Handheld XRF is portable and fast, but has multiple limitations. Most critically, these units can’t detect light elements with emission lines in the ultraviolet spectrum and therefore can’t analyse critical elements like Oxygen, Hydrogen, Carbon, Sulphur, Phosphorus and Nitrogen. Further, these units are also far less accurate and precise than OES. Spark OES is therefore the most preferred method for metal analysis as it offers far more accurate, precise and therefore reliable outputs for detailed composition analysis, particularly for ferrous metals.

By allowing precise control over expensive alloying elements like Nickel (Ni), Chromium (Cr), and Molybdenum (Mo), manufacturers can reduce material costs without compromising on quality or price realisation by optimising the concentration of these elements while still meeting grade/specification requirements. Furthermore, the use of OES to validate the concentration in the melt helps eliminate the likelihood of non-compliance and/or rejection of materials. For a more detailed explanation of how an OES improves profitability, please visit our article here.

When it comes to metal analysis, an OES offers multiple upsides over an ICP system. Some of the most critical ones are

1) Factory calibrations: This ensures that an OES is usable for any and all samples in the bases/matrices it was ordered to analyse. ICP systems, on the other hand, need to be calibrated by the user for each type of sample, element, and range.
2) Wide concentration ranges: An OES is designed to provide exceptional accuracy across a wide range of concentrations. An ICP system, on the other hand, works best when the user calibrates it for a narrow and specific range
3) Analysis time: An OES provides results in ~30 seconds for most samples. Compared to it, an ICP system takes 30-60 minutes for each analysis (excluding calibration time)
4) Startup and stabilisation: An OES stabilises after a cold start in 10-45 minutes (depending on model and hardware). An ICP system, on the other hand, can take hours for the plasma to stabilise
5) Cost of operations: An ICP system consumes far more Argon and power, has a number of expensive consumables, requires repeated calibrations (and therefore expense on calibration CRM samples) and also requires highly trained chemists to operate it optimally. None of these is required for an OES, making the OES far more economical
6) Productivity: As is evident, an OES provides exceptionally high productivity. Indeed, in several cases, an OES takes well over a thousand burns a day. This is simply not possible in an ICP system, making it infeasible for production environments
7) Gaseous element analysis: ICP-OES do not match the gaseous element analysis capabilities of Spark OES. Hydrogen and Oxygen can’t be analysed at all on ICP-OES, while Nitrogen analysis too presents challenges and has severe limitations. Spark OES, meanwhile, offers exceptional results for all these elements.

Wet chemical analysis refers to the usage of empirical chemical testing methods. Such analyses are highly reliable, but Spark OES offers multiple advantages over Wet Analysis:

1) Analysis time: An OES provides simultaneous analysis of 30+ elements per sample within a matter of seconds. Wet Labs use different test methods for the analysis of individual elements, and could take days to analyse all the elements that an OES covers. This alone makes Wet Analysis infeasible for the production shopfloor and would also lead to either a compromised set of elements analysed or a large build-up of inventory if Wet Analysis were to be used for final QC tests.
2) Gaseous element analysis: Wet chemical analysis for gaseous elements in metals is considered suboptimal in most cases. Here, an OES offers tremendous upsides
3) Operator-dependence: Wet analysis calls for highly-trained and specialised chemists, and also exceptional quality of the chemicals used in the analytical methods, whereas modern OES can easily be operated even by unskilled operators, once they’re trained on the basics of instrument usage.
4) Productivity and cost:Wet labs offer far lower productivity and far higher operating costs as compared to OES

Yes, an optical emission spectrometer can analyse gaseous elements with exceptional accuracy. This feature is available in all of our Metavision series spectrometers. The MOSS and Metavision-8i models offer Nitrogen analysis, while the Metavision-1008i³ and Metavision-10008X also offer Oxygen and Hydrogen analysis. The analytical outputs of all these have been validated not merely against certified samples (CRMs) but also with combustion analysers (CONH analysers). Should you wish to have more information about the specific detection limits and precision assurances, you could refer to our catalogues or reach out to our Sales or Marketing personnel at marketing@metalpower.net.

