Services / DKD Calibration Laboratory

Calibration - DKD Laboratory

In view of the high quality requirements companies have to have quality management systems. The demands made on these systems are laid down in international standards. Our company for example has had DIN ISO 9001 certification for 7 years now.

An important element of the standards is the test device control. This ensures correct measurement taking thus allowing a constant and controlled quality of the product. Of central importance here is the calibration of the test device. All relevant test devices used for product quality must be deemed to be in accordance with the national and international standards. A laboratory entrusted with the calibration must have the necessary credentials.

Calibrations carried out by the DKD laboratory allow the user to trust in the reliability of measurement results. They increase the customers' confidence and competitiveness on the national and international markets.

Consequently we decided to have our calibration laboratory accredited by the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (State Authority for Physics and Technics). Since January 2001 we run a calibration laboratory of the Deutschen Kalibrierdienstes (DKD) for magnetic measurands. Our quality management process is based on ISO/IEC 17025. The neutrality and independence of the calibration laboratory is guaranteed by our company.

The calibration laboratory provides calibration of

• Reference magnets, magnetic moment references
• Measuring devices for the magnetic field strength or flux density (Teslameter, Gaussmeter, residual field measuring devices, fluxgate magnetometer, nuclear magnetic resonance magnetometer etc.)
• Measuring devices for the magnetic flux (fluxmeter)
• Measuring coils (field measuring coils, moment measuring coils, flux reference standards) and coils for generation of magnetic fields (Helmholtz coils, solenoides, etc.)

We issue DKD calibration certificates which document traceability to national standards.

We still carry out proprietary calibration which fulfill the requirements of the quality standard ISO 9000.

What is the difference between these types of certificates?

Our proprietary calibration certificate as well as the DKD (German Calibration Service) certificate document adherence to the national standards. A Magnet-Physik works calibration certificate includes among others, details on the calibrated piece, calibration process, the test devices employed and ambient conditions. The measured values and the uncertainties are listed. The works calibration are carried out by our company on its own responsibility.

Our DKD calibration laboratory on the other hand is subject to direct state control of the Physikalisch-Technischen Bundesanstalt (PTB). In the course of regular audits in the company, members of PTB and the DKD check the traceability of the applied standards and adherence to the set calibration procedures. A quality management handbook forms the basis for the organisation of the calibration laboratory. It documents the processes and the work procedures and the connection to the national standards.

Proof of calibration to DKD standard is provided with a certificate, issued on the DKD guidelines, and a calibration seal on the calibrated piece.

The DKD is a signatory of an agreement of the European Co-operation for Accreditation (EA) for mutual recognition of the calibration certificate. The other signatories at present are the accreditation authorities in Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Spain and the United Kingdom. Furthermore there are corresponding agreements with the accreditation authorities in Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, India, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, Taiwan, the United States of America and Vietnam.

The quality standards QS 9000 requires calibration to be carried out in accredited calibration laboratories. An interim arrangement, which also allowed proprietary calibration, became invalid at the end of 2000. Thus for those companies certified with QS 9000 the only option is a DKD calibration certificate. But there are also several companies certified after a standard in the ISO 9000 series which have stipulated in their quality management handbook that solely or preferably DKD laboratories are to be contracted.

As the sole calibration laboratory in DKD we provide calibration of magnetic test devices in Germany. The wide range of performances offered is second to none.