ANDI teams up with Arizona State in the fight against climate change
ANDI, the world’s most advanced thermal manikin, is on a mission to make the world a better, safer place, and the team at Thermetrics is eager to get him into the hands of the leading scientists and engineers who can make that happen.
Thermetrics president Rick Burke recently visited Arizona State University (ASU) to drop off (and set up) the promising young man(ikin), dedicated to helping some of these brilliant minds conduct environmental research.
Associate professor of mechanical engineering, Konrad Rykaczewski, and his colleagues received an NSF Major Research Instrumentation Program grant to fund ANDI in 2021. Now, several ASU students are using ANDI in their thesis on climate change and its impact on the human body and increasing temperatures in urban and desert environments.
ANDI has been modified to enable measurements in extremely hot urban indoor and outdoor settings, including a chamber built to expose and test ANDI to other climates, like Arizona in the summer – hello, heat! – and cities even hotter than Phoenix.
According to the Arizona Burn Center, pavement and asphalt temperatures can reach up to 170 and 180 degrees Fahrenheit and cause severe burn injuries.
While Rick was thrilled to see ANDI with his new friends in the desert, he would have been remiss not to present other use cases for ANDI and Thermetrics’ manikins outside of the Southwest.
During his presentation, Rick discussed:
How Thermetrics manikins are being used to investigate how to regulate body temperatures of patients under anesthesia
ANDI’s role in protecting people from extreme external hazards like heat and cold
ANDI’s role in protecting people from extreme internal hazards like heat stress and dehydration
The benefits of using state of the art manikins for increased safety, cost-effectiveness, timeliness, and high quality clothing creation
After his presentation, Rick was able to tour the lab, learn more about how students are using ANDI, and even reconnect with his old friend.
Learn more about ANDI, and the pivotal role he’s playing in climate change research here.
Celebrating International Women’s Day with our Liz Manikin
Not all heroes wear capes. Some wear sports bras. And thanks to Liz, our female manikin, it’s easier now than ever before to make sure those sports bras fit just right.
This International Women’s Day, we’re celebrating the strength and uniqueness of women and the organizations that are championing equality by making clothing specially designed for the female form.
From firefighters to athletes, our female manikins are helping companies like Nike pave the way for women to perform any role with clothing tailored to their needs. Quoted in a recent MSN feature, Nike credited our Liz Thermal Manikin in their development of more size-inclusive and performance-optimized sports bras for women. (The team at Nike calls her Haley, but we’re hooked on the original Liz moniker!) Read the MSN article here.
Nike uses Liz for both quality control and testing, and also at earlier product development stages when designers are considering enhancement options like additional ventilation or sweat wicking.
If you’d like to join Nike in their quest to “create the best products possible for [women]” or if you’ve made great progress with your Newton or ANDI, and realize it’s time to bring on a partner that will allow you to specifically test garments on the female form, Liz is your gal!
Reach out to discuss your testing needs and learn more here:
Meet the Thermetrics Service Engineers!
To start the year off right, we thought we should begin with an important introduction:
Meet our Thermetrics Service Engineers!
Without regular servicings, even the best equipment can drift and produce inaccurate results. To ensure optimal system operation, we recommend annual calibrations by a Thermetrics-trained Service Engineer. But who exactly are the service technicians who’ll be coming to your facility to service your Thermetrics system? Come meet them!
How long have you been with Thermetrics?
3 years
How many years of total industry experience do you have?
3 years
How many countries have you serviced systems in?
6 countries so far
Do you have a favorite system to service, and why?
Integrated chambers because they are one of the most reliable systems. The Newton Manikin takes second place.
What’s your craziest service trip story (that can be retold in public!)?
On a recent trip with my coworker Ian, we ended up talking to a guy at the hotel bar who was intrigued by our systems. Another fellow from France joined the conversation, and we had a great conversation in French. It’s been like 10 years since I’ve spoken French. Not a crazy story, but a nice service trip memory.
It seems that everyone at Thermetrics has built or heavily modified their car. You too?
As fun as it looks, I don’t have time for car modifications between traveling and playing in my Mariachi band.
How long have you been with Thermetrics?
2 years
How many years of total industry experience do you have?
3 years technical experience, 5 years customer service experience
How many countries have you serviced systems in?
