Finetech Engineering

Universal Testing Machine

Overview

The Finetech Engineering Universal Testing Machine (UTM) is an electromechanical materials testing system designed for tensile, compression, flexural, peel, and tear testing of rubber, plastic, paper, textile, leather, adhesives, and composite materials. It is the single most versatile instrument in any QC or R&D lab — capable of performing more test types, across more materials, than any other machine in the Finetech range.

The UTM applies a controlled force to a specimen at a precise crosshead speed, while simultaneously measuring the applied load and the specimen’s deformation. The PC-based software captures the full stress-strain curve in real time and automatically calculates the mechanical properties your standard requires: tensile strength, yield strength, elongation at break, tensile modulus (Young’s modulus), flexural strength, compressive strength, peel strength, and tear strength.

What makes the UTM truly universal is the interchangeable grip and fixture system. Fit roller grips and test rubber dumbbell specimens per ASTM D412. Swap to wedge grips and test rigid plastic specimens per ASTM D638. Swap to compression platens and test compressive strength per ASTM D695. Install a flexural fixture and test bending per ASTM D790. Install a peel fixture and test adhesive bonds per ASTM D903. One machine frame, one load cell, one software — dozens of test standards.

What Can the UTM Test? — Testing Modes & Standards
1. Tensile Testing
The most common test mode. A specimen is gripped at both ends and pulled apart at a controlled speed until it breaks. The UTM records load vs. displacement and calculates tensile strength, elongation, and modulus.
Material Specimen Standard Grip Type
Vulcanised rubber Dumbbell (Die C) ASTM D412, ISO 37 Roller grips
Rigid plastics (1–14 mm) Dumbbell (Type I–V) ASTM D638, ISO 527 Wedge grips
Thin plastic film (<1 mm) Rectangular strip ASTM D882 Roller or pneumatic grips
Paper / paperboard 15 mm strip ISO 1924, TAPPI T494 Pneumatic or roller grips
Textile / fabric Strip or grab method ISO 13934-1, ASTM D5035 Pneumatic grips
Leather Dumbbell specimen ISO 3376 Roller grips
Adhesive bond (lap shear) Bonded assembly ASTM D1002, D3163 Wedge grips
Rubber — tear strength Angle/trouser/crescent ASTM D624, ISO 34-1 Roller grips
2. Compression Testing
A specimen is placed between two flat platens and compressed at a controlled speed. Used for compressive strength, compressive modulus, and crush resistance.
Material Standard Fixture
Rigid plastics ASTM D695, ISO 604 Compression platens
Vulcanised rubber ASTM D575, IS 3400 Compression platens
Foam / cellular rubber ASTM D3574 Compression platens
Corrugated packaging ASTM D642 Compression platens
3. Flexural (Bend) Testing
A rectangular bar specimen is supported at two points and loaded at the centre (3-point bend) or at two points (4-point bend). Used for flexural strength and flexural modulus of rigid materials.
Material Standard Fixture
Rigid plastics ASTM D790, ISO 178 3-point flexural fixture
Fibre-reinforced plastics ASTM D790, ASTM D7264 3-point or 4-point fixture
4. Peel Testing
One layer of a bonded or laminated assembly is peeled away from the substrate at a controlled angle (90° or 180°). Used for adhesive bond strength, laminate peel strength, and coating adhesion.
Material Standard Fixture
Adhesive tapes ASTM D903, ASTM D3330 Peel fixture (90° or 180°)
Laminates / flexible packaging ASTM F904 Peel fixture
Rubber-to-metal bonds IS 4201 Peel fixture + roller grip
5. Other Test Modes
Specifications
Parameter Specification
Machine Type Electromechanical (screw-driven, dual column)
Force Capacities Available 5 kN, 10 kN, 20 kN, 50 kN
Load Cell Accuracy Class 0.5 (or better) per ISO 7500-1 / ASTM E4
Crosshead Speed Range 1–500 mm/min (adjustable in software)
Crosshead Travel Up to 1000 mm (model-dependent — higher for rubber testing)
