Synchronised instrument control
Controls both the ColourFlex spectrophotometer and physical piston simultaneously for consistent, coordinated measurement.
Securing Europe’s only accredited wool testing lab against a single point of failure
Secured critical colour testing operations for the long-term, after replacing an 18-year-old unsupported system with a fully compliant solution, delivered in just 10 weeks.
“The team at True9 genuinely took the time to understand our world, not just the technical challenge, but how it affects everything we do. They took full responsibility for making the project a success, worked closely with us throughout, and delivered exactly what we needed. On time and on budget. We couldn't have asked for a better partner.”
Business impact
- WTAE can confidently fulfil responsibilities without depending on obsolete technology
- Hardware-software integration achieved without compromising compliance or performance
- Accurate, validated results preserved through rigorous calibration logic and IWTO-aligned workflows
- In-house staff empowered with a safe, easy-to-use, and fully traceable testing system
- Laid the groundwork for wider digital transformation across WTAE’s entire operation to streamline processes, improve traceability and support long-term growth
One machine. One failure point. And time is running out.
Wool Testing Authority Europe (WTAE) is the only IWTO-accredited fibre testing lab in Europe. Since 2004 they’ve set the benchmark for impartial wool testing, licensed by UKAS and recognised by British Wool. For the global wool supply chain, where accuracy, consistency and compliance are non-negotiable, WTAE’s results are trusted without question.
But that trust was sitting on ageing hardware.
At the centre of WTAE’s colour testing workflow was a BYK Gardner spectrophotometer. At 18+ years old, it was unsupported, ran on discontinued software and connected to a bespoke piston mechanism found nowhere else. One machine, one failure point, and a process the entire wool trade relies on.
While WTAE had bought a replacement, they lacked a way to bring it into their operation without breaking accuracy, traceability or compliance with IWTO-56 test methods. And without the in-house technical expertise, every week the old machine kept running meant increased risk.
Business impact
- WTAE can confidently fulfil responsibilities without depending on obsolete technology
- Hardware-software integration achieved without compromising compliance or performance
- Accurate, validated results preserved through rigorous calibration logic and IWTO-aligned workflows
- In-house staff empowered with a safe, easy-to-use, and fully traceable testing system
- Laid the groundwork for wider digital transformation across WTAE’s entire operation to streamline processes, improve traceability and support long-term growth
Replacing the weakest link
To help WTAE gain control, we started with a discovery project, which included a site visit to map the company’s existing processes, understand the legacy setup and confirm what was actually feasible.
Next, we worked directly with the hardware manufacturer alongside WTAE, to track down and fix issues in their SDK, so the new spectrophotometer could be controlled and integrated reliably.
We called upon the True9 Delivery Team to bring in the right people at the right time to solve problems that crossed team boundaries. And in the end, it took just 10 weeks to deliver the outcome that mattered: a compliant, user-friendly testing workflow that would still be working in 10 years.
A scalable, supported platform built to last
Accreditation-aligned calibration
Implements full IWTO-56 calibration logic, including intercept, slope, and glass correction formulae for XYZ tristimulus values in the D65 colour space.
Traceability & validation
Ensures traceable readings with robust error handling and validation prompts, aligned to accreditation and audit requirements.
System integration
Integrates seamlessly with WTAE’s internal systems, passing standardised readings for downstream processing and analysis.
User roles & feedback
Provides configurable user roles, software-level configuration, and clear, contextual feedback throughout the workflow.
Secure, local deployment
Runs on local laboratory infrastructure with browser-based access and no external connectivity, designed for security, longevity, and auditability.
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