Can UNI-T UT343A Measure Galvanized Steel, Aluminium and Powder Coating Malaysia
Can UNI-T UT343A Measure Galvanized Steel, Aluminium and Powder Coating Malaysia
Content
Before buying a coating thickness gauge, many users ask the same question:
Can it measure my material?
For the UNI-T UT343A Coating Thickness Gauge, the answer depends on two things:
1. What is the base material?
2. What coating is being measured?
The UT343A supports Fe and NFe metal substrates and has a measuring range of up to 1750 μm, making it suitable for many paint and coating inspection applications in Malaysia.
Can UNI-T UT343A Measure Paint on Steel?
Yes, for suitable paint coatings over ferrous steel substrates.
Steel is generally classified as an Fe (ferrous) substrate.
Typical applications include:
Painted steel structures
Fabricated steel components
Machinery panels
Steel cabinets
Automotive steel panels
Painted pipes
Industrial equipment
For example, a fabrication company can take several readings across a painted steel panel to check whether the coating has been applied consistently.
Can UT343A Measure Powder Coating?
Yes, when the powder coating is applied over a compatible metal substrate.
Typical examples include powder coating on:
Steel
Aluminium
Metal cabinets
Electrical enclosures
Machinery parts
Metal furniture
Fabricated components
The important point is that the instrument is not measuring "powder coating" simply because it recognizes the coating name.
The coating and underlying metal substrate must be compatible with the instrument's measurement principle.
Can UNI-T UT343A Measure Aluminium?
The UT343A supports NFe measurement, making it suitable for compatible coatings over non-ferrous metal substrates such as aluminium.
Possible applications include:
Coated aluminium panels
Painted aluminium components
Aluminium fabrication
Manufacturing components
Automotive aluminium panels
This is one reason a combined Fe/NFe coating thickness gauge is useful for workshops and factories handling different metals.
What About Galvanized Steel?
Galvanized steel requires more careful consideration because the measurement objective matters.
A user might mean:
"I want to measure paint over galvanized steel."
or:
"I want to measure the zinc galvanizing layer itself."
These are not necessarily the same measurement application.
The substrate/coating structure and measurement method should be confirmed before assuming that a general coating thickness gauge will provide the exact layer measurement required.
If you are measuring galvanized material, tell the supplier:
Base metal → Zinc layer → Additional coating, if any → Which layer you actually need to measure
This makes instrument selection much more accurate.
Can UT343A Measure Plastic?
A conventional Fe/NFe coating thickness gauge such as the UT343A should not be treated as a general thickness meter for plastic substrates.
For example:
Paint on plastic automotive bumper
is fundamentally different from:
Paint on a steel car door.
If the underlying substrate is plastic rather than metal, an Fe/NFe coating thickness measurement method may not be suitable.
Can It Measure Wood or Concrete?
Do not assume so.
Applications involving:
Wood
Concrete
Glass
Rubber
Plastic
require different measurement principles depending on what thickness needs to be measured.
The fact that an instrument displays thickness in μm does not mean it can measure every material.
Why Fe and NFe Matter
Understanding these two terms makes coating gauge selection much easier.
Fe – Ferrous
Typically includes iron and steel substrates.
NFe – Non-Ferrous
Typically includes suitable non-ferrous metals such as aluminium.
Because the UNI-T UT343A supports both Fe and NFe, users do not need to limit the instrument to only one of these common metal categories.
Example: Metal Fabrication Factory
A factory manufactures both:
Powder-coated steel cabinets
and
Coated aluminium panels.
Instead of using one Fe-only instrument for steel and another instrument for aluminium, a suitable Fe/NFe coating thickness gauge can provide a more convenient solution.
The operator can measure several points and compare:
Minimum → Maximum → Average → Individual readings
to monitor coating consistency.
Example: Automotive Inspection
A vehicle may contain steel, aluminium and non-metallic components.
A paint thickness gauge should therefore not be used blindly across the entire vehicle.
If one panel gives no normal Fe/NFe response, first consider whether:
The substrate is different
The component is plastic
The measurement position is unsuitable
The probe is not making proper contact
Understanding the substrate is part of correct automotive paint inspection.
UNI-T UT343A Main Measurement Features
The UT343A provides:
0–1750 μm measuring range
Fe/NFe substrate support
Automatic substrate recognition
Single measurement
Continuous measurement
MAX/MIN/AVG
199 data storage
μm/mil units
Upper and lower limit settings
This makes it suitable for many general coating inspection applications in manufacturing, automotive, fabrication and maintenance.
Before Buying a Coating Thickness Gauge
Instead of asking only:
"Can this measure coating?"
provide these four pieces of information:
Coating: What is on the surface?
Substrate: What material is underneath?
Thickness: What approximate range do you expect?
Purpose: What are you trying to inspect?
For example:
Powder coating + aluminium + approximately 100 μm + factory QA
is much more useful than simply saying:
"I need a thickness meter."
UNI-T UT343A Coating Thickness Gauge Malaysia
For customers in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Johor, Penang, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Perak, Pahang, Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu, Perlis, Sabah and Sarawak, MTM Precision supplies measuring and testing instruments for industrial and maintenance applications.
If you are unsure whether the UNI-T UT343A can measure your coating, send us a photo and tell us the coating + substrate + expected thickness.
MTM Precision Sdn Bhd
Showroom & Service Centre: Puchong, Selangor, Malaysia
Tel: 03-8080 7172
WhatsApp: +6016-660 7346
Email: mtmpre@yahoo.com
Website: www.mtmpre.com.my
22 Sep 2026