In short, the gaseous element analysis capabilities of Metal Power Analytical’s OES models can be summarised as follows:

For the most demanding requirements, we recommend our flagship model, the Metavision-10008X, which offers industry-leading analysis capabilities, especially for light and gaseous element analysis. For those seeking a more economical alternative, our upper mid-tier model, the Metavision-10008i³, also offers exceptional elemental analysis for virtually all industries and applications.

For small and medium foundries as well as other industries, the mid-tier model, Metavision-8i, is the most apt spectrometer solution. This model offers excellent analytical capabilities with segment-leading features at a budget-friendly price point.

The Metavision-10008X is Metal Power Analytical's flagship OES, engineered for ultra-low detection at single and sub-ppm levels across 60+ elements. While both the Metavision-10008X and the Metavision-1008i3 offer features like time-resolved spectroscopy, multi-stage argon repurification, and hermetically sealed dual optics, the former has higher reciprocal linear dispersion (RLD) owing to its larger focal length. This leads to it offering research-grade performance in terms of detection limits, accuracy and precision. While the Metavision-1008i³ is no slouch and offers performance that exceeds the requirements of most industry users, the Metavision-10008X is the model of choice for those who wish to operate at the cutting-edge of all operational and research applications. For a more detailed comparison between the two, you can visit our model comparison page here.

Yes. The Metavision-8i is specifically designed for multi-base and multi-matrix applications. With dual optics and high-resolution CMOS detectors covering the full 140–620 nm wavelength span, it supports analysis across Steel, Cast Iron, Aluminium, Copper, Nickel, Zinc, and more. Its ability to detect deep-UV elements like Carbon, Sulphur, Phosphorus, and Nitrogen (as per ASTM standards) ensures reliable results in both ferrous and non-ferrous bases, making it one of the most versatile mid-segment OES solutions available.

MOSS is Metal Power Analytical’s most compact and affordable stationary OES, designed as the ideal entry-level spectrometer for MSME units and first-time buyers in sectors like extrusion, rolling mills and other small or mid-scale manufacturing. Despite its small footprint, MOSS delivers accurate analysis of 30+ elements down to 50 ppm, with low argon consumption and high productivity. Modular and scalable, it enables businesses to adopt OES technology cost-effectively without compromising on reliability or compliance.

Yes, Metal Power Analytical’s advanced OES models, like the Metavision-10008X and Metavision-1008i³, offer soluble-insoluble differentiation. This feature allows users to distinguish between the acid-soluble and acid-insoluble forms of elements like Aluminium, Titanium, Calcium, and Boron in steels.

Yes. Metal Power Analytical provides a wide range of precision-engineered adaptors with its OES systems. These adaptors allow analysis of non-standard sample geometries such as wires, rods, tubes, sheets, and small sections, with defined dimensional ranges. By ensuring a perfect fit and repeatability, adaptors expand the instrument’s analytical capability while maintaining accuracy and precision, making it possible to test a diverse array of metallic samples reliably. For more details, you can refer to the ecosystem section on each product’s respective webpages.

In addition to Optical Emission Spectrometers, Metal Power Analytical offers a comprehensive range of allied equipment to enhance OES performance. This includes CleanSharp for electrode tip cleaning, eSharp for electrode sharpening in RDE systems, the 3in1 AFVS Sample Preparation Machine to prepare polished and ground samples for the best quality of analysis, WirelessRTDS for real-time result display at different locations, and ArmourSafe for protection from issues with the Mains power supply. Together with certified reference materials (CRMs) and sample adaptors, these accessories ensure accuracy, safety, and productivity throughout the analytical process. For more details, you can visit our Allied Equipment’s webpage.

