Hunter & Associates Laboratory (HunterLab), USA

We are privileged to work with the oldest and most respected company in the colour measurement business.

Richard S. Hunter founded HunterLab 50 years ago. Richard Hunter was one of the pioneers in colour science and technology and developed colour measurement technology and instrumentation, some of which have become industry Standards.

The Hunter Lab colour scale is still used by many industries today.

HunterLab supplies affordable colour measurement and control systems from simple hand-held devices to on-line systems for continuous product monitoring and control.

HunterLab's products are designed for all industries concerned with colour and appearance quality issues.

Products are available from HunterLab for measurement of colour only - essential where formulation of dyestuff recipes, or (say) paint formulas are concerned - and for total appearance - where the instrument "sees" appearance as a human does.

Products and Services

MiniScan EZ - Hand-held Spectrophotometer UltraScan PRO - Professional Colour Measurement
ColorFlex - Entry-Level Colour Measurement UltraScan PRO - Professional Colour Measurement
LabScan XE - More Versatility, More Performance D25 Tristimulus Colorimeters - Consistent, Quantifiable Measurement
ColorQuest XE - High Performance Colour Control ColorTrend HT On-line Trend Monitoring System
ColorQuest XT - Measure Transparent Materials SpectraProbe XE On-line Colour Measurement System
ColorQuest 45/0 Large Aperture View EasyMatch QC Software and Universal Quality Control Software
ColorQuest OL - On-line Transmission Measurement EasyMatch Coatings Colour Formulation Software

For additional information please visit our Client's section, contact Novasys or visit HunterLab's website at www.hunterlab.com.

HunterLab also has a series of videos on their channel at YouTube showing where and how their instruments are used. These videos including examples for the plastics, food, optical, chemical, paint & coating, paper, building products and pharmaceutical industries.

MiniScan EZ Hand-held Spectrophotometer


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Now make Colour measurements when and where it’s more productive for you or your process - the production line, the plant floor, the warehouse or the loading dock.

Portability with MiniScan XE Plus means go anywhere, anytime - with economical rechargeable battery packs - not cords or restrictive cables.

MiniScan XE Plus offers a new level of versatility in lightweight, one-handed colour measurement across a wide range of applications - for paint, plastics, textiles, paper, food, and building products.

Choose the optics and viewing size that’s right for your product.
Since no two applications are alike, MiniScan XE Plus is available in four different configurations:
two different viewing sizes plus two optical configurations. These options ensure the most accurate measurement of your application or samples.

  • d/8 (diffuse) or 45/0 optical geometry
  • 25 mm to 7.6 mm measurement area (Large Area/Small area View) available.
  • Fully portable, one-handed operation with customisable LCD display
  • On-board quality control software, or connect to a PC
  • Stores up to 800 measurements
  • Interfaces with HunterLab's quality control and formulation software.
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ColorFlex


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The COMPLETE colour measurement solution.

ColorFlex® is the most flexible, fully self-contained colour measurement system on the market today. Unlike other systems that require an external computer, ColorFlex features built-in software designed for both novice and experienced users alike.

Designed to tackle a variety of colour measurement problems from the basic to the sophisticated, ColorFlex adapts to your needs.

With a variety of sample-handling accessories, plus compatibility with our easy-to-use Windows®-based software, your colour measurement system investment is preserved for years to come.

With its port-up or port-forward measurement orientations, ColorFlex is ideal for measuring powders, pastes, and opaque or translucent solid materials. The built-in quality control software is well suited to a variety of industries such as food, plastics, coatings, inks, or textiles. Dual beam xenon flash technology plus a choice of diffuse/8° or 45°/0° optical geometry assures accurate measurements based on your application and sample type.

  • A basic yet flexible fully self-contained colour spectrophotometer
  • An ideal entry-level instrument
  • For reflectance measurement of opaque or translucent solids,
    powders, granules and liquids
  • Available in d/8 or 45/0 optical geometry
  • Use with onboard QC software or connect to a PC for use with
    HunterLab's QC or formulation software
  • Xenon flash, double beam optics.
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LabScan XE


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Measure the colour of samples of all forms, sizes and textures—the way the eye “sees” colour.

