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JULY 2005 INDUSTRY NEWS

 

 

US Army Selects GE DPI515 Digital Pressure Calibrators

GE Sensing, a leading provider of precision sensing products, systems and services, announced that the United States Army has ordered 40 dual range DPI 515 digital pressurecalibrators, valued at more than half a million dollars. The DPI 515 pressure calibrator is an upgrade from earlier technology calibrators and supports new military test requirements. The instruments will be used in Army labs throughout the world for calibrating pressure and force sensors and transducers. In addition, some units will be installed in mobile calibration vans deployed to support equipment and troops in conflict areas.

A team of sales and product engineers worked closely with Army personnel to specify the DPI 515 product. In addition, GE placed the DPI 515 on the General Services Administration (GSA) schedule—a customer requirement—as it provides a more efficient method for government purchases and a reduction in acquisition cost.

“This is a great win for GE Sensing. Not only does it demonstrate our position as a preferred provider of sensing solutions, as well as for test and calibration equipment, but it also exemplifies our willingness and ability to go the extra yard to accommodate unique customer requirements,” said Jim Henke, product manager for GE Sensing.

For more information about GE’s DPI 515 digital pressure calibrator, visit www.gesensing.com/druckproducts.

 

Experior Photonics Becomes First to Receive ISO/IEC-17025 Accreditation for Fiber Optic Instrument Calibration

Experior Photonics, Inc. has received official accreditation under ISO/IEC Standard 17025 and becomes one of the first test labs for fiber optic instrument calibration and test services in the industry to achieve this milestone. The international standard ISO/IEC 17025 specifies "General Requirements for the Competence of Calibration and Testing Laboratories." Accreditation to this standard is the highest guarantee to customers that a company has more than the necessary equipment and trained laboratory personnel and ensures that the organization possesses the fiber optic competency and proficiency to perform these services. Fiber optic experience and technical proficiency is exactly what sets Experior Photonics apart from its competition.

Accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025 goes beyond establishing conformance to a quality system as covered by well-known ISO/IEC 9000. Technical Director, John Kim, adds that "while the ISO/IEC-17025 standard demands general quality procedures to be followed, it specifically addresses the verification of competence in a specific field and is only granted to laboratories that meet these demanding international standards for competence. And we've done this specifically for fiber optics."

While other organizations offer fiber optic calibration services, these capabilities are often piggybacked onto existing scopes of calibration. During the extensive accreditation process, Experior Photonics had to demonstrate specific relevant competence in fiber optic calibration and metrology. This demonstration involved inter-laboratory comparisons of data, thorough evaluations of measurement uncertainties, and an exhaustive audit of the entire calibration process. Uniquely, Experior Photonics' two principals have extensive experience in fiber optics -- evolving from their years with the successful fiber optics test equipment manufacturer, Rifocs Corp.

Experior Photonics' recognized expertise is further exemplified by President Lorenz Cartellieri's role as Chairman of Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) FO4.5 subcommittee on Fiber Optic Metrology. What better statement of proficiency and competency than being chosen to guide the industry's premier group for fiber optic calibration and measurement verification discussions. Currently, one major FO4.5 effort underway is the development and execution of an international round robin to verify how well the industry measures optical return loss -- a key parameter of optical performance. Mr. Cartellieri believes that ongoing leadership and participation in such committees ensures Experior Photonics' leadership role and "provides customers with the highest level of service in both quality and technical competence."

Headquartered in Newbury Park, Calif., Experior Photonics is a specialist in providing fiber optic calibration and qualification/design verification testing services to industry, including manufacturers, integrators and end-users. Services cover a wide range of fiber optic applications, e.g. telecom, datacom, military, aerospace, and industrial markets. Test services include Bellcore/Telcordia, MIL-STD and other industry/standards based testing. Today, Experior Photonics is the only commercial testing services laboratory focusing solely on fiber optic component testing -- and the first to be specifically ISO accredited in this area.

 

25th Conference on Precision Electromagnetic Measurements

The CPEM (Conference on Precision Electromagnetic Measurements) is devoted to topics related to the measurement of electromagnetic quantities, including Time and Frequency, at the highest precision and accuracy levels, covering the frequency spectrum from DC through the optical region. The CPEM attracts a highly specialized international participation. The main participant organizations are: the national standards laboratories; industrial organizations that manufacture the highest accuracy electrical standards and measurement instruments; industrial and government standards laboratories that interact extensively with national laboratories; and the universities that conduct research on precision measurements, standards and fundamental constants.

