ATS performs this testing using specialized equipment known as the gravelometer. As the name might suggest, this machine fires gravel using pressurized air. Our automotive testing experts mount a test sample of standard proportions into the target compartment, subject it to flying debris for a specified period, and then remove the specimen for visual inspection. After gently wiping it with a clean cloth to remove any condensation, technicians then use adhesive tape to remove loose paint flakes. Depending on the test standard requested by the client, results will either be compared against a catalog of standard results or categorized according to the number, dimensions, and severity of chips incurred by the sample. Because coatings display differing physical characteristics as they are cooled and heated, ATS will perform this entire process — gravel impact, cleaning, visual assessment — multiple times on samples at a variety of temperatures to obtain relevant performance data.