Now there’s a whole new dimension in the way you’ll look at measuring samples. The LabScan XE spectrophotometer takes colour measurement to a new and totally different level of sophistication, with more simplicity, more automated features and more versatility than any other product available on the market today.

From powders, solids and liquids, to pellets, chips, yarn or paper, LabScan XE is the cutting-edge solution for a host of colour measurement applications in plastics, textiles, paint, food, paper, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and building materials.

The same colour, when seen on surfaces that differ by gloss or texture, ends up “looking” like a different colour to the human eye. LabScan XE’s 0°/45° circumferential geometry incorporates a 15-station, fiber-optic ring that collects and averages reflected light from all the stations. The result is a fast, simplified measurement that automatically accounts for the effects of variations in textures, finishes or granulations.

Samples come in all sizes, shapes and forms, and now LabScan XE gives you the capability to measure their colour with unparalleled versatility, simplicity and accuracy. For instance, it features one of the largest illuminated areas available— 44mm—which gives you superior precision when scanning textured, non-uniform samples.

An optional automated Variable Sample Illumination (VSI) feature allows you to measure from 44mm to 3mm, for maximum flexibility in the sizes and kinds of samples you can measure. The VSI feature also gives you far more accuracy in measuring translucent solids or liquids.

  • For reflectance measurement of opaque or translucent solids, powders and liquids
  • Automated functions include standardisation, UV control and change of zoom lens for 5 illumination areas from 44m to 3mm
  • Xenon flash, double beam optics. (Lamp never needs replacing)
  • Designed for use with HunterLab's QC and formulation software.
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ColorQuest XE


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Gives precision, versatility and reliability at an economical price.

The ColorQuest XE is a high performance spectrophotometer that can be used in production and in the laboratory for inspecting raw materials, evaluating finished product or developing methods for colour analysis.

Measure opaque, transparent and translucent solids and liquids for properties such as reflected colour, opacity, brightness, strength, transmitted colour, APHA and haze.

The ColorQuest XE is ideal for use in a variety of industries including textile, plastic, chemical, coating, food, building materials and paper.

With ColorQuest XE’s inter-instrument agreement, you can be confident that differences between measurements are due to product colour changes, not instrument variability.

Materials on the borderline of accepted tolerances will not be unnecessarily rejected and you will confidently ship more product.

ColorQuest XE is ideal for use in quality control and colour formulation applications.

  • Economic d/8 spectrophotometer for both reflectance and transmittance measurements
  • Measure colour of liquids and solids; also transmission haze
  • Sample reflectance area 25mm to 9.5mm
  • Transmittance path lengths up to 80 mm
  • Automated control of specular component included/excluded, standard Large Area/Small Area View and optional UV control
  • Xenon flash, double beam optics
  • Designed for use with HunterLab's QC and formulation software.
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ColorQuest XT


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The ColorQuest XT is a high performance colorimetric spectrometer specifically designed to measure the transmitted colour of transparent liquids and solids.

Products such as resins, solvents, acids, perfume and varnishes can be measured using the APHA/PtCo/Hazen and Gardner colour scales.

Measure gasoline, white spirits, kerosene, heating oils, lubricating oils and petroleum waxes using the Saybolt or ASTM colour scale.

Beer is measured using the ASBC or EBC scales and the ADMI scale would be used for accurate measurement of dyestuff in wastewater.

In addition, widely used colour scales and indices are included for transmission applications in the food, pharmaceutical, plastics and other industries.

ColorQuest XT eliminates the subjectivity of visual comparison methods, allows for greater sensitivity and maximizes repeatability.

New ColorQuest XT - The Transmission Colour Measurement System

  • Measures transmitted colour of liquids and solids
  • Includes metrics for resins, solvents, acids, oils and beer, plus CIE colour scales
  • Has easy to use LCD touch screen display
  • Software easily customised for specific applications
  • Precision and sensitivity at an economical price.
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ColorQuest 45/0 Large Aperture View


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The ColorQuest 45/0 LAV spectrophotometer is an economical colour measurement ideal for measuring highly textured or directional samples.

It provides high value through economical price and reliable performance. Two basic system configurations include a personal computer-based system or an industrial dedicated processor.

The personal computer system package is available with Hunterlab's quality control or colour matching software.

