Calibration is essential to ensure the accuracy of your measuring equipment. Periodic equipment calibration is necessary to avoid any rework or wastage due to inaccuracies in measurement. Calibration and repair of your measuring equipment also avoids any major breakdown of your process.

Measuring instrument calibration services are available for various types of instruments such as acoustic, avionic, environmental, fiber optic, marine, medical, mechanical, thermal and geophysical instruments.

Calibration service providers follow the calibration standards of one or more various reputable associations such as International Standards Organization (ISO), American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA) or American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

Some important parameters you must consider before buying calibration services:

1. The process for which you need the calibration
2. Type and make of equipment you want to calibrate
3. Operating conditions in which the equipment will be used, such as temperature, pressure and humidity
4. Calibration standards or accreditations of the service provider
5. Turnaround time for calibration and repair

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find off-site calibration services from a reputable service provider

Once you understand your equipment calibration requirements, check out different companies that provide calibration and repair services. Most of the companies provide bench or off-site calibration services at their testing and calibration laboratory.

I recommend: Inspec, an ISO 9001-2001 registered company, is a one-stop service provider of industrial calibration and repair services for measurement equipment and tools. Precision Metrology is another company that provides industrial calibration and repair services.

Find on-site calibration and repair services from a reputable service provider

If you have a highly sensitive, special situation or heavy measuring instrument that you cannot move to a calibration lab, you can contact a service provider that provides on-site calibration services or mobile calibration labs. On-site calibration services are less time consuming compared to off-site calibration services.

I recommend: Essco Calibration Laboratory provides on-site services such as calibration of hygrometers, pyrometers, sling psychometers, environmental chambers and freezers. Exton Granite Calibration Services, an A2LA accredited company, provides on-site surface plate calibration and measurement services.

Contact a reputable calibrator manufacturer or distributor to obtain calibration and repair services

You can contact an industrial calibration equipment manufacturer that also provides calibration and repair services.

I recommend: Beamex is a calibration equipment manufacturer that also provides calibration and validation services. EdgeTech, a manufacturer of RH calibration equipment and humidity calibration equipment, provides on-site services for calibration of hygrometers. DH Instruments, a reputable manufacturer of pressure calibrator, also provides calibration and repair services.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Find a service provider approved by the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) as a calibration and repair service provider.
• •  Find a calibration service provider that also offers troubleshooting, diagnostic, corrective and preventive maintenance services.
• •  Ensure that the service provider provides you test result documents after the calibration.