TILO T60B British Standard Color Matching Cabinet for Textile and Printing

Overview

The TILO T60B British Standard Color Matching Cabinet is a precision-engineered optical evaluation system designed to replicate standardized lighting environments required for consistent, objective color assessment in textile, printing, packaging, paint, and plastics industries. Based on the UK’s authoritative light source specification protocol—aligned with BS EN ISO 3664:2019 and BS 950-1:1997—the T60B integrates five rigorously calibrated light sources: D65 (daylight simulator), TL84 (cool white fluorescent, common in European retail), CWF (cool white fluorescent, used in US commercial settings), F/A (incandescent tungsten, simulating domestic lighting), and UV (for fluorescence detection). Its optical architecture employs high-CRI (Ra ≥95) lamps with precision ballasts and diffused reflector geometry to ensure spatial illuminance uniformity ≥80% across the 600 × 600 × 500 mm viewing chamber. The cabinet operates under stable thermal management and electromagnetic shielding to eliminate spectral drift and flicker—critical for repeatable visual comparison and instrumental correlation.

Key Features

• UK-specified light source configuration compliant with BS EN ISO 3664:2019 for graphic technology and photography;
• Independent digital switching of five standardized light sources with soft-start circuitry to extend lamp life and reduce thermal shock;
• Non-reflective matte black interior finish (RAL 9005) minimizing stray light interference and enhancing contrast perception;
• Integrated timer function (0–99 min) with automatic lamp shutdown for energy efficiency and operator safety;
• Adjustable viewing angle support with removable sample tray and standardized grey background (Munsell N5) for neutral context;
• Robust steel chassis with powder-coated enclosure, designed for laboratory and QC floor durability;
• Pre-aligned lamp positioning and factory-calibrated photometric output—no user recalibration required during routine operation.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The T60B accommodates flat, rigid, or flexible samples up to 550 × 550 mm in dimension and 50 mm in thickness—including fabric swatches, printed proofs, coated panels, laminated films, and injection-molded parts. Its viewing geometry conforms to the 0°/45° observation standard specified in ISO 3664 for metamerism assessment. All light sources are traceably certified to national photometric standards and undergo quarterly spectral verification per internal QA protocols. The cabinet meets CE marking requirements for electromagnetic compatibility (EN 61326-1) and electrical safety (EN 61010-1), and its manufacturing process adheres to ISO 9001:2015 quality management systems. It supports GLP-compliant documentation when integrated into auditable color evaluation workflows.

Software & Data Management

While the T60B is a hardware-centric visual assessment tool, it interfaces seamlessly with third-party color measurement platforms including X-Rite Ci7800, Konica Minolta CM-3700A, and Datacolor 800 spectrophotometers. TILO provides a documented API-ready trigger interface (via TTL signal output) enabling synchronized illumination activation during automated measurement sequences. Audit trails—including lamp usage hours, switch-cycle logs, and maintenance timestamps—are stored locally and exportable via USB for FDA 21 CFR Part 11–aligned record retention. Firmware updates are delivered through TILO’s secure customer portal, supporting version-controlled calibration history and change logs required for ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratories.

Applications

• Textile dye lot approval against master standards under D65 and TL84 illumination;
• Print proof verification for ISO 12647-2 compliance in offset and flexographic workflows;
• Metamerism detection between substrate-matched and pigment-matched samples;
• Fluorescent brightener assessment using integrated UV (365 nm) source;
• Color consistency audits across global supply chains operating under multiple regional lighting standards;
• QC training modules for color perception validation and observer variability studies.

FAQ

Is the T60B certified to BS EN ISO 3664:2019?
Yes—the T60B’s photometric performance, including spectral power distribution, illuminance level, and uniformity, is validated against BS EN ISO 3664:2019 Annex A test procedures prior to shipment.
Can the lamp set be upgraded to include U30 or Horizon light sources?
No—the T60B is configured exclusively to the UK-standard five-source array; alternative configurations require the T60H or T60U series models.
What is the recommended lamp replacement interval?
D65 and TL84 lamps maintain spectral stability for 2,000 hours; CWF and F/A for 1,500 hours; UV lamps for 1,000 hours—monitoring is supported by built-in hour counters.
Does the cabinet support dual-viewer simultaneous assessment?
No—the T60B is optimized for single-observer evaluation per ISO 3664; dual-station units are available as the T60BD variant.
Is technical documentation available in English with metrological traceability statements?
Yes—all user manuals, calibration certificates, and photometric test reports are supplied in English and include NIST-traceable reference data where applicable.