The dedicated processor system is designed for both the laboratory and in-plant environments. User needs for simple and fast operations are met through the use of modern, icon-based keys and menu-driven operations.

The ColorQuest 45/0 LAV sensor uses circumferential illumination to accommodate a variety of samples. The ColorQuest 45/0 LAV has a HUGE 95.25mm port, as well as an interchangeable sample plate to allow for smaller sample measurement.

Choose a ColorQuest 45/0 LAV sensor when measuring:

  • Colour the way the eye normally sees colour
  • Large, course, or irregularly shaped products
  • Highly textured or directional materials
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ColorQuest OL - On-line Transmission Colour Measurement


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The ColorQuest OL is a spectrophotometer designed for the on-line measurement of transmitted colour.

It is ideal for the continuous measurement of transparent films and sheet.

The standard system has a built-in touch screen display. Prompts appearing on the display are simply touched with a finger to initiate dedicated product set-up and measurement applets. This allows the operator to use the system without the need for a PC. Data can be output to a LIMS, network or in analog form. For installations where the unit is not easily accessible a remote touch screen is available and if desired, the system can also be used with a PC.

The ColorQuest OL is comprised of a signal conditioning unit, source sensor head, and receiver sensor head mounted on a support structure. Fibre optic bundles are used to transport the illuminating and detected energy to and from the measurement area.

  • On-line transmission colour measurement of sheet and film
  • Continuous real-time measurement
  • Easy-to-Read, LCD touch screen simplifies operation
  • Can be connected to a PC or network
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UltraScan Pro - Professional Colour Measurement


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The UltraScan PRO measures both reflected and transmitted colour as well as transmission haze and meets CIE, ASTM and USP guidelines for accurate colour measurement.

The instrument’s 5nm optical resolution enables it to precisely measure colours with sharp cutoff characteristics.

Its D65 illumination source is calibrated in both the ultraviolet and visible regions for the accurate measurement of whitening agents and fluorescent colours.

Having an extended measurement range into the near infrared and near ultraviolet permits the measurement of camouflage materials and UV blockers.

UltraScan PRO uses diffuse/8' geometry with automated specular component inclusion/exclusion. It also features three sizes of sample
measurement areas with automated lens change.

  • Ideal for colour measurement of liquids and solids; also transmission haze
  • Sample reflectance area 25mm to 3mm
  • Transmittance path lengths up to 100 mm
  • Fully automated features include: specular component included or excluded, Large Area View/Small Area View and UV control
  • Xenon flash, double beam optics
  • Designed for use with HunterLab's QC and formulation software.
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UltraScan VIS - Professional Colour Measurement


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The UltraScan VIS is a high-performance colour measurement spectrophotometer that measures the full range of human colour perception in less than one second.

It can be used in production and in the laboratory for inspecting raw materials, evaluating finished product or developing methods for color analysis.

Because of its exceptional inter-instrument agreement and long term stability, you can be confident that differences between measurements are due to product color changes, not instrument variability.

The UltraScan VIS measures both reflected and transmitted colour as well as transmission haze and meets CIE, ASTM and USP guidelines for accurate colour measurement.

UltraScan VIS incorporates automated functions to make operation simple and reliable. Complete measurement procedures can be completed in a matter of seconds.

UltraScan VIS uses d/8° (sphere) geometry, which conforms to ASTM, ISO, CIE, DIN and JIS standards for reflection measurements. Transmission measurements are made using d/0° geometry for regular transmission and d/8° for total transmission.

The UntraScan VIS features:

  • Diffuse/8° geometry with automated specular inclusion/exclusion
  • Wavelength range of 360-780nm with 10nm optical resolution
  • Full wavelength scan in seconds
  • Long life xenon lamp filtered to simulate D65 illumination
  • Large transmission compartment
  • Sample measurement areas of 19mm (0.75 inch), additional 6.3mm
  • Read button for convenient initialization of sample measurement
  • Status indicator lights visually indicate selected mode
  • USB and RS-232C interfaces.
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D25 Tristimulus Colorimeters - Consist ant, Quantifiable Measurement


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Built to withstand harsh plant environments, the D25/DP-9000 systems provide precise colour measurement and analysis across a wide range of industries.

Simple, one-button operation allows colour quality control functions to be performed efficiently and accurately with minimal operator training.

