Youtube Video

In reviewing the Quickshot XRF Youtube page (linked here) we see that one video stands as the most viewed.  It is our quick clip of our QSX-79T Gold Tester web-demo and it is the first of our videos to reach 1,000 views.  Congratulations to the video!

Personally, I feel that the short demonstration of our Handheld XRF for RoHS testing is the more interested video but that’s because I developed it.  It is closing in on 400 views and I hope to see it hit 1,000 some day.

Maybe the gold tester video was viewed more because its less than a minute or gold testing is the most popular application or because our distributors show the video on their site?  Let us know what is important to you in a video and what X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) topics you would like reviewed in video - we look forward to getting on camera again.

If so, you may already be utilizing an outside organization to provide you with critical information that can affect your company.  That is CPSIA testing and is a requirement under the current regulation (third party testing).

CPSIA Screening Equipment

However, one of the most popular uses of the Handheld XRF analyzer from QSX Instruments continues to be in-house screening of consumer products.  This secondary screening for lead, cadmium and other hazardous metals relating to the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) is popular as a safeguard for companies that also have third party testing completed and/or receive compliance information from their suppliers.

The companies that use our analyzer want the extra layer of protection - they may have a portion of their product tested by an outside source or they may receive assurance by a supplier…but as one Handheld XRF user told me “at the end of the day, its my butt on the line”.  Having the ability to verify with in-house screening procedures (utilizing a Quickshot XRF Handheld Analyzer) adds that extra layer of assurance that products meet the standards and the outside testing information is correct.

Current users of the Quickshot XRF for CPSIA Screening include:
-  Sporting Good Manufacturers and Distributors
-  Cosmetics/Beauty Product Importers
-  Clothing and Accessory Manufacturers
-  Jewelry Importers and Retailers
-  Arts and Crafts Supply Manufacturers
-  Many more could be listed since so many industries are affected…

         Add to the conversation by commenting
          Do you feel having an extra layer of verification is important - or not? 
          Is it part of your procedures or one you are considering - or not? 
          comment through the XRF-Blog or contact Quickshot XRF directly to discuss (linked here).

After the reports surfaced, in an effort to protect consumers, several states introduced legislation to ban jewelry with high levels of the hazardous metal (essentially regulating Cadmium content).  Two states, Connecticut and Minnesota, have recently passed this legislation and will limit the allowable Cadmium levels in a piece of jewelry to 75 ppm (parts-per-million).  These regulations will affect importers, wholesalers and retails - we have already seen major retail chains (most notably Wal-Mart) pull a variety of tainted childrens jewelry from shelves.

While CPSC reviews methods of testing for Cadmium and Lead content in jewelry (and other goods) to protect consumers; many affected businesses have already turned to X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) to screen their goods.  These organizations choose to have in-house screening to confirm third party test results that goods are within the stated guidelines for both toxic metals.

Quickshot XRF will continue to post updates as information becomes available on XRF’s role in testing, screening and compliance – and any regulatory news that may affect you and your business.

(QSX Instruments LLC is providing information only and makes no warranties or representations about specific dates, coverage, or application. Consult with appropriate legal counsel for the specific application of the law to your business and products.)

Typically, these situations will fall into one of the following two categories and while they are different reasons for renting an XRF analyzer, the Quickshot XRF Rental Plans are excellent solutions for both.

1. XRF RENTALS MAKE THE TECHNOLOGY AFFORDABLE;
Great for short term needs.  In the current economy many organizations that need to test for compliance to various hazardous substance regulations (CPSIA, RoHS, etc) are looking to limit their expenses while obtaining accurate in-house results. They typically just have a short term need to test incoming goods or to verify third party test results…regardless; purchasing a unit would not be an economical solution.

By renting a Handheld XRF Analyzer from Quickshot XRF, however, these organizations can obtain the technology they require for accurate testing on a short term basis while not having to make the larger investment to purchase a system. 

2. 100% CREDIT TO THE PURCHASE PRICE
Rentals are acting as a technology trial.  Quickshot XRF’s rental program is unique in that we provide the renter an option to credit 100% of their initial rental fee towards the purchase price. We offered this option because many companies that consider XRF technology for RoHS and CPSIA testing do not have experience with x-ray fluorescence and are (understandably) hesitant to make the full investment without seeing a system and using it.

It is important to note that the rental plans are much different than a one-hour sales pitch (demonstrations that others offer) because rentals let a potential end-user review the system and technology at their own pace, in their real work environment and for an extended period of time.  Typically, after a one week rental a company will see the benefits of the technology to their processes and make the investment (with full credit of their rental).

At QSX Instruments, we are working to improve the solutions that we offer and the rental program may be receiving a few tweaks in the near future.  The changes are in response to conversations with several organizations that rented analyzers and we feel will help continue the positive response our rental plans receive.

Do you have a short term testing need?
Would you like to review XRF technology before investing?
Have a suggestion to improve our XRF Rental plans?
Contact a Quickshot XRF Sales Associate (here) to discuss your needs.

Quickshot XRF Sales Associates will be at JCK Vegas to discuss x-ray fluorescence (XRF) technology and how it can benefit jewelry buyers and refiners.  XRF provides fast analysis (five second karat matching) and unmatched accuracy when compared to other nondestructive techniques.  We will have a QSX-79T Gold Tester at JCK Vegas to demonstrate its ease of use and accuracy in the gold karat analysis.

