It is very rare for a user to verify accuracy and precision of a test Sieve once it is bought from a Supplier. Almost every supplier provides a verification certificate with the Sieve. Still in many cases there are disputes when it comes to test results. Especially when the test results of seller’s material are to be crosschecked at buyer’s end. The mismatch between sieving results can result in heated arguments, rejection of consignments, loss of transportation costs for the bulk material supplier and shortages of the bulk material the buyer.

It all starts from choosing the right supplier for Test Sieves to avoid most of these losses. Let us talk about why it is critical to choose the right supplier.

  1. The market is crowded with suppliers providing fake or inaccurate certificates.
  2. Many suppliers do not have any means or apparatus to inspect their lot of test sieves.
  3. Most important: many suppliers are not even manufacturers and have no clue about, the origin of the Sieves, where the Test Sieves were made, Whether Quality checks were in place for Raw Materials used or what quality systems were followed. (This is indeed Scary)

Let’s get you going by firm guidelines to choose the right supplier. Following are the five things which need to be verified and accounted for and reason for each of it. If you wish to have a detailed audit format with qualification criteria, please write to us and we shall send it across to you.

  1. Test Sieve Manufacturing Standards Followed by the Supplier
  2. Offering of Sieves (Compliance, Inspection or Calibration grade)
  3. Traceability of Certificates
  4. Quality system Followed for Manufacturing
  5. Assurance of Build Quality

 

  1. Test Sieve Manufacturing Standard Followed by the supplier

It is important to know which standard was followed to manufacture the Sieve. Typically Test sieves are made by following either ASTM or ISO standard for Test Sieves of Woven cloth. Many suppliers fail to answer this question and this servers as a basic filtering criteria.

  1. Offering of Sieves (Compliance, Inspection or Calibration grade)

Suppliers who can supply all three grades of Sieves are the right suppliers. It is good to dig around a little about and get to know the depth of understanding that the supplier has about each of the grade. Check out this Article about the grades so that you have the information before hand:

Article: Sieve Grades : Compliance, Inspection & Calibration & What they mean…

 

  1. Traceability & contents of Certificates issued by supplier

Always ask for a sample certificate recently issued by supplier. It is important to see what information is mentioned there in and what is required by the Standards (refer the article in point no. 2). If the supplier is getting it tested from a third-party lab,

  1. it would be quite simple to call up the lab and understand their scope of calibration and the facility they have for sieve inspection.
  2. It is also quite useful to get traceability certificates of the inspection equipment from the lab and verify it with the sample inspection report provided by supplier.

 

A Test Sieve certificate is generally in one of the following two formats

  1. A One Pager for Compliance grade certificate
  2. A report running in to almost 20 Pages for Calibration grade certificate

Do try to know what your supplier is going to provide you with

 

 

  1. Quality system being followed by the Supplier

This indeed is a very subjective question, and you need to judge for your own or you need to follow system laid down by your company for Quality system necessities.

  1. Assurance of Build Quality

Most suppliers do not guarantee Mesh accuracy once the Sieve is put to use.

“You bought it, you broke it!”

is a standard assumption which I believe is not very wrong considering what a delicate thing a test Sieve is and it easily can go off the calibration if the mesh or the Sieve is handled harshly or or even cleaned badly.

Still, following things matter when it comes to longevity of the Sieve.

  • The frame construction,
  • Quality of Weld joints between Mesh and Sieve frame (If it is Soldered or Brazed or Permanently welded without foreign materials: Last being the best)
  • The practices followed to ensure the build quality

That’s all from my side for now, If you wish to have a detailed audit format with qualification criteria, please write to us and we shall send it across to you. Happy Buying!