This really depends on the type of spectrometer. Laboratory OES (stationary models) are designed to deliver the highest levels of accuracy and precision and therefore require a dust-free, thermally stable (air-conditioned) environment with exceptionally good input power supply, high-purity argon, and a setup that is free of vibrations. They can therefore not be used outside a controlled laboratory environment (as their name suggests). Mobile OES, on the other hand, are designed to be used in outdoor environments such as factory shopfloors, finished goods yards, and even scrapyards, and are specifically designed to be able to handle such harsh conditions, including temperatures ranging from as low as 5°C to as high as 50°C.

The Metavision-MX and Metavision-MX+ are engineered for rugged, real-world conditions. With compact, trolley-based designs, they withstand shop floor temperatures of up to 50°C and deliver reliable results in challenging environments, such as scrapyards, recycling yards, and warehouses. Both models feature fast charging, long battery life, and multi-probe options for analysing ferrous and non-ferrous metals on-site.

Both models offer up to 8 hours of continuous operation, featuring fast-charging technology that restores an 80% charge in under 10 minutes. This makes them highly practical for scrapyards, shop floors, and remote locations where uninterrupted testing is essential.

Yes, both models are designed as self-contained, modular trolleys with integrated computers and large touchscreens. They are compact enough to dismantle and fit into the boot of a standard-sized car or hatchback, with extendable conduits for flexibility, ensuring effortless mobility between locations.

Yes, both the Metavision-MX+ and the Metavision-MX are compatible for usage with the UV or UVis Smart probes, which are optimised for deep-UV analysis, enabling detection of light elements such as Carbon, Sulphur, Phosphorus, Boron, and Nitrogen down to 20 ppm.

Yes. Both the Metavision-MX and Metavision-MX+ come with a preloaded grade library of 350,000+ metal grades from 74+ countries, ensuring accurate Positive Material Identification (PMI) and grade sorting across global specifications. Users can also create custom libraries to match specific operational or regulatory requirements.

Mobile OES spectrometers by Metal Power Analytical are particularly beneficial for scrapyards, recycling centres, metal traders, foundries, automotive manufacturing, and railways, where on-site analysis is critical. They help users sort materials accurately, verify compliance, and optimise raw material usage without depending on a stationary lab.

Metal Power Analytical offers Metavision-RX, an RDE-OES for predictive maintenance, wear monitoring, and lube oil analysis complying with the ASTM D6595 standard.

The Metavision-RX is a state-of-the-art, stand-alone Rotating Disc Electrode Optical Emission Spectrometer (RDE OES). It simultaneously detects up to 33 elements, including wear metals, contaminants, and additives in oils, coolants, heavy fuels, and other process liquids within 30 seconds.

With its advanced multi-CMOS technology and automatic background correction, the Metavision-RX delivers exceptional accuracy, complying with ASTM D6595 and ASTM D6728 standards.

Amongst a long list of clients, we see it widely used by railways, aviation fleets, shipping companies, mining operations, refineries, and heavy equipment operators. Basically, anyone who runs machinery where unplanned downtime can cost serious money and maintenance and condition monitoring requires swift and reliable solutions.

It uses thermally stabilised CMOS optics and high-resolution gratings for consistent, repeatable results.

• Covers a broad wavelength range (165–800 nm) with provision to analyse Sulphur in oils/lubricants.
• Built with smart safety checks: sensors confirm electrodes, sample cups, and analytical gaps are all appropriately set before analysis starts.
• Achieves exceptional detection levels – meaning it captures even the slightest traces of wear metals or additives, differentiating them accurately from blanks.

The Metavision-RX can analyse 33+ elements that include common wear metals like Fe, Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb, and Sn; contaminants like Na, K, Si, and Ca; and additives like Zn, P, Ba, and Mo. So, this comprehensive simultaneous analysis facility allows you to get the full health check for your machinery.

Yes, the Metavision-RX complies with ASTM D6595 and ASTM D6728 methods, which are standard benchmarks for lubricant and oil testing worldwide.

Metavision-RX RDE OES fully complies with ASTM D-6595 and D6728, and its results are directly comparable to ICP-OES methods like ASTM D5185, giving users the confidence of globally accepted accuracy.

Metavision-RX can analyse almost all the critical ones — lubricating oils, hydraulic fluids, turbine oils, etc.

