Heckewerth: Formaldehyde measurement in around 15 minutes

When formaldehyde sets the pace, clear processes are essential

New materials, an ever-increasing need for testing and new orders are setting the pace in the laboratory – in the best possible sense. After all, reliable formaldehyde measurements determine how quickly samples, supplier materials and new developments can move forward.

In the day-to-day laboratory work of German panel coater Heckewerth – a partner to the furniture, door and caravan industries – this typically involves double-digit sample numbers per week, with peaks particularly during new developments and smaller batches. It is precisely then that a process that is fast, reliable and remains reproducible counts. Until now, this has been difficult to reconcile in day-to-day operations: the necessary flexibility was often lacking to provide additional assurance through re-measurements. This is precisely where there should be more leeway in future – without compromising on reproducibility.

The requirement was therefore clear: evaluate faster, make more confident decisions, and be less dependent on individual routines.

People in front of GASANALYSER MC — In their search for a new method of determining formaldehyde levels, they have struck gold: the team led by Christian Eichenberg (second from left), Sales Director and authorised signatory at Heckewerth.

“It was important to us to find a measurement method that would make us more efficient. We were impressed by the demonstration of the GASANALYSER and found exactly what we were looking for.”Christian Eichenberg | Sales Director and Authorised Signatory at Heckewerth

The starting point: long lead times

Until now, formaldehyde measurements in the laboratory were carried out using wet chemistry – a process taking between 4 and 6 hours. Whilst the results were reliable, the practical implications were nevertheless significant: assessments could only be squeezed in on a limited basis ‘on the fly’, and decision-making took time – too much time for the ever-increasing demands placed on the panel coater.

The challenge of wet chemistry: great care, many variables

The wet chemistry method used previously was demanding to carry out. Routine and great care were crucial – even small deviations could affect the measured values.

The goal: greater speed – without compromising on reproducibility

The company was looking for a solution that would combine three key aspects in day-to-day operations:

Speeding up measurements and making results available sooner
Standardising the process and reducing user influence
Enabling straightforward repeat measurements to quickly verify anomalies

The solution: GreCon GASANALYSER MC

Heckewerth introduced the GreCon GASANALYSER MC as a new measurement technology solution for formaldehyde analysis in the laboratory process.

The change brings one key benefit above all: a move away from complex wet chemistry towards a standardised measurement procedure with results in just 15 minutes!

Instead of chemical reagents, the GASANALYSER MC uses laser spectroscopy in a microchamber. The process has been deliberately streamlined and kept smartly simple: insert the sample, close, start – done.

This makes formaldehyde measurement more predictable in day-to-day operations: fewer steps, fewer error-prone intermediate stages – and a basis for making results available more quickly and integrating follow-up measurements more easily into the workflow.

3D rendering of GASANALYSER MC — *How the GASANALYSER MC is transforming day-to-day laboratory work: faster results, clearer workflows and a more reliable basis for decision-making.*

Technical overview: What exactly is changing in the process

The difference lies not only in the measurement time, but also in the procedure:

Previously (wet chemistry): measurement time 4–6 hours, several process-critical steps, highly dependent on technique and routine.
Today (microchamber + laser spectroscopy): Results available after approx. 15 minutes (plus conditioning), without chemical reagents, using a clearly standardisable 3-step procedure.

This transforms a complex procedure into a process that can be more easily scaled and reproduced in everyday laboratory work.

Overview: What the GASANALYSER MC enables

Faster initial assessment
Samples and material variants can be tested at short notice – even ‘between appointments’. This means assessments are available more quickly and decisions can be made sooner when it matters in development or with small batches.

Standardisation instead of specialist knowledge
The procedure is clear and repeatable. This reduces reliance on individual routines and makes the process more stable in day-to-day operations – even when a stand-in is taking over or multiple tasks are running in parallel.

Reliable data basis – quickly verify anomalies
Less user influence means: results become more comparable. Anomalous values can be verified more quickly, ensuring the assessment is validated without slowing down laboratory operations.

About Heckewerth

Heckewerth has been a partner to companies in the furniture, door and caravan industries for decades. The company coats sheet materials (including plywood, chipboard, MDF/HDF and modern sandwich and plastic panels) and manufactures high-quality prefabricated furniture components – from cabinet bodies and shelves to fronts. Across approximately 100,000 m² of production space, Heckewerth processes a variety of coating materials (e.g. CPL/HPL as well as plastic and metal films) and relies on robust processes to deliver flexibly, from small batches to mass production.

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