Atlas brings its next-generation weathering testing technology to the 2026 American Coatings Show

Weathering qualification requirements are becoming more rigorous for paint and coatings manufacturers. Regulatory shifts and increasingly stringent performance specifications are putting added pressure on testing programs. When formulations change to meet PFAS restrictions or tighter VOC limits, durability must be revalidated under ASTM, ISO, SAE, or OEM specifications. Companies selling across multiple regions must validate performance to different standards – increasing the need for consistent, well-documented, reproducible results.

“When you change a formulation, legacy data may not be enough,” said Dr. Oliver Rahäuser, Senior Product Manager at Atlas Material Testing Technology.“You still need reproducible, standards-aligned results – and testing has to keep pace with development. Our next-generation xenon-arc instruments build on proven exposure performance while making day-to-day testing easier to manage. Combined with our natural weathering programs, they give manufacturers a clear path to qualification.”

Solutions on Display at ACS 2026

Atlas NextGen Ci3000 Weather-Ometer^® – The most compact and cost-effective rotating-rack xenon-arc unit in the Atlas Weather-Ometer^® lineup, the next-generation Ci3000 builds on the performance that has made the Ci-Series the benchmark platform for paints, coatings and automotive OEMs. Upgrades include:

• New two-tier rotating rack that nearly doubles sample capacity
• Upgraded 13-inch touchscreen display with intuitive user interface and 14 factory pre-programmed methods
• Full integration with the WXView^® II cloud-based data acquisition platform
• SmartDamper™ technology delivers unmatched control of black panel and chamber temperatures ensuring highly repeatable results
• The newly designed DI water cooling system precisely regulates lamp cooling

Xenotest^® 440 – The leading compact, rotating-rack xenon-arc weathering and lightfastness instrument incorporates patented XenoLogic™ twin-lamp technology, providing wide irradiance control and up to 4,000 hours of extended lamp life in a space-efficient platform. Upgrades now include:

• American SAE interior & exterior parts testing
• Expanded test method library supporting major ASTM, AATCC, GB/T, & SAE standards
• Smarter 10.1-inch XenoTouch^® II 2.0 interface
• Full integration with WXView^® II cloud-based data acquisition platform

SUNTEST^® XXL – The Atlas SUNTEST series represents best-in-class, full-spectrum xenon-arc flatbed instruments for accelerated weathering, photostability, and colorfastness testing. Extra-large SUNTEST XXL upgrades include:

• Smarter 10.1-inch XenoTouch^® II 2.0 interface
• Expanded test method library supporting major ASTM, AATCC, GB/T, & SAE standards
• Full integration with WXView^® II cloud-based data acquisition platform     

UVTest^® Fluorescent / UV Instrument – The UVTest is a fast, cost-effective way to screen coating formulations for UV and hydrolysis resistance, exposing materials to short-wavelength UV and moisture – primary drivers of color fading, gloss loss, chalking, cracking, and adhesion failure. Available with UVA-340, UVB-313, or UVA-351 lamp options, the UVTest accommodates multiple test programs and supports widely used ASTM and SAE standards.   

Outdoor Testing Services – As part of Atlas’s Worldwide Exposure Network, benchmark sites in subtropical Miami and desert Phoenix provide high-UV, high-heat, and moisture-driven reference climates. These exposures are widely used to benchmark laboratory testing and support correlation studies. Natural test options include static exposure racks, glass-covered enclosures for interior simulation, and concentrated sunlight systems such as EMMAQUA^®, including cool-mirror configurations for temperature-sensitive materials. 

AMECARE^® Performance Services Program – Booth visitors can learn about AMECARE^® Services, Atlas’s instrument maintenance and calibration program. AMECARE packages preventive maintenance, scheduled inspections, and ISO 17025-accredited calibrations into one annual plan, with coverage options sized for both laboratory and production environments.   

Meet Atlas at ACS – To learn more about Atlas products and services, stop by Booth 1666 at the Indiana Convention Center, visit atlas-mts.com or contact [email=info@atlas-mts.com.]info@atlas-mts.com[/email].