X-Rite Pantone unveils new solutions at Surfex Plus 2012

Company offers new tools to communicate colours, assess and measure the colour and appearance of test surfaces and certify handheld and benchtop spectrophotometers used at locations worldwide

Poynton, United Kingdom — March 29, 2012 – X-Rite Pantone will unveil new solutions at the upcoming Surfex Plus 2012 Show that will help manufacturers of paint, coatings, inks and dyes to manage and communicate the colour of their products.

X-Rite Pantone representatives manning stand E2 of the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, U.K. 29 to 30 May will demonstrate technologies including the introduction of a new light booth, a demonstration of the company’s new Ci52 spectrophotometer and new color inspiration and matching tools from Pantone. Pre-show information may be obtained by visiting www.xrite.com or writing Industrial Sales Manager Peter Smith at psmith@xrite.com.

The new SpectraLight QC booth makes it easy for customers to assess whether their products are meeting their customer’s exacting specifications for colour and appearance under daylight, incandescent, fluorescent and other illumination conditions. The SpectraLight QC offers the most accurate simulation of daylight for any standard-sized viewing booth, along with its SmartLogic technology and other features that increase productivity and accelerate throughput for faster and more accurate colour approvals.

On the instrumentation side, the Ci52 provides accurate and repeatable data on samples that vary widely in type of gloss, contour, texture and opacity. The Ci52 meshes seamlessly with historical data taken by other X-Rite instruments such as the SP60, 62 and 64 portable spherical spectrophotometers.

X-Rite also will be showing its VS450 spectrophotometer and MA family of multi-angle spectrophotometers that give manufacturers advanced tools for demanding applications. The VS450 gives quality assurance and production personnel a way to accurately measure color from a distance of about 38mm, making it possible to measure wet and dry test surfaces such as newly applied paints or powders that would obscure the viewing ports of contact spectrophotometers. The VS 450 projects a ring of light on the test surface so the operator always knows where the measurement is being taken, and the instrument contains an integrated gloss sensor for wet and dry samples.

The MA94 and MA96 spectrophotometers are the next generation and improved versions of X-Rite’s MA68II spectrophotometer that has been the workhorse for many manufacturers in a wide range of industries worldwide for years. Data taken with the MA94, MA96 and MA98 spectrophotometers is fully compatible with existing data generated using the MA68II instrument.

The new spectrophotometers offer improvements such as better data repeatability and a more robust method for measuring flexible or curved surfaces, and customers will be able to utilize the advanced X-ColorQC® software that comes with the instruments to obtain more information from data. Due to its advanced configuration, the MA98 instrument satisfies the method outlined in ASTM International E 2539 – 08 as a standard measurement practice for companies that manufacture interference pigments or that purchase interference pigments for effect paints.

X-Rite will demonstrate how customers can streamline their workflows with the next generation of its popular NetProfiler software that can verify, optimize, and certify handheld and benchtop spectrophotometers used at locations worldwide on a regular basis. With the new NetProfiler 3.0, companies can calibrate spectrophotometers in design departments, on factory floors and in test labs to a single virtual standard, ensuring that colour measurements taken at distant locations are accurate and reliable throughout the supply chain.

Pantone will display samples and spectral data of its offerings in the PANTONE FASHION + HOME and PANTONE PLUS color systems as well the new Polypropylene PANTONE STANDARD CHIPS. PANTONE FASHION + HOME offers 2,100 colors, which provide a precise way to select, specify, control and communicate color choices. PANTONE PLUS includes solid colors, metallics, pastels and neons for a total of about 1,600 colors. The PLASTIC STANDARD Chips facilitate the coordination across different product materials as well as packaging, advertising, collateral and Web, giving full control of a product’s component colors and a consistent marketplace presence.

About X-Rite

X-Rite, Incorporated (NASDAQ:XRIT) is the global leader in color science and technology. The company, which now includes color industry leader Pantone LLC, develops, manufactures, markets and supports innovative color solutions through measurement systems, software, color standards and services. X-Rite’s expertise in inspiring, selecting, measuring, formulating, communicating and matching color helps users get color right the first time and every time, which translates to better quality and reduced costs. X-Rite serves a range of industries, including printing, packaging, photography, graphic design, video, automotive, paints, plastics, textiles, dental and medical. For further information, please visit www.xrite.com.