Drive System AC servo motor with precision ball screw
Control System Microprocessor-based with PC software interface
Software Windows-based testing software with real-time load-displacement curve display
Data Output Tensile strength, yield strength, elongation at break, modulus, flexural strength, compressive strength, peel strength, tear strength
Report Generation Automatic test reports with curves, statistics (mean, SD, min, max), and raw data export (CSV/Excel)
Grip Mounting Standard pin or bolt mount — accommodates roller, wedge, pneumatic grips and all fixtures
Extensometer (Optional) Clip-on contact extensometer or video extensometer for accurate strain measurement
Safety Features Upper/lower travel limits, overload protection, emergency stop button
Frame Construction Rigid dual-column steel frame, powder coated
Power Supply 230V AC, single phase, 50 Hz
Certification ISO 9001:2015 certified manufacturing
Which UTM Capacity Do You Need?
If You Test… Typical Max Force Recommended Capacity
Thin rubber (Shore A 30–60), foam, films 50–200 N 5 kN
Standard rubber dumbbell (ASTM D412 Die C) 200–1500 N 5 kN or 10 kN
Rigid plastics (ASTM D638 Type I, 3.2 mm thick) 500–5000 N 10 kN or 20 kN
Paper and paperboard tensile 50–500 N 5 kN
Textile and non-woven (strip or grab) 200–2000 N 5 kN or 10 kN
Hard rubber (Shore A >80) or hard plastic 1000–10000 N 20 kN
Compression testing of rigid plastics 2000–20000 N 20 kN or 50 kN
Flexural testing of thick plastic bars 500–5000 N 10 kN or 20 kN
Engineering plastics (nylon, PC, POM, PEEK) 2000–15000 N 20 kN or 50 kN
Fibre-reinforced composites 5000–50000 N 50 kN
Which Grips Do You Need with the UTM?
The UTM frame is universal — the grips specialise it for each material and test type. See our Grips & Fixtures page for the full range, or use this quick reference:
Material / Test Grip Type Why
Rubber — tensile & tear Roller grips (self-tightening) Handles 300–800% elongation without slipping
Rigid plastic — tensile Wedge grips (self-tightening) High clamping for low-elongation, high-strength specimens
Thin films — tensile Roller grips or pneumatic grips Gentle clamping prevents crushing; pneumatic for high volume
Paper — tensile Pneumatic or roller grips Consistent low force to avoid crushing paper
Any material — compression Compression platens Flat parallel surfaces for uniform compression
Any material — flexural 3-point bend fixture Adjustable span per ASTM D790 / ISO 178
Adhesives — peel Peel fixture (90° / 180°) Controlled peel angle per ASTM D903
Applications
Industries Served
Why Choose the Finetech UTM?

Complete testing ecosystem from one manufacturer. UTM + grips + specimen cutters + moulds + presses + calibration + AMC. One supplier means guaranteed compatibility, single-point accountability, and simpler procurement.

Built for Indian testing labs. Our UTMs are designed for the standards most commonly required in India: ASTM D412 for rubber, ASTM D638 for plastics, IS 3400 for BIS compliance, and ISO 527 for export-oriented manufacturers. We understand both the Indian and international testing landscape.

Roller grips as standard for rubber. Many UTM suppliers provide basic vise grips and charge extra for roller grips. Finetech includes the grip type matched to your primary material at no additional cost. Tell us what you test — we configure the right grips from day one.

Software that generates ready-to-use test reports. Our PC-based testing software captures load-displacement data, calculates all required properties, generates formatted test reports with curves and statistics, and exports raw data for further analysis. No manual calculations needed.

Calibration and AMC support. Professional calibration services with certificates, and Annual Maintenance Contracts for scheduled servicing, priority support, and genuine parts. Your UTM stays accurate and audit-ready.

