Durometer - Shore & IRHD Hardness Testers for Rubber, Plastics, and Soft Elastic Materials

ASTM D2240 / ISO 48-4 / ISO 868 / ISO 7619 / DIN 53505 — Complete Rubber & Elastomer Hardness Portfolio

Durometer hardness testing — also known as Shore hardness testing — is one of the most universally specified material-property measurements in the rubber, polymer, elastomer, and soft-plastics industries. By pressing a standardized indenter into the sample under a defined force for a defined dwell time, a durometer measures the indentation hardness on standardized Shore scales (A, D, A0, AM, 00 and others), and on the IRHD (International Rubber Hardness Degree) scales (IRHD-Micro, Normal, Hard, Low) — quantifying how resistant or pliable a material is. An incorrect hardness value translates directly to a finished component that feels substandard, fails prematurely, or fails an ASTM / ISO / customer specification — making durometer hardness testing one of the most quality-critical analytical steps in every modern rubber and elastomer operation.

Qualitest offers one of the most comprehensive durometer and Shore IRHD hardness-tester portfolios in the world — providing quality-control departments and research laboratories with everything from portable analog Shore durometers through advanced automatic IRHD micro-hardness testers with laser-centering systems and Ruby ball indenters, plus specialized testers for rubber rollers, O-rings, pharmaceutical capsules, and certified reference blocks for calibration traceability. Every Qualitest hardness tester is engineered to meet the most demanding global standards — ASTM D2240 (rubber durometer hardness), ISO 48-4 (Shore A), ISO 868 (Shore D / plastics), ISO 48-2 (IRHD), ISO 7619-1 (vulcanized & thermoplastic rubber), DIN 53505 (Shore A and Shore D), ASTM D1415 (IRHD), JIS K 6253, BS 903 Part A26, NFT 51109 — ensuring every hardness measurement is universally accepted, audit-ready, and defensible in customer certifications and regulatory submissions.

The portfolio includes eight purpose-built platforms: the Digital Shore Durometer DRIVE Series for digital ASTM D2240 readings with audit-ready calibration.

Measure Hardness with Confidence. Qualify Every Batch.

In every rubber and elastomer operation worldwide, the hardness value is the single most universally specified material property — and the single value most likely to determine whether a finished component performs in service or fails. A few Shore points of variation in a sealing compound means leaks, recalls, and warranty claims; a single off-spec IRHD reading on an O-ring batch can shut down an aerospace customer's qualification audit; an incorrect Shore D measurement on a critical plastic component triggers premature field failure. 

The rubber manufacturers, elastomer compounders, pharmaceutical companies, paper mills, and QC laboratories that consistently deliver durable, regulator-compliant, customer-trusted products are the ones equipped with hardness testers built for precision, automation, multi-scale flexibility, and full international-standards compliance — and the Qualitest durometer / Shore IRHD hardness tester portfolio gives you exactly that.

Whether you are qualifying automotive sealing compounds, running production QC on a high-throughput O-ring line, verifying paper-machine roller hardness after resurfacing, testing pharmaceutical soft-gel capsules, supporting fundamental polymer-research, or maintaining a calibration laboratory with certified reference blocks, Qualitest has the durometer platform engineered to meet your exact needs. From the entry-level HD3000 to the flagship multi-head Laser Revolution-DRIVE and Auto PharmaCheck, every Qualitest hardness tester delivers world-class performance backed by industry-leading service and support. 

Qualitest Durometers are referred to as the “Swiss watches” among other products on the market. Investing in our line of Durometer is a guarantee of accuracy and assurance for many years of operation.