Piezoelectric force sensors and measuring chains for small forces (1 to 50 N) can now be traceably calibrated by Kistler. This means that accredited calibrations in accordance with ISO 17025 are now available in the low-force range — increasingly indispensable for quality assurance in industries such as medical technology and semiconductor production.
Regular calibrations are the only way to reliably monitor the precision and stability of the measuring devices used and thus ensure controlled processes in production. Traceable calibrations — i.e. calibrations that are traceable to a national or international standard in a national institute — are becoming the standard in more and more industries and applications.
In view of the increasing requirements, the Kistler Group now offers a new accredited calibration service for piezoelectric force sensors and measuring chains in the low force range. This new service provides traceable calibrations in the range from 1 to 50 N by an ISO 17025 accredited calibration laboratory from Kistler. The continuous calibration procedure used has been specially designed for piezoelectric force sensors and measuring chains and achieves the smallest measurement uncertainties. It is also suitable for meeting the highest requirements in the relevant industries.
In order to ensure the high quality and safety of products, the international quality standard ISO 9001 already requires traceable calibrations for all quality-relevant processes. For medical technology, ISO 13485 follows the requirements of ISO 9001 almost word for word. The requirements in the automotive industry are particularly strict, as IATF 16949, with its continuously updated “Sanctioned Interpretations,” insists on exclusively traceable calibrations.
Often, only traceable calibrations are recognized — i.e. those that have been carried out in a calibration laboratory that has been accredited by the respective national accreditation body. In Germany, this is the German Accreditation Body (DAkkS), in Switzerland, the Swiss Accreditation Body (SAS).
Kistler can now meet this high standard not only for piezoelectric force sensors and force measurement chains up to 300 kN, but also in the low force range from 1 to 50 N. The SAS-accredited calibration service offers an achievable measurement uncertainty of up to 0.75 percent (±5 mN). “This service extension underlines Kistler’s commitment to innovation and high-quality standards in measurement technology. Traceable calibrations in the low force range close an important gap in our service portfolio and enable us to provide our customers with even better support,” said Christian Streili, Field Service Development Manager at Kistler.