In the fast-paced world of electronics manufacturing, speed cannot come at the cost of quality. Modern devices, from automotive control units to consumer wearables, require absolute integrity to meet stringent IP sealing standards and withstand harsh environments. At Nolek, we bridge this gap with:
- Custom Engineered Solutions (CES) designed specifically for high-speed, high-mix production lines.
- Systems that go beyond basic testing; they deliver sub-microlitre leak detection, ensuring your products are protected against moisture and dust ingress without slowing down your assembly throughput.
Electronics manufacturers today face the challenge of frequent product changes and the need for complete data accountability. This is why we do not just supply instruments:
- We build fully integrated, automation-ready systems that support your operational success.
- Our flexible fixture designs allow for rapid reconfiguration between batches, minimizing downtime and supporting lean production targets.
Whether you require unit-level traceability for audits or seamless integration with your existing MES and ERP systems, our technology ensures every test is logged and compliant.
Expert perspectives, industry trends, and technical insights from leaders shaping the future of electronics integrity testing.
Protect IP Ratings: Detect micro-leaks and ensure environmental sealing to prevent moisture or dust ingress in harsh operating conditions.
Maximise Throughput: Utilise fast cycle times engineered to match the speed of modern high-volume electronics assembly lines without creating bottlenecks.
Adapt to High-Mix Production: Minimise downtime between batches with flexible fixture designs and rapid tooling reconfiguration for varied product sizes.
Ensure Data Traceability: Secure full compliance and auditability with unit-level data logging that integrates seamlessly with your MES or ERP systems.
Safeguard Sensitive Components: Employ dry, non-contaminating air testing methods (pressure/vacuum decay) to eliminate the risks associated with fluid-based testing.
Automate Quality Control: Reduce manual error and improve consistency with fully automated test sequences, auto-calibration, and robotic integration.
Custom Engineered Solutions (CES): Benefit from a system built from the ground up to fit your specific line configuration and complex device geometries.
Standardise Globally: Simplify quality alignment and tech transfer across multi-site operations with a uniform, scalable CES platform.
Reduce Total Cost of Ownership: Optimise your investment with durable system design and direct OEM support that reduces lifetime costs compared to third-party assembled solutions.
Full Lifecycle Support: De-risk your project with expert guidance ranging from early-stage design verification and planning through to final commissioning
The choice depends largely on your product’s design and structural integrity. Pressure decay is typically used for robust components that can withstand internal pressure, measuring the drop in air pressure over time to detect leaks. Vacuum decay, however, is ideal for sealed devices (like sensors or waterproof enclosures) or thin-walled parts where internal pressure might cause damage; it tests if air leaks into the component from the outside, simulating real-world ingress risks.
Yes. Our Custom Engineered Solutions (CES) are designed to validate products against specific Ingress Protection (IP) ratings, including IP67 (immersion up to 1m) and IP68 (continuous submersion). Instead of messy dunk tanks, we use precise air-leak testing methods that correlate air leak rates to water ingress standards, ensuring your devices meet their certified ratings without getting wet or damaged.
Agility is a core feature of the Nolek CES. We engineer our systems with flexible, quick-change tooling and programmable test recipes. This allows operators to switch fixtures and load new test parameters in minutes rather than hours, minimising downtime and preventing bottlenecks when changing between different product geometries or batches.
For sealed units like key fobs, sensors, or glued enclosures, we use a “sealed component” test method (often using volumetric fill or a dosing chamber). The device is placed inside a precision chamber which is then pressurised or evacuated. We measure the change in pressure in the space surrounding your part. If the pressure changes, it indicates air is leaking into (or out of) the sealed device, allowing us to detect micro-leaks without needing physical access to the internal volume.
No. We design our cycle times to match your production “takt time”. By optimising test volume and using multi-cavity fixtures (testing multiple parts at once), we can achieve rapid cycle times, often in seconds, without compromising sensitivity. For ultra-fast lines, we can integrate robotic handling to fully automate the load/unload process, ensuring the test station never becomes a bottleneck.
Dunk testing is subjective, operator-dependent, and destructive, once a part gets wet, it often requires rework or scrapping. Air leak testing is non-destructive, repeatable, and provides quantifiable data. It keeps your electronics dry and safe while delivering a precise “leak rate” (e.g., in sccm) that can be logged for quality control, rather than just a visual “pass/fail” based on bubbles.
Temperature changes can physically alter air pressure, potentially leading to false test results. Nolek systems are equipped with environmental compensation features. We use reference volumes and advanced algorithms to offset the effects of thermal drift and barometric pressure changes, ensuring your test results remain accurate even in a non-climate-controlled factory floor.
Absolutely. Data integrity is critical for modern electronics QA. Our systems are fully compatible with Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) and ERP software. We can log test results against individual serial numbers, providing a complete digital audit trail that proves every single unit shipped met its quality specifications, essential for handling warranty claims or recalls.
How Can We Support You?
Your Partner in High-Speed Electronics Integrity Testing
- From initial prototype verification to full-scale automated assembly, our experts guide you in deploying the ideal leak detection solution for your specific production environment.
- Whether you need to validate IP67/IP68 sealing ratings, integrate with robotic handling systems, or implement non-destructive dry air testing to protect sensitive PCBs, we have the engineering depth to deliver.
- Get in touch to discuss your line requirements and discover how our customised leak testing systems can help you achieve unit-level traceability, maximise production throughput, and lower your total cost of ownership.