Other XRF Sales Organizations are around.  They sell low cost systems (still not as low as QSX) but do not have the experience, knowledge and dedication to the end user that Quickshot XRF offers.  Visit us at JCK Vegas to learn more about our organization, our approach and our precious metal analyzer options.

          NOTE: Call Ahead for Private Demonstrations 
Our associates will be able to schedule one-on-one demonstrations of the x-ray fluorescence system - but contact Quickshot XRF early to schedule (click here to schedule)

QSX Instruments is proud to be one of the companies offering Handheld XRF Analyzers (x-ray tube based) for portable testing needs.  As a solution for everything from sorting scrap metals to identifying hazardous metals in childrens product; we have been able to offer consistently accurate portable XRF technology at a very reasonable price.

The current focus of QSX is to continue developing our Handheld XRF Analyzer to meet a wider range of needs; including increased performance in alloy verification and faster measurement times (although, the current configuration allows for analysis in as little as five seconds for certain applications).

We are very excited about the development of our Handheld XRF analyzer with a Silicon Drift Detection (SDD) system.  The new system is in final approval and the SDD advancement will increase the resolution of our analyzer; providing greater separation of the elemental peaks – resulting in greater accuracy, speed and versatility for the end-users.

The idea of portable x-ray fluorescence equipment is to take the laboratory to the sample and the Quickshot XRF handheld system provides that and will continue to grow in capabilities while offering the best value in the industry.

Due to the need for demonstrations we have developed web-cam demonstrations of our desktop analyzers.  We have already provided several demo’s of our QSX-79T Gold Tester on-line and they have worked out very well…allowing the interested party an opportunity to see the systems design and review the software during a calibration/measurment.

A new update to on-line demonstrations also allows the person reviewing the system to actually take control of the XRF Analyzers Software…so it is as if they are sitting in front of a machine.  This is very helpful to convey the ease-of-use that the software package for gold and precious metal analysis provides.

Please review a clip from one of the QSX-79T demonstrations (linked here) and contact the Quickshot XRF Sales Office to schedule a demo for your testing interest.

* note * We can offer on-line demonstrations of our Handheld XRF, however, we still suggest a one-week rental that has the option of being credited 100% towards the purchase price.   Contact QSX to learn why.

Yes, cheese.  I had the chance to visit the main QSX facility recently and also visit with family that lives near by.  One night my nephew was chewing on a piece of toy cheese from a kids kitchen set and I thought “I hope that doesn’t contain lead”.  So, I took it into the office and tested the toy on the Quickshot XRF Handheld Analyzer using the CPSIA Screening software.  Luckily; it showed lead content as a non-detect…so he can chew away (?).

After running that test I wanted to tape a shorter video than our previous one on the Handheld XRF Analyzer.  The video runs through the initialization and measurement procedures related to hazardous substance testing.
          VIDEO DEMONSTRATION LINKED HERE

You can probably tell from looking around our website but detection of lead, cadmium and other heavy metals is a major application for XRF technology.  The QSX handheld system performs very well on the application and has been chosen by a variety of companies looking to screen per the CPSIA regulations - sporting good manufacturers, childrens jewelry importers, textile and clothing manufacturers and more.

At Quickshot XRF the moddo is “consider us for the price…choose us for the performance” and that is what people have been doing.  Enjoy the video; more will be posted soon and feel free to make any suggestions…

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION LINKED HERE

Section 217 of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) (often referred to in this XRF-Blog) amended the criteria the CPSC must consider when determining the penalty amount for violations of CPSA and other acts.  The maximum penalty for violations was also increased to $100,000.

The release from the CPSC can be read in full here.  One of the factors that, in our opinion, is an important one to note is “the appropriateness of the penalty in relation to the size of the business or of the person charged, including how to mitigate undue adverse economic impacts on small businesses“.  While it is not stated what factors are considered when considering a businesses size (annual sales, net work, number of employees, etc?), this is good news for a number of businesses that have major concerns on how CPSIA will affect them…although a penalty for violation is still a penalty.

The increased penalties, however, are another reason that organizations (especially larger product importers, manufacturers and distributors) should consider adding in-house screening of products for CPSIA compliance.  While third party testing is required and will often provide reliable results; there is no substitute for the protection that in-house testing for hazardous substances provides.   XRF Analyzers from QSX Instruments can provide assurance that third party testing is correct and help minimize your risk for violations (and the penalties that come with).

In the report (linked here), they received a wide range of prices; but this blog is about how they determined the dollar amount of their gold…by using X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF).  The report uses a Handheld XRF but desktop analyzers, like the popular QSX-79T, have been used for years by gold buyers that want to differentiate themselves from the other gold buyers.

XRF provides nondestructive analysis of a sample (in this case, scrap jewelry) and can provide results that will be more accurate than other methods (anywhere from 0.1% to 1% accuracy).  Of course, in the video report the price difference is primarily based on how the gold buyer “pays out” - however, I would imagine that if their ever is a company that ’sets standards’ for jewelry buy-back companies they would rank a user of XRF technology fairly high.

Why is XRF an important tool for gold buyers? 
As gold continues to climb, the people selling gold will get more savvy and begin looking for gold buyers using the best technology to show them the percentage of gold they are selling.  From what many Quickshot XRF users are saying; many sellers already are…