The HATRA Mk2A+ Hose Pressure Tester
Laboratory measurement of the compression exerted by compression hosiery product requires the garment to be stretched lengthways and widthways in a defined manner. Compression or tension measurements are then taken at defined positions on the garment leg.
Widthways stretch on HATRA testers is achieved by the girth profile of its simulated leg form. The position of the thigh end of the garment in relation to the leg form, is defined with respect to the garment welt or some other garment feature. The position of the foot end of the garment in relation to the leg form, is defined with respect to the garment heel and the heel of the tester foot.
The positioning of the garment between the foot and thigh ends of the tester has normally required manipulation of the garment along the leg after loading the garment onto the tester. This gives rise to potential variability in the positioning of the garment along the leg form.
The Mk2A+ HATRA features a modified leg form such that the garment initially contacts the leg form only or mostly at thigh and foot ends of the form, reducing the need for manipulation of the garment along the form. This is designed to improve consistency in garment positioning on the form and hence improve the consistency of test results. This is comparable to, but reduces the need for, a flat stretch method for marking the garment along its length prior to loading onto the tester and subsequently positioning the garment according to these markings once loaded onto the tester.