The 2006 Conference on Precision Electromagnetic Measurements is the 25th event in a series of international conferences that began in 1958 in Boulder, Colorado. The 2006 conference is being held July 9-14, 2006 in Torino, Italy.

For the first time in 2006 the CPEM will cover metrology needs in chemistry and related sciences with a special session on EM techniques for amount of substance precise measurement.

More conference information can be found on the Conference Website: www.cpem2006.polito.it

 

Transcat's Sales Rise, Income Drops

Transcat Inc. logged a 3.7 percent increase in net sales in fiscal 2005, but net income dropped. Net sales, at $55.3 million, were up from $53.3 million in fiscal 2004. In line with the company’s strategic plan, distribution products’ net sales for the year were $37.1 million, up 4.7 percent from $35.4 million last year. Net income for fiscal 2005 was $300,000, or 4 cents a diluted share, compared with net income of $400,000, or 5 cents a diluted share, a year ago.

In calibration services, net sales totaled $18.2 million, up 1.8 percent from $17.9 million last year. The company filed its fiscal 2005 annual report with the Securities and Exchange Commission late Thursday. Shortly after beginning its 2006 fiscal year, Transcat acquired the assets of Hilton Engineering Inc.’s calibration services facility in San Juan, Puerto Rico, folding it into Transcat Calibration Services Laboratories’ international network.

In fiscal year 2006, our calibration services segment should continue to benefit from cross-selling to product customers and our efforts to identify companies that want to outsource calibration to a sole provider,” said Carl Sassano, Transcat chairman and CEO. Sassano said strategic partnerships formed in fiscal 2005 are expected to enhance Transcat’s product offerings.

Our relationships with leading manufacturers such as GE Infrastructure and Tektronix, among others, is consistent with our strategy to identify and secure new customers in targeted market segments by offering the best technologies and a comprehensive range of test and measurement instruments for the process, utility and pharmaceutical industries,” Sassano said.



Flemming Awards Received by Four NIST Researchers

On June 6, four NIST researchers were among 12 honorees who received the Arthur S. Flemming Award at a ceremony held at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Established by the Downtown Jaycees in 1948, the Flemming Awards honor outstanding federal employees. Recognized by the President of the United States, agency heads, and the private sector, the winners are selected from all areas of the federal service. The awards are made in three categories—scientific, program management and applied science.

In the scientific category, Daniel Fischer was cited for his pioneering work in developing a critical facility for soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy that has enabled key scientific and technological advances in cutting-edge technology and for his groundbreaking work on self-assembled nanoparticles, nanotubes, biomaterials, and high-temperature superconductors. Jun Ye was honored in the same category for his contributions to the fields of precision measurement, quantum optics, ultrasensitive detection, and cold molecules as well as his demonstration of a unified time and frequency spectroscopy of atoms using phase-stabilized femtosecond lasers.

Steven Jefferts was recognized in the applied science category for his outstanding efforts in both the technical and managerial leadership of the world's most accurate atomic clock (NIST-F1), which is the first U.S. laser-cooled atomic frequency standard, serving as the U.S. national standard for the second. Keith Lykke also was honored in the applied science category for developing a novel laser technology from the infrared to the ultraviolet spectral regions, for the accurate characterization and calibration of optical instruments used in ground and satellite-based remote sensing, missile defense and targeting, reconnaissance and surveillance, and optical standards research, development, and dissemination.

For further information, see www.gwu.edu/~flemming/.



NIST-Weights & Measures Division (WMD) Quality Manual for Proficiency Tests and Interlaboratory Comparisons

A new quality manual has been prepared by Jeff C. Gust (Quametec Corp., under contract) in collaboration with NIST Weights and Measures Division (WMD) enable State Weights and Measures Laboratories to comply with criteria for proficiency testing as noted in NIST Handbook 143 and as needed for accreditation programs. This document is intended to provide the basic quality system for Proficiency Testing and Interlaboratory Comparisons developed by NIST WMD.

To obtain the manual visit http://ts.nist.gov/ts/htdocs/230/235/labmetrologypage.htm.

 

2005 Joseph F. Keithley Award Recipient - E. Dwight Adams

Citation:
 “For the pioneering development of the capacitive pressure transducer, its application to the ³He melting pressure thermometry, and other scientific uses.”

Background:
 E. Dwight Adams received his BA degree from Berry College in 1953 and his MS degree from Emory University in 1954. Then, after two years in the US Army, he attended Duke University, receiving his Ph.D. in 1960. This was followed by two years as a postdoctoral associate at Stanford University where he worked with one of his mentors, W. M. Fairbank. There he invented the persistent switch for superconducting magnets, a device that is crucial to this technology.

