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CALIBRATION

We provide both a UKAS accredited and a non-accredited (traceable) calibration service in tension and compression, up to 500kN and 5000kN, respectively. Individual load cells, load pins and tension links, as well as force transducer systems, strain gauged components (¼, ½ and full Wheatstone bridges) and analogue dial gauges, are all within our capabilities.

We minimise

your operational downtime

With our express 3-day

turnaround service, plus our ability to  design, manufacture, and store bespoke fittings or fixtures for your load cells.

UKAS Accredited

Our force calibration laboratory is accredited to ISO 17025:2017 for the calibration of load cells to BS 8422:2003. The load cells can be strain gauged base or analogue dial gauges.

Schedule of Accreditation Sample Calibration Certificate Certificate of Accreditation

Non Accredited / Traceable

Our traceable calibration service meets the same high standards as our UKAS accredited service, but requires less oversight, meaning it is more economically priced.


Non-linearity across a minimum of five points, mean response and repeatability over three runs are all included as standard.


Suitable for load cells, systems, strain gauged components, displacement, and torque (±1500Nm).

Sample Calibration Certificate

Our Loading Frames

Our 5 loading frames are routinely subjected to rigorous inter-laboratory and intra-laboratory verification assessments, so that we can offer you the best possible Uncertainty of Measurements (UoMs).

10kN Machine
Electromechanical, Servo Controlled

• Range: ±1kN & ±10kN

• Service: Traceable or UKAS Accredited

• First Interval: 0.05kN & 0.2kN respectively

• Force Direction: Increasing & Decreasing

• Loading Mode: Tension & Compression

• UoM: ±0.33% & ±0.28% respectively

100kN Manual
Hydraulic Hand Press

• Range: ±10kN & ±100kN

• Service: Traceable only

• First Interval: 2.0kN & 4.0kN respectively

• Force Direction: Increasing & Decreasing

• Loading Mode: Tension & Compression

• UoM: ±0.44% & ±0.48% respectively

100kN Machine 1
Electromechanical, Servo Controlled

• Range: ±100kN

• Service: Traceable or UKAS Accredited

• First Interval: 2.0kN

• Force Direction: Increasing & Decreasing

• Loading Mode: Tension & Compression

• UoM: ±0.33%

100kN Machine 2
Electromechanical, Servo Controlled

• Range: ±100kN

• Service: Traceable or UKAS Accredited

• First Interval: 2.0kN

• Force Direction: Increasing & Decreasing

• Loading Mode: Tension & Compression

• UoM: ±0.33%

500kN Machine
Electromechanical, Servo Controlled

• Range: ±500kN

• Service: Traceable or UKAS Accredited

• First Interval: 20kN

• Force Direction: Increasing & Decreasing

• Loading Mode: Tension & Compression

• UoM: ±0.32%

5000kN Machine
Hydraulic, Servo Controlled

• Range:+5000kN

• Service: Traceable or UKAS Accredited

• First Interval: 100kN

• Force Direction: Increasing only

• Loading Mode: Compression only

• UoM: ±0.41%

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service)?

    UKAS is the National Accreditation Body for the United Kingdom. 


    They are solely appointed by the government, to assess and accredit organisations that provide services including certification, testing, inspection, and calibration.

  • Why should I choose a UKAS accredited calibration rather than traceable?

    PCM offers two levels of calibration, accredited and non-accredited (traceable), depending upon the requirements of the requestor. The choice of type will often depend upon the end instrumentation use and results reporting requirements.


    • Accredited calibrations are carried out according to BS 8422:2003 with PCMs procedures externally accredited by UKAS under certificate 10628. Parameters reported include non-linearity, reproducibility, and hysteresis.

    • Traceable calibrations are carried out to a PCM internal working standard. Parameters reported include non-linearity and repeatability.

    The Uncertainty of Measurement (UoM) for each calibration frame is generated according to BS 8422:2003 and UKAS publication Lab-12. UKAS accredited frames have a lower UoM compared to traceable frames.


  • How often should a load cell/system be calibrated?

    This should be determined by the user’s quality management system (QMS), considering factors such as:


    • Frequency of use
    • Severity of use
    • Installation environment
    • Installation complexity
    • In use verification activities
    • Risk of erroneous measurements
    • Administration overhead

    A 12-month period is commonly adopted as a compromise between these risk factors.


    Difficulties arise when instrumentation is used infrequently, access is limited or removal from larger assemblies is complex. 


    Alternative approaches to defined calibration intervals have been adopted to mitigate associated risks:


    • Calibrate prior to use. Where usage is infrequent and time permits, instrumentation can be calibrated before use.

    • Extended calibration intervals

    Where instrumentation may not be used for extended periods after calibration, any calibration interval may start at the first use after calibration. Storage conditions should be controlled to ensure instrumentation is not unduly affected before first use.



    • In use verification activities can be employed to ensure that a measurement system is operating within acceptance criteria. These typically use reference articles to perform an in-situ calibration, examples include reference masses for lifting systems, precision electrical sources for electronics and duplicate load cells for force response.

    It is essential that any reference articles are maintained within specified calibration intervals.


    In all these cases, caveats may be required to ensure mitigation is valid.



  • What is the difference between calibration and re-calibration?

    When instrumentation is calibrated and achieves specifications required in terms of non-linearity, repeatability, and other parameters, this is a simple calibration requiring no further action.

     

    If specifications are not achieved but can be with adjustment, a further calibration/re-calibration is required for those adjustments to be made, generating before and after certificates. Results obtained by use of the instrumentation prior to the first calibration will require investigation to determine if they are affected by the reason for recalibration.


  • How does the mechanical set up differ between a laboratory and in-situ use?

    PCM conducts calibration activities in precision uniaxial loading frames using hardened fixtures minimising extraneous mechanical interference. 


    This may not replicate the end use installation and as such may produce different results to the in-use application. Consideration should include the end use installation to optimise the performance of the load cell system.


  • Do PCM calibrate on site?

    No, PCM does not calibrate test frames on site, nor offer the service to calibrate Universal Test Frames to BS 7500-1:2018. 

  • Do PCM