3 countries. More to come!
Do you have a favorite system to service, and why?
Newton. When they are cared for with proper calibrations, they will last for a decade and easily complete over 10,000 hours of testing.
What’s your craziest service trip story (that can be retold in public!)?
On My first day in Portugal I met a great group of friends who Invited me out to experience the local culture. They took me to a poetry night at which they were performing and before I left they brought me into their home and cooked me a traditional homemade meal. It was my first time going on a trip alone and my first time in Europe and I had an amazing time.
It seems that everyone at Thermetrics has built or heavily modified their car. You too?
I drive a lightly modified BMW E91 wagon. Most recently, I upgraded the suspension and wheels to improve the handling. It’s my favorite gear-hauler and grocery-getter because it is practical but still sporty and stylish enough to put a smile on my face every time I am behind the wheel.
How long have you been with Thermetrics?
Newest addition! I’ve been here for 6 months now.
How many years of total industry experience do you have?
4 years
How many countries have you serviced systems in?
4 and counting.
Do you have a favorite system to service, and why?
Definitely the flash fire cylinder. Because who doesn’t like playing with fire?
What’s your craziest service trip story (that can be retold in public!)?
Going last minute to repair the CDC’s manikin, so they could meet their deadline to present to the President of the United States.
It seems that everyone at Thermetrics has built or heavily modified their car. You too?.
Yep, she’s a lightly modified but heavily maintenanced 1995 E36 M3. For the other carheads reading this, I’ve modified the intake, full exhaust, suspension, euro lights, and replica lightweight aero.
How long have you been with Thermetrics?
I started with Thermetrics in late June of ’23, and after just over half a year, I’m still excited to come to work everyday, learn something new, and work with some truly amazing people.
How many years of total industry experience do you have?
This particular industry is so unique, I feel like I have none! But I’ve been doing field service work for about 6 years, in industrial automation and manufacturing mostly.
How many countries have you serviced systems in?
U.S and Canada, but I’m going to Brazil next month.
Do you have a favorite system to service, and why?
I’d have to say the Newton Thermal Manikins, which are always complex and require special attention, but are extremely rewarding to fix.
What’s your craziest service trip story (that can be retold in public!)?
I have crazier sea stories than I have service trip stories, but if we’re being strictly professional, I’d have to say a few weeks ago in North Carolina, I accomplished 35 wet-board replacements; 140 discrete solder operations with 100% success rate!
It seems that everyone at Thermetrics has built or heavily modified their car. You too?
I’m not a car guy, but I am an enthusiastic skier.
How to Get Your Thermetrics Testing Equipment Serviced
Email [email protected] to request a quote and our Support Team will get you on the Calibration Calendar.
Calibration is the only way to ensure that your finely-tuned equipment continues to deliver the reliable data that your product development process requires. Reach out today and let’s get you calibrated!
No-Contract Calibrations Now Available!
Your Thermetrics testing system is a piece of precision testing equipment, but without regular calibrations, even the best equipment can drift and produce inaccurate results.
You’ve got the Ferrari of manikins in your hands, so it needs more than the basic oil change you’d give a Honda Civic. (No disrespect to Civics!). We recommend annual calibrations for all Thermetrics systems to ensure optimal system operation.
To that end, we’ve simplified our service offerings to help you get the calibrations that will keep your thermal system running at its optimal level.
Say Hello to our Easiest Service Options Yet!
If your Thermetrics system hasn’t been calibrated in over a year, or you’d like to get something on the calendar for post-warranty, we’ve streamlined the process with three clear options. Pick yours below:
How to Get Your Thermetrics Testing Equipment Serviced:
Step 1:Select the calibration option that works best for you. This is not one-size-fits-all.
Step 2:Email [email protected] to request a quote and work with our Support Team to get on the Calibration Calendar.
Step 3: Big sigh of relief! Your finely-tuned equipment will continue to deliver the reliable data that your product development process requires.
American Innovators Highlights our ANDI Manikin at Arizona State University
A recent episode of “Made in America: American Innovators” showcased the vital heat research happening at Arizona State University to reduce heat-related injuries and deaths.
Come take a look at how one of the top-ranked universities in pursuit of UN sustainability goals is partnering ANDI with their own biometeorological tools to develop novel heat mitigation solutions.