He arrived at the University of Florida as assistant professor in 1962 where he initiated the ultra-low temperature program, conducting research on quantum fluids and solids. With his first graduate student, Gerald Straty, he invented the capacitive Straty-Adams gauge for in situ high-resolution low temperature pressure measurement. This gauge is now in common use in low temperature labs around the world and has received the ultimate recognition of being used without reference.

Joseph F. Keithley Award for Advances in Measurement Science is endowed by Keithley Instruments, Inc. and the Instrument and Measurement Science Topical Group (IMSTG). The award honors Joseph F. Keithley for his outstanding contributions and numerous accomplishments in area of sensitive and precision instrument development and measurement techniques. Visit the American Physical Society for more information.

 

Netherlands Measuring Institute (NMI) Moves to New Facility

It may not be the most glamorous field of science, but the work of the NMI - the Netherlands Measuring Institute - at Delft Technical University, should not be underestimated. Science simply cannot do without the hard data produced by precise measurements and timing. Fair trade cannot function without universally accepted standards of size, weight, pressure, etcetera.

The NMI, a venerable institute of 'Metrology' that ranks among the best in the world, recently moved to a spectacular new building just outside the city of Delft.

At the NMI's old location in the centre of Delft, the seven national standards of time, weight, length, pressure, etc. were properly guarded, but the neighbours were becoming a problem. Right next-door happened to be another important research institute: TNO. Its crash tests involving cars and trucks slamming into concrete blocks or into each other proved too much despite all the shielding technology the NMI could muster.

 

Special Issue of Metrologia to Celebrate Fifty Years of Atomic Time-Keeping

The summer of 2005 marks the fiftieth anniversary of the experiments of Essen and Parry at the NPL (Teddington, UK) which resulted in the first caesium beam atomic frequency standard, the first operational atomic clock. To mark this anniversary, a special issue of Metrologia has been published ( Volume 42, number 3) with Dr Terry Quinn CBE FRS as Guest Editor. Dr Quinn has assembled a collection of papers that detail not only the original atomic clock of Essen and Parry but also many aspects of the development of atomic timekeeping over this last half century.

Visit BIPM for more information.

 

Tektronix Opens New Service Locations and Offers 'The Tektronix Service Advantage' for Calibration Services

Tektronix, Inc., a leading worldwide provider of test, measurement and monitoring instrumentation, announced new packaged calibration services for oscilloscopes and a new satellite calibration center in Santa Clara, California. The new Tektronix Service Advantage provides more service choices for customers seeking vendor-certified calibration. The new satellite office offers convenient scheduling and courier service. Tektronix plans to open additional satellite calibration centers in the United States and internationally in the months to come, putting calibration resources closer to customers.

Tektronix Service is now providing our customers the same engineering expertise and quality at a local site as they would find at our worldwide service depots," said Steve Aleshire, Vice President Customer Service, Tektronix. "Calibration is critical to business, whether customers are developing chips or driving products to market. The Tektronix Service Advantage is dedicated to optimizing the performance of our customer's equipment and business.

In addition to the new satellite office in Santa Clara, Tektronix plans to open additional calibration satellites in the U.S. as well as several additional locations worldwide. The Santa Clara facility is now open; others will follow over the next several quarters.

The new packaged calibration services provide multiple options and attractive pricing. They are available as part of one, three, and five year packages; customers will realize greater value in multi-year coverage. Customers can purchase the calibration services at the same time as purchase of an instrument or can do so at a later date. Service agreements cover labor and shipping.

The calibration verification service provides "traceable" calibration that assures quality control and enables ISO9000 compliance. Customers will receive verification of specifications, a statement of received conditions (i.e. in or out of tolerance, including specific measurement information), traceability to National Metrology Institutes, and adjustments to restore performance to factory specifications. Additional calibration services are available as options.

Tektronix, Inc. is a test, measurement, and monitoring company providing measurement solutions to the communications, computer, and semiconductor industries worldwide.

 

NIST's "Directory of National Accreditation Bodies"

NIST's "Directory of National Accreditation Bodies" is designed to provide information to conformity assessment bodies on how their results might be received in other countries where their clients may be doing business. In launching the new directory, Mr John Donaldson, a senior advisor in conformity assessment, said that "There were as well some underlying reasons for the work. The international accreditation organizations, ILAC and IAF, have as their purpose to harmonize the practices of their members and to operate mutual recognition arrangements for the acceptance of conformity assessment results on the most efficient possible basis."

"Some of the information collected reflects the degree of success of thus far in achieving these objectives. For example, it is gratifying to observe the extent to which the ISO/IEC guides and standards have been adopted worldwide."

