Still Running an FP-2250 or FP-2255? How to Plan Your Friction/Peel Upgrade
If your lab still tests on a Thwing-Albert FP-2250 or FP-2255, you are in good company. Many of these legacy testing instruments are still in daily use for coefficient of friction and peel testing in quality control labs, long after they were installed. That says a lot about how they were built, and about the labs that take care of them. If a Friction/Peel upgrade is on your list, this guide will help you plan it.
An instrument that has served your lab this well deserves a replacement plan, not a scramble after a failure. Here is how to tell when it is time to start planning, what carries over to the FP-2265 Friction/Peel Tester, and how to make the move on your schedule.
Signs it is time to plan ahead
A legacy instrument rarely stops all at once. More often, small signs build up over time:
Repairs take longer. Parts for the FP-2250 and FP-2255 are now limited, and repairs are handled case by case, so a routine repair can mean days of downtime. See our legacy instrument support notice for details.
The keypad or display is showing its age. Worn keys and a small display make setup slower and mistakes easier.
New operators need more training. Menu-driven setup takes time to learn, especially for staff who do not run tests every day.
Your testing has changed. New materials, new customers or new standards may call for seal strength or light tensile testing your current setup was not configured for.
Testing can’t wait. If product release depends on COF or peel quality testing, an unexpected failure puts product on hold.
If two or more of these sound familiar, it is a good time to start planning.
Why plan your Friction/Peel upgrade before a failure
Replacing an instrument after it fails usually means an unbudgeted purchase, rushed approvals and testing sent out or put on hold while you wait. Planning ahead lets you choose the timing instead:
Put the purchase in your budget cycle rather than requesting emergency funds.
Keep your service coverage. An annual Preventive Maintenance Inspection plan carries over to the new instrument at installation.
Give operators time to learn the new instrument before it is the only one they have.
Your load cells and fixtures carry over
The biggest reason upgrading is simpler than you might expect: the FP-2265 accepts fixtures, clamps and load cells from the FP-2250 and FP-2255. The tooling your lab has built up over the years keeps working, and your validated setups don’t have to be rebuilt around unfamiliar hardware.
Depending on your setup, that can be $5,000 or more in load cells and fixtures you won’t need to buy again. COF sleds are the exception, because they wear and are replaced over time. Upgrading is a good time to check their condition. See what carries over to the FP-2265.
What is different on the FP-2265
The FP-2265 is the next generation of the instrument your team already knows. The test setup will feel familiar, with a few meaningful improvements:
A color touchscreen in place of the keypad, so selecting, configuring and running a test takes fewer steps.
Built-in pneumatic controls, so there is no separate controller to set up for pneumatic grips and fixtures.
Four test modes on one benchtop instrument: coefficient of friction, peel, seal strength and light tensile testing up to 10 kg (22 lb).
Standalone operation, with no PC required, and optional MAP4 Materials Testing Software for advanced analysis.
An optional Universal Instrument Remote that puts test control at the operator’s fingertips.
The FP-2265 supports testing to ASTM, ISO, TAPPI, FINAT, PSTC and TLMI methods.
A simple Friction/Peel upgrade plan
Take inventory of your tooling. List the load cells, fixtures and clamps your lab uses, including any added over the years.
Find your serial number. It is on the label on the back of your FP-2250 or FP-2255.
Confirm your service coverage. If your lab has an annual PMI, your coverage carries over to the FP-2265 at installation, so there is no need to wait for your next visit.
Talk to purchasing early. Approvals and purchase orders take time, so starting now keeps the upgrade on your schedule.
Request an upgrade assessment. Our applications team will confirm what carries over and recommend the right configuration for your lab.
Built to last, ready to carry forward
Thwing-Albert has built materials and quality testing instruments for more than 125 years, and many of our friction/peel testers have stayed in daily use for well over a decade. The FP-2265 was designed to carry that forward, so the investment your lab made in its legacy instrument and tooling keeps paying off.
Send your instrument’s serial number to our applications team for a personalized upgrade assessment. We’ll confirm which of your load cells and fixtures carry over to the FP-2265 and recommend the right configuration for your lab.