The work happening at ASU is a great example of how Thermetrics’ systems can complement and enhance your current or future testing endeavors.
We welcome your creative ideas for taking our systems to new heights! At Thermetrics, anything is possible (well, almost anything). If you dream it, we can build it.
MSN Celebrates Nike’s 50th Anniversary and our Liz Manikin
Better sports bras, anyone? Nike thinks so.
Quoted in a recent MSN feature, Nike credited our Liz Thermal Manikin in their development of more size-inclusive and performance-optimized sports bras for women.
(The team at Nike calls her Haley, but we’re hooked on the original Liz moniker!)
Nike uses Liz for both quality control and testing, and also at earlier product development stages when designers are considering enhancement options like additional ventilation or sweat wicking.
If you’d like to join Nike in their quest to “create the best products possible for [women]” or if you’ve made great progress with your Newton or ANDI, and realize it’s time to bring on a partner that will allow you to specifically test garments on the female form, Liz is your gal!
Reach out to discuss your testing needs and learn more here:
Shout out to Dr. Stephen Cheung, the ICEE Conference organizing committee, and everyone who attended the Sept 2022 conference in Niagara Falls.
What is ICEE?
ICEE is a biennial gathering for researchers, practitioners, and anyone with a passion for the interaction between humans, clothing, and environments. The event always includes oral and poster presentations covering a wide range of relevant and practical topics. It’s also a great chance to catch up with long-time colleagues and form new connections over good food and good laughs.
When and where is ICEE?
The 2022 conference took place September 6th – 10th. Overlooking the scenic Niagara Falls (that’s the Canada side), this year’s conference was hosted by Dr. Stephen S. Cheung of Brock University and featured an inspiring opening keynote by Mike Tipton.
We enjoyed the historical lectures, insightful scientific and research presentations, and interesting poster sessions. Great conference! Smart people, relevant content, beautiful location, and tasty food.
Rick and Monet had a blast, and we’re already looking forward to the next ICEE, hosted by Seoul National University, June 2024 in Jeju Korea. Hope to see you there!
Team Thermetrics
What IS a Testing Continuum?
Learn how our two testing sequences support optimal performance
In our earliest days at Thermetrics, our customers helped us understand that a unidimensional approach to product testing only tells you part of the story.
The need for a comprehensive and multi-tiered testing sequence is even more apparent when the products you’re developing are the vital tools of performance and safety for end users like athletes, explorers, and everyday heroes who need top notch protection from extreme hot and cold conditions.
We’ve developed our testing instrument portfolio to cover a wide range of product evaluation needs and test standards. As our product offerings have grown, it’s become more complex to communicate how they relate within a comprehensive product development strategy. Enter our two testing continuum structures for Thermal/Moisture Management and Thermal Protection.
Let’s explore them both.
The Thermal and Moisture Management Testing Continuum
As its name suggests, this testing continuum was created to facilitate optimal garment development, with a particular focus on quantifying heat and/or moisture transfer.
The 5 phases of the Thermal and Moisture Management Testing Continuum are:
Flat Sample Testing
Cylinder Testing
Thermal Manikin Testing
Physiology & Comfort Model Integration
End-User Product
1D. Flat Sample Testing The basis of system testing starts with understanding the components. This includes accurate, repeatable measurements of thermal resistance (Rct) and vapor permeability (Ret) for single and multi-layer textiles.
2D. Cylinder Testing Quantify the impact of undergarment and within-garment air gaps by fitting materials and layered systems on a controlled and repeatable cylinder geometry.
3D. Thermal Manikin Testing Final products are tested for ultimate thermal and moisture management performance, combining materials, layers, and garment design features in-use on an actual body form with realistic fit.
4D. Physiology & Comfort Model Integration Turn your manikin into a human simulator with a new software dimension that simulates complex human thermoregulation, comfort perception, and potential burn injury.
5D. End-User Product The end user product gets its own dimension. Every stage of component and product evaluation needs to be focused on improving the user experience, whether safety, comfort, or value. Testing through the entire continuum gives your customer the confidence of ultimate product performance while keeping testing costs lower.
This testing continuum was designed to demystify the complex interactions between high heat sources, protective garments, and the brave individuals we aspire to protect. Ensuring that they receive the appropriate level of life and safety protection should not be left to chance.