By picking up early signs of wear metals in oil samples, the Metavision-RX gives maintenance teams a heads-up before a machine failure. Think of it as an “early warning system” for your fleet or plant.

Not at all. The Metavision-RX is designed to be user-friendly with an in-house developed Analyst software suite. The automatic sensors ensure samples and electrodes are placed correctly, and our quick reference guides the user step by step to perform analysis. Once set, it’s a straightforward routine.

The sample chamber door is equipped with sensors, and the instrument will not permit you to run an analysis unless everything is secure and in place. That reduces mistakes and ensures both operator safety and accurate analysis.

We provide a starter kit which includes 1,000 graphite discs, 100 graphite electrodes, and 1,000 sample cups suitable for 1000 analyses. Over time, you’ll need to replenish these as part of routine use.

Yes, we provide an electrode sharpener – the ‘eSharp’ – to maintain consistent electrode tips. There’s also a mobile application that displays the readings in real time and provides access to historical data. You can check details for both on the Metavision-RX product webpage.

MetaLib Pro – powered by the Total Materia database – is a comprehensive grade identification library with over 350,000 metal grades and standards from 74+ countries. It enables instant verification and classification of metals by matching OES data against global standards, ensuring accurate PMI, compliance, and faster decision-making in production, procurement, and recycling environments.

Yes. MetaLib Pro receives regular updates to ensure sustained compliance with the latest standards, grades, and specifications. Updates are included as part of the product offering, ensuring users always work with the most current data for compliance and grade verification.

MPALabTab is a mobile and web platform that provides real-time remote read-only access to OES test results on any manner of device. It allows users to visualise results instantly, track historical logs, and generate SPC charts and infographics from anywhere, ensuring informed decision-making without being in proximity to the instrument.

Yes. MPALabTab is designed for secure, cross-device synchronisation across mobiles, tablets, and desktops. With encrypted data transfer and user-level authentication, it ensures spectrometer data can be accessed only by authorised users while maintaining full compliance with data security protocols.

Integrating [FP]-LIMS with OES workflows automates data capture from sample receipt to reporting. It enables the creation of integrated plans, workflows and reports across different types of instruments and tests, and also enables a clear audit trail for each sample. This integration therefore improves overall Lab efficiency by eliminating manual entries, ensuring complete traceability, eliminating missed tests and/or data entry errors, and enabling seamless workflow management across laboratories as well.

FRP®.melt optimises charge corrections by calculating the most cost-effective raw material addition required to meet composition targets. It ensures precise adjustments, reduces the cost of raw materials consumed, and also minimises waste, thereby increasing ROI.

All digital solutions by Metal Power Analytical are designed with robust encryption, role-based access control, and secure protocols. This ensures sensitive spectrometer and process data remain protected while allowing only authorised stakeholders to access results and reports. All of MPA’s solutions are also fully compliant with GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) and ensure the highest levels of security and privacy.

Out of the box, MPA’s OES outputs integrate only with its own offerings (WirelessRTDS and MPALabTab) and specific approved partner offerings, such as FP-LIMS, MetaLib Pro and FRP®.melt. However, upon request, MPA can undertake add-on solutions to feed instrument outputs to databases, ERP systems or Lab/Foundry management systems used by the customer.

Metal Power Analytical has been at the forefront of elemental analysis since its incorporation in 1990. With over 35 years of continuous innovation, we have grown into a trusted global leader. We are proud to support our customers across various industries with robust, reliable products and exceptional service, building a legacy of excellence that spans more than three decades.

MPA’s R&D, Production, and Corporate functions are headquartered in Mumbai, India, with regional offices in Singapore and the UAE. The company today has an expanding global footprint, serving customers directly and through partners in over 50 countries across six continents.

Our instruments are essential for any industry where accurate metal analysis is critical. This includes foundries, steel plants, rolling mills, extrusion units and clients across key sectors like aerospace, automotive, energy, aviation and railways. Essentially, if you're involved in any application that produces, processes, or consumes metals, our instruments are designed to meet your needs.