A choice of two optical sensors provides correlation with visual assessments, and suits a variety of QC applications.

The D25A Sensor measures samples such as paint, paper, calcium carbonate and juices. The D25L Sensor is well suited for measuring samples like baked or roasted food products.

  • D25A sensor measures the reflected colour of opaque solids, powders and translucent liquids via a 51mm sample port. Optional port sizes available.
  • D25L sensor measures reflected colour of non-uniform samples such as large particles or samples with irregular surfaces via a 95 mm measurement area.
  • Designed for use in harsh environments.
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ColorTrend HT On-line Trend Monitoring System


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ColorTrend HT is a low cost colour measurement instrument that is used to monitor colour changes for such products as cereal, chemicals, cookies, crackers, crushed stone, fertilizer, fibreboard, industrial minerals and roofing granules.

It is a versatile, rugged, cost-effective tool for continuously measuring and reporting trends in product colour and height. The system can measure product colour and height simultaneously.

Inconsistent product height or bed depth can be related to a number of process performance parameters such as bulk density and moisture content in the baking industry, or conveying system problems in the handling of bulk granules, powders or flakes.

The ColorTrend HT System consists of a sensor, a support unit, and various interface options. These include analog outputs, connection to a PC, handheld operator terminal and fixed terminal that is built into the cover of the support unit.

  • Ideal for baking, snack foods, industrial minerals and bulk chemicals
  • Simultaneously measures product height or bed depth
  • Real-time colour data display and archiving via Windows-based software
  • Designed for use in harsh production environments
  • Integrates easily into plant control system.
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SpectraProbe XE On-line Colour Measurement System


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The SpectraProbe XE is a cost-effective process tool for continuous colour measurement and control.

On-line colour measurement gives you a continuous flow of information, allowing faster, better-informed decisions to be made to optimise your process and maintain quality.

With real-time colour measurement, costly process upsets are minimized, and your operators can take on-the-spot corrective action without waiting for laboratory results.

The versatile on-line capabilities of SpectraProbe XE are ideally suited to a wide range of process applications including textile, paper, plastic and coil coating.

  • Ideal for textiles, paper, plastic products and coil coatings
  • Xenon flash, 0/45 dual beam spectrophotometer
  • Available in fixed point and traversing mounting systems
  • Automatic standardisation and automatic UV control
  • Real time colour display and archiving via Windows-based software
  • Designed for use in harsh production environments
  • Integrates easily into plant control system.
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EasyMatch QC Software and Universal Quality Control Software


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HunterLab's QC-based software gives unprecedented flexibility to process, display, analyse and report colour measurement results.

Colour measurement and analysis software reports absolute and colour difference data in all widely used colour scales, for various lighting and observing conditions. Pass/Fail functions provide fast go/no-go decisions. Data can be reported numerically in tabular or spreadsheet form. Data can also be graphically displayed as colour difference plots, trend plots and spectral curves. All results can be viewed, stored, printed or imported into your database programs.

  • Includes all widely used colour scales, observer functions and illuminants, as well as spectral data
  • Allows for easy data interchange
  • Fast, easy operation
  • Compatible with all HunterLab spectrophotometers.
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EasyMatch Coatings Colour Formulation Software


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Colour formulation software packages create the colours your customers want.

Expert or novice colourists can formulate colour quickly and inexpensively.

You create the best, lowest cost matches in the shortest time and reduce your inventory by making better use of colourants. In addition to formulating new colours, the software will help you adjust batches.

Plus, efficient colour formulation and correction means you can help the environment through conservation and recycling.

The ability to rework existing inventory means less waste of product, materials and time. Now you can turn waste into saleable product.

  • Colour formulation, batch correction and QC functions
  • Unlimited user-configurable displays and custom set-ups
  • Right-first-time match accuracy; fast calculations
  • Networking capability links production, lab and QC data
  • Compatible with all HunterLab spectrophotometers.
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For additional information please visit our Client's section, contact Novasys or visit HunterLab's website at www.hunterlab.com

HunterLab also has a series of videos on their channel at YouTube showing where and how their instruments are used. These videos including examples for the plastics, food, optical, chemical, paint & coating, paper, building products and pharmaceutical industries.