The 5 phases of the Thermal Protection Testing Continuum are:
Flat Sample Testing
Cylinder Testing
Flame Manikin Testing
Burn Model Integration
End-User Product
1D. Flat Sample Testing Understand and characterize materials as flat samples and materials stack-ups. This can include intrinsic thermal properties, and also performance under compression or high-intensity heat exposure.
2D. Cylinder Testing Capture effects of air gaps, vertical orientation, and fabric dimensional change or shrinkage.
3D. Flame Manikin Testing Evaluate finished goods on full- and partial-body manikin forms to understand the combined effects of materials, layers, and garment fit.
4D. Burn Model Integration Estimate burn injury through a multi-node skin tissue model.
5D. End-User Product The end user product gets its own dimension. Every stage of component and product evaluation needs to be focused on improving the user experience, whether safety, comfort, or value. Testing through the entire continuum gives your customer the confidence of ultimate product performance while keeping testing costs lower.
In conclusion…
The thoroughness of these testing continuums delivers the certainty that you’re developing products that can withstand the world’s most extreme conditions and keep every end user safe, supported, and as comfortable as possible.
Wherever you want to be on the testing continuum, Thermetrics has a solution to help you get there. Contact us directly.
Thermetrics Hosts ASTM Week ‘Fire and Ice’ Event
On the cusp of the summer 2022 season, the Thermetrics team was delighted to open our factory doors for an evening we won’t forget anytime soon.
Our “Fire and Ice” event included manikin factory tours, flash fire cylinder demonstrations, and a steady supply of spicy margaritas, of course.
One of the evening’s Flash Fire Cylinder demonstrations
And who can forget the delight of our Lead Service Engineer, Daniel Corona, surprising us all with a musical performance alongside his talented band, Mariachi Alma Nueva.
Mariachi Alma Nueva, featuring our very own Daniel Corona, second from right
However, the greatest highlight of the evening was connecting with long-time colleagues and new acquaintances in person. Our deepest thanks to everyone who attended!
Selfie fun with our ANDI Manikin!
If you’d like to be notified about future Thermetrics events, please drop your email in the box below.
And safe travels back home for all our non-local attendees!
Rick Burke and Team Thermetrics
FITI Parks Their New Flame Manikin Underground
FITI is a premier testing laboratory located in urban Seoul Korea, providing a broad range of physical and performance testing to clients worldwide. When they decided to add flame manikin testing per ISO 13506 and NFPA 2112 to their capabilities, they faced a familiar challenge: where to put it without expensive new building construction?
In partnership with Thermetrics and our sales agent in Korea, Technox, the team at FITI came up with a creative solution: Repurpose some space from their underground parking garage to build out a new laboratory for the flame manikin system. The first level of their garage was convenient to access from the other lab spaces, had multiple openings to the outdoors to provide fresh air, and included an existing sprinkler system for safety. The underground location also provides a more stable environment in summer and winter months without expensive HVAC.
The first stage of the installation was to enclose the space with modular walls, and to reroute any existing electrical and ventilation.
Parking garage location: Before installation and at the start of construction Parking garage location: At the start of construction
The resulting fully enclosed space includes security doors, utility sink, and electrical and network service to create a world-class laboratory from essentially 7 parking spaces. If you look closely at the neatly sealed and painted floors, you can still find slightly raised areas marking the paint stripes of the former parking lot.
Flame manikin laboratory, installed
Every world-class flame laboratory needs a world-class flame manikin system. Thermetrics supplied a complete Burnie manikin for the FITI lab. The system was built and shipped from Seattle and the Thermetrics team spent several weeks in beautiful Seoul assembling the modular chamber, installing the manikin, commissioning the system, and training the research team at FITI.
Burnie Flame Manikin system installed Burnie Flame Manikin system in operation
Each flame manikin system installation is a little bit different. Site requirements and local code compliance vary by location. For this installation, FITI set a new bar for innovation with their parking garage reconfiguration. If you need some flame testing done or are in the Seoul area, we strongly suggest a visit to FITI. You will be impressed!
Thanks again to the team at FITI for putting their trust in Thermetrics, and also to Technox for their engineering and coordination support on this project. We love this work.
Rick Burke and the FITI team at the FITI headquarters in Seoul