The Directory of National Accreditation Programs has been posted on the NIST website. It can be found using the following URL:

http://ts.nist.gov/ts/htdocs/210/gsig/cainfo.htm

If you have difficulty accessing the document using the URL above, you can alternatively try http://ts.nist.gov/, where the document is listed under "What's New". If you have any questions, please contact John L. Donaldson, Senior Advisor, Conformity Assessment on email john.donaldson@comcast.net



Welcome Message From the NCSLI Dimensional Metrology Committee Chair and Technical Presentations

Jim Salsbury-
It is my pleasure to announce the official formation of the Dimensional Metrology Committee within NCSLI. This committee will be meeting during the upcoming NCSLI annual conference in Washington DC on Wednesday, August 10, from 4:15 pm to 6:00 pm. I invite and encourage you to attend. In addition, I am excited to see a great line-up of technical presentations in the dimensional metrology field scheduled for the NCSLI annual conference.

Most of the presentations occur within one 24-hour window, and the dimensional committee meeting is in the middle of all of them, allowing for a very productive short trip. The Dimensional Metrology Committee was formed with a charter to develop technical sessions for NCSLI conferences, identify measurement requirements, interface with dimensional metrology standards bodies, introduce committee activities to industry, and develop documents, tutorials, and recommended practices as needed by the dimensional metrology industry. We have got a good start on those goals – the committee organized one of the technical sessions at the upcoming annual conference, and we have established the committee as a liaison between NCSLI and ASME B89. But now we need your participation to further the activities and success of the committee.

One of the next projects for the committee is to begin work on a recommended practice (RP) in the calibration and uncertainty of measurement when using coordinate measuring machines (CMMs). This project was identified as something needed by our industry. We will talk more about this during the committee meeting next month. If you have interest in being involved with this project, but cannot attend the meeting, please let me know.

As the Dimensional Metrology Committee is just now forming, I am putting together an email list for communication. Please contact me if you would like your name added to the communication list. Phone: 630-723-3619, Fax: 630-978-6471, Email: Jim.Salsbury@mitutoyo.com.

 

VWR International, Inc. Acquires Technical Service Lab

VWR International, Inc. announced the acquisition of Technical Service Lab BV (TSL), a Boxmeer, Holland-based laboratory instrument calibration and validation services provider to Holland, Germany, Belgium, and France. The acquisition expands VWR's calibration service capabilities and expertise in the European marketplace.

TSL is a multi-disciplinary technical service provider founded in 1993, specializing in pipettors, balances and other laboratory instruments. The firm has wide experience in instrument calibration, qualification, validation, repair and maintenance. TSL has 42 employees and annual sales of over EUR two million. The firm calibrates over 50,000 pipettors a year. In addition to the Holland headquarters, TSL maintains a sales office in Belgium.

TSL was a service partner of VWR for several years prior to the acquisition. With the acquisition, the company will become VWR's calibration service center for Holland, Germany, Belgium and France. The company will operate under the name, TSL, a VWR Company.

"We are gaining significant synergies with the acquisition through the combination of both companies' service capabilities and expertise," said Patrick Surkyn, VWR vice-president - instrumentation and services, Europe. "This, in turn, will deliver more value to our customers and further our goal of being a true one-stop product and service resource."

Bart van Roosmalen, current managing director of TSL, will lead the new organization. According to Roosmalen: "TSL has many years of experience with calibrating laboratory equipment and other services in the Dutch, German, Belgian and French markets. The vast customer base and good name of VWR combined with the technical know-how and expertise of TSL will allow us to bring quality service and precision calibration to a much wider market."

TSL specializes in the technical service of laboratory instruments and process equipment, and has comprehensive expertise in the fields of instrument calibration, validation, qualification (IQ, OQ, PQ), repair and maintenance. TSL prides itself in fast service for calibrations and repairs to assure instruments are returned quickly. TSL can also perform calibrations at customer locations. TSL is in full compliance with the GLP (Good Laboratory Practice) and GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) regulations and has FDA and ISO approvals and STER (Holland) and BELTEST (Belgium) accreditations.

 

Davis Inotek Calibration Laboratory Announces Acquisition of Northwest Calibration Systems

Davis Inotek Calibration Laboratory (www.DavisCalibration.com) announced it completed acquisition of Northwest Calibration Systems (NCS.) The acquisition, which adds significant capacity and geographic coverage, is part of Davis Inotek's ongoing expansion strategy.

