Quality Control

From incoming materials and in-process checks through to final product testing and retained samples, our objective is simple: to ensure that the product we manufacture today performs consistently with the product we manufactured before it.

​

In-Process & Post-Production Testing

Different products require different quality controls. StarToll can establish a suitable QC specification for each individual formulation, identifying the properties that are critical to its manufacture, application and finished performance.

​

Testing can be carried out during production, allowing important characteristics to be monitored before manufacture is completed, as well as post-production testing of the finished batch prior to release.

​

Depending on the product, our laboratory capabilities include testing for:

​

• Viscosity

• Shore hardness

• Gel time

• Tack-free time

• Cure time

• Water content

• Appearance

• RAL colour

• Expansion

• Time to torque

• NCO content

• Taber abrasion resistance

• Adhesion

• Cross-cut adhesion

• Bend performance

• Gloss value

• Pencil hardness

• Water permeability

• UV stability

• And numerous other product-specific physical and performance characteristics

​

Testing requirements can be selected according to the chemistry, intended application and specification of the individual product rather than applying the same generic QC procedure to every system.

​

Our Own In-House Laboratory

Having our own laboratory located alongside our manufacturing operation provides significant advantages.

Our chemists and quality personnel can work directly with the production team, allowing results to be assessed quickly and providing a direct link between formulation, manufacture and finished-product performance.

​

This is particularly valuable during product development and pilot plant scaling, where laboratory testing can be used to compare different formulations and production batches as a product progresses towards full commercial manufacture.

​

Once commercial production begins, appropriate QC parameters can then become part of the product's routine manufacturing specification.

​

Performance Testing – Not Just Basic QC

Our capabilities extend beyond conventional checks such as viscosity, colour and cure time.

​

StarToll can undertake a wide variety of mechanical, physical and application-based performance tests, allowing products to be assessed much more closely against the conditions they will experience in service.

Tests such as abrasion resistance, adhesion, hardness, flexibility, water permeability and UV stability can provide valuable information during both product development and ongoing quality assurance.

​

Where specialist equipment or independent certification is required, testing can also be coordinated through appropriate external laboratories and approved partners.

​

Industry-Specific Testing

Many specialist products must satisfy requirements that are unique to a particular industry or application.

Our experience enables us to undertake a range of these industry-specific test procedures, including tests associated with raised access flooring and pedestal adhesive systems such as PSA MOB PF2 PS/SPU T42 and T15 requirements, alongside other application-specific evaluation methods.

​

This allows quality control to focus not only on whether a product has been manufactured correctly, but also on whether it continues to deliver the performance expected within its intended application.

​

Retained Samples & Batch Traceability

StarToll retains representative samples from production batches as part of our quality assurance procedures.

​

Retained samples provide a valuable physical record of manufactured material and can be used for future reference, comparison or investigation if required.

​

Combined with appropriate production and QC records, this provides an additional level of batch traceability and long-term quality assurance.

​

From Raw Material to Finished Product

Quality control can be integrated throughout the complete StarToll manufacturing process:

​

Raw Materials → In-Process QC → Manufacture → Finished Batch Testing → Approval → Retained Sample → Release

​

For customers using our wider services, this can continue through packaging, labelling, stockholding and distribution.

​

Quality You Can Demonstrate

Effective quality control is about more than saying that a product is consistent — it is about having the testing, records and technical capability to demonstrate it.

​

By combining our own laboratory, experienced chemists, specialist testing equipment, retained samples and manufacturing expertise, StarToll can provide customers with confidence that their products are being manufactured and evaluated to clearly defined standards, batch after batch.