Camberley-based Bowers Group has introduced two innovative portable UCI hardness testers to the UK market. The BAQ alphaDUR II and alphaDUR Mini both offer fast and reliable hardness testing and are considered ideal for use on the shopfloor.

Ryan Kingswell, Bowers Group UK sales manager, said: “The alphaDUR range offers fast and accurate hardness testing that is truly flexible. The portability of these hand-held devices provides fantastic usability for a wide range of applications, making it ideal for shopfloor environments.

“We are delighted to be able to offer these impressive BAQ products through the Bowers Group and I’m sure they will prove to be incredibly popular with our customers.”

With a wide application range, from incoming goods inspection to testing weld seems and coatings, the alphaDUR II is a reliable and versatile hardness tester that has stood the test of time for many years. Its functionality extends through a range of test probes which can cover a wide selection of materials — test loads between 1 and 10kg are available dependant on the application and surface.

After a manual measurement is taken with the probe, a fast and accurate reading is displayed on the screen. The measuring method of the alphaDUR is in accordance with DIN 50159 and ASTM A1038, as well as conversion according to EN ISO 18265 and ASTM E140.

Featuring a robust metal casing, as well as a large, clear display, the operation of the hardness tester is simple and effective, with the material and scale easily navigated by context-sensitive function keys and offers extensive storage and statistical functions.

With USB connectivity, 7hr battery life, and optional accessories available including probe support for flat and curved surfaces, high-precision stand, probe handle, portable mini printer, the alphaDUR II is a truly versatile tool.

The alphaDUR mini is the small and handy version of the alphaDUR II, with identical technology and accessories, at a fraction of the size. It has also been successfully used in UCI hardness testing for many years and still benefits from a large, easy-to-read display that stores and shows up to 100,000 data records with date, time, and good/bad rating.