Manufacturer, not reseller. We build the UTM at our Thane facility. That means faster response on spare parts, direct access to engineering support, and pricing without middleman margins.

Related Products
Product Why Related
Grips & Fixtures (Full Range) Essential accessories — roller, wedge, pneumatic grips; compression, flexural, peel fixtures
Dumbbell Specimen Cutter Cuts the dumbbell specimens tested on the UTM
Tear Specimen Cutter Cuts tear specimens for ASTM D624 tear testing on the UTM
Rectangular Strip Cutter Cuts film strips for ASTM D882 testing on the UTM
Notch Cutter Cuts notches for Izod/Charpy impact specimens
Hydraulic Press For cutting specimens and moulding test sheets fed to the UTM
Specimen Cutters & Moulds (Full Range) Complete range of cutting dies and moulds
Izod & Charpy Impact Tester Complementary impact testing alongside UTM tensile testing
MFI Tester Complementary melt flow testing — often paired with UTM in plastic QC labs
Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

A Universal Testing Machine (UTM), also called a tensile testing machine or materials testing machine, is a laboratory instrument that applies controlled mechanical force to a specimen and measures the resulting deformation. It is called “universal” because by changing the grips and fixtures, it can perform tensile (pulling), compression (pushing), flexural (bending), peel, tear, and shear tests on virtually any solid material.

For most rubber and standard plastic testing labs, a 10 kN UTM covers the majority of applications. If you also test hard plastics, composites, or need compression testing at higher forces, choose 20 kN. The 5 kN is ideal for paper, films, and low-force materials. The 50 kN is for engineering plastics, composites, and metals. When in doubt, contact us with your materials and standards — we will recommend the right capacity.

ASTM D412 is the tensile testing standard for vulcanised rubber and thermoplastic elastomers. It uses dumbbell specimens (typically Die C), requires roller grips that handle high elongation (300–800%), and does not require an extensometer. ASTM D638 is the tensile testing standard for rigid and semi-rigid plastics. It uses larger dumbbell specimens (Type I–V), requires wedge grips, and typically requires a clip-on extensometer for accurate modulus measurement. The Finetech UTM supports both standards — you just swap the grips.

For rubber testing (ASTM D412), the crosshead travel serves as the displacement measurement — an extensometer is not required by the standard. For plastic testing (ASTM D638), an extensometer is recommended for accurate modulus determination, especially for rigid plastics where the elastic region is small. Finetech offers clip-on extensometers as an optional accessory.

Yes — that is precisely what makes it universal. Fit roller grips and test rubber per ASTM D412. Swap to wedge grips and test rigid plastic per ASTM D638. Same machine frame, same load cell, same software. The grip swap takes under 5 minutes.

The software captures the full load-displacement curve in real time and automatically calculates: tensile strength (maximum stress), yield strength, elongation at break (%), tensile modulus (Young’s modulus), flexural strength and modulus, compressive strength, peel strength, and tear strength. It generates formatted reports with curves, test parameters, and statistical analysis (mean, standard deviation, min, max) for batch testing. Data can be exported to CSV or Excel.

Yes. The UTM meets the accuracy requirements of ISO 7500-1 (Class 0.5 or better) and can be calibrated with NABL-traceable standards. We provide calibration certificates that support your NABL accreditation documentation. Many NABL-accredited labs in India use Finetech UTMs.

Routine maintenance includes annual calibration of the load cell and speed, periodic lubrication of the ball screw and guide columns, and software updates. Finetech offers Annual Maintenance Contracts (AMC) that cover scheduled preventive maintenance, priority breakdown support, and calibration — keeping your UTM audit-ready year-round.

Yes. Every UTM purchase includes installation, commissioning, and operator training at your site. We train your team on machine operation, grip changes, software use, test setup for your specific standards, and basic troubleshooting. Additional training sessions can be arranged under AMC.