The acquisition strengthens Davis Inotek's calibration services portfolio by adding Northwest's capabilities and technologies which facilitate high quality calibration certifications and rapid turn-around time for clients. The acquisition is also expected to enhance Davis Inotek's capabilities for clients using onsite calibration services.

Founded in 1978, Northwest Calibration Systems is a leading provider of calibration services. With facilities in Seattle and Portland (Vancouver) it provides services in linear/dimensional, mass, torque and surface plate measurements. NCS adds 35 experienced calibration technicians and 15,000+ sq. ft. of lab space to further enhance Davis Inotek's wide array of calibration capabilities.

"NCS clients will continue to receive the excellent quality calibration service they have come to expect as well as access to Davis Inotek's network of laboratories and service options. Davis Inotek's resources and capabilities will allow our organization to focus entirely on customer service and quality calibrations," said Keith Cable, President of Northwest Calibration Systems.

Davis Inotek CEO, Lee Rudow, stated, "We are excited to announce this expansion and are optimistic that the combined operations of Davis Inotek and NCS will add to our unprecedented array of service options in the Northwestern U.S. and Southwestern Canada."

"The new locations in Seattle and Portland reflect the on-going implementation of our geographic expansion plan. They also support our growth in high tech manufacturing sectors, such as the aerospace industry, industries that require uncompromising quality and customer service," Rudow added.

 

Transcat Announces Fiscal Year 2006 First Quarter Results

Transcat, Inc., a leading global distributor of professional grade test, measurement, and calibration instruments and a provider of calibration and repair services, announced financial results for the fiscal year 2006 first quarter ended June 25, 2005.

Fiscal Year 2006 First Quarter Highlights

  • Net sales increased 6.4% to $14.1 million in the fiscal year 2006 first quarter.
  • Gross profit ratio for the fiscal year 2006 first quarter increased 2.0 points to 25.6% over the fiscal year 2005 first quarter.
  • Operating income for the fiscal year 2006 first quarter increased $0.6 million to $0.3 million from a $0.3 million operating loss in the fiscal year 2005 first quarter.
  • Net income for the fiscal year 2006 first quarter increased $0.6 million to $0.2 million, or $0.02 per diluted share, from a net loss of $0.4 million, or $0.07 per diluted share, in the fiscal year 2005 first quarter.
  • Distribution Products - Net sales increased 5.9% to $9.4 million in the fiscal year 2006 first quarter from $8.9 million in the fiscal year 2005 first quarter. Distribution Products gross profit ratio for the fiscal year 2006 first quarter increased 1.1 points over the fiscal year 2005 first quarter to 24.1%.
  • Calibration Services - Net sales increased 7.4% to $4.7 million in the fiscal year 2006 first quarter from $4.4 million in the fiscal year 2005 first quarter. Calibration Services gross profit ratio increased 3.9 points over the fiscal year 2005 first quarter to 28.8%

Link to the FY2006 Q1 Earnings Release can be found at: www.transcat.com/AboutTranscat/CompanyNews.asp.

 

Newark InOne Acquires R&R Instrumentation

Newark InOne, the leading small-quantity distributor of electronic components and test equipment in North America and a subsidiary of global Premier Farnell plc, has purchased the assets of R&R Instrumentation and transferred all of its business and employees to a new division named Newark InOne Services. R&R is a regional distributor of test equipment and panel instruments headquartered in Denver, Colorado, with complete calibration labs in the Denver, Phoenix and Nashville areas.

"No other electronics distributor offers our range of brand name test equipment combined with value-added calibration services that meet or exceed industry standards," comments Paul Tallentire, president of Newark InOne. "The convenience of one source for sales and calibration service further enhances our offering for our customers in design engineering and maintenance."

Newark InOne's broad test and measurement offering includes top manufacturers Fluke, Tektronix, Agilent, Rohde & Schwartz, Amprobe, B&K Precision and Meterman.

Rick Rathbun, former owner and president of R&R, will serve as General Manager of the Newark InOne Services division. Details on the services and when they will be available, will be announced at a later date.

 

Larson Systems Inc. Will Service, Calibrate and Upgrade Select Carlson Testers

Larson Systems Inc. has made the commitment to repair, upgrade and calibrate Carlson MET-SF Series, Carlson MET-MF Series and the Reicherter line of testers. In many cases Larson can repair the testers to OEM specifications. In occasions when OEM repair is not available or economically feasible Larson has several unique repair / upgrade options at some surprisingly affordable prices. In addition, Larson offers a high quality Polane paint job to finally finish the job since the factory never painted the original tester. It will look like new!

Larson's factory calibration includes NIST traceable certification of force, length, parallism and deflection compensation.

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