and a sensor measures how the heat spreads. This makes it possible to measure wet, powder and cured coatings on metallic and non-metallic substrates. OptiSense offers handheld PaintChecker Mobile and LED-R gauges as well as PaintChecker Industrial sensors and controllers mounted on robots or production lines. Reference Master standards are produced with the same coating that is used in production.

Probes, Standards and Accessories

The accuracy of coating thickness measurement depends not only on the instrument but also on the probe, calibration and measuring conditions. Helmut Fischer offers more than 100 standard probes and over 500 traceable calibration standards with a factory or DAkkS certificate. It also offers manual and motorised measuring stands for consistent conditions, and the FISIQ T and DataCenter software for managing and evaluating data and creating reports.