In this tour we follow the route that videocassettes take through our quality control process.
This process is used both for recycling videocassettes and certifying new tapes, there by ensuring reliability.
All signals recorded on each cassette are erased within 24 hours of collection, using a powerful magnetic field.
The first (visual) inspection of the product is also done at this stage. Any cassettes exhibiting mechanical or cosmetic damage are rejected.
With each consignment all tapes are separated from their boxes and then transported to the cleaning department.
Old stickers, labels and adhesive residue are removed from each cassette.
The mechanical and cosmetic conditions of the cassette are checked for a second time.
The cassette box is cleaned and checked for damage, and the inlay card and any enclosed paperwork are removed.
After cleaning, the cassettes proceed to the testing department
In the control room, comprising 23 test machines, all tapes are full-length tested for dropout performance and physical condition.
Tape Check is uniquely able to evaluate tapes compared to “as new” specifications.
The tape surface is polished and cleaned, decreasing wear and minimising contamination of recorder heads.
The record protection mechanism is reset to allow further recording.
Customers often take advantage of our facility for pre-recording black-burst
and time-code signals.
In this case tapes are full-length recorded with standard LTC/VITC time-code.
The start time can be customized if 00:00:00:00 is not the required standard.
After testing, each cassette is placed in a clean box together with new labels and an inlay card.
By prior arrangement labels and insert cards can also include customer logos and other details.
Cassettes are then repackaged in new cartons according to format, length and brand.
The re-packaged cassettes are now ready for distribution to customers all over Europe.
With a production capacity of 3000 tapes per day Tape Check is the leading supplier of recycled videotapes world-wide today.
