Spring 2026 at Ascott Analytical: Why corrosion testing can’t stand still

Spring is usually associated with fresh starts. In corrosion testing, it is also a good moment to pause and ask a tougher question: are the ways we test today really keeping pace with the environments products face tomorrow?

At Ascott Analytical, that question sits at the centre of everything we do. With more than 35 years of specialist experience, all cabinets built in Tamworth, and a singular focus on corrosion testing, we continue to support customers worldwide with solutions designed for precision, compliance and repeatability.

What feels especially relevant this spring is just how quickly expectations are rising. New materials. New coatings. More demanding standards. Greater pressure on manufacturers to prove durability earlier in development and with more confidence. That is why corrosion testing is no longer just a box to tick at the end of a project — it is becoming a more strategic part of product design, validation and quality assurance across automotive, aerospace, manufacturing, defence and research.

Salt spray testing still plays a vital role, and for many laboratories it remains the benchmark for consistent, repeatable testing to widely used standards such as ASTM B117 and ISO 9227. But the conversation does not stop there. Increasingly, customers want broader environmental simulation: cyclic corrosion testing that combines salt spray with wetting, drying, controlled humidity and temperature changes, and more advanced systems for demanding automotive requirements such as VDA 233-102 or newly developed standards such as Hyundai range CCT-A to CCT-F

That need for flexibility is shaping the way laboratories invest. Some customers need straightforward salt spray capability. Others need chambers that can create six distinct climates in sequence. Others are working with larger, heavier or more awkward components, where a standard chamber is no longer enough. Developments like CorroFlex and AtmosfärLite reflect that shift toward more tailored testing capability rather than one-size-fits-all equipment.

Another clear theme is efficiency. Performance will always matter most in environmental testing, but practicality matters too. Recent developments such as CO2 cooling and the innovative Atmosfar EcoCool temperature and humidity control unit point to a future where improved control, lower operating costs and simpler compliance considerations all matter alongside raw technical capability.

And of course, capability is only part of the story. Reliable testing depends on the service behind the chamber too — installation, training, calibration, preventive maintenance, spare parts and rapid support when it is needed. That ongoing support is a big part of helping customers keep their testing accurate, compliant and productive over the long term.

It is also the start of another busy events calendar, with Ascott continuing to meet customers and partners at international exhibitions and trade fairs throughout the year. Face-to-face conversations still matter, especially in an industry where application detail, standards knowledge and real testing challenges make all the difference.

So for us, spring is not just a season of renewal. It is a season of review.

Are your current test methods giving you data?
Or are they giving you confidence?

At Ascott Analytical, we believe the difference matters.

Because when products are expected to perform in tougher conditions, across more demanding standards, with less room for error, corrosion testing cannot stand still — and neither can we.

For any requests please contact us sales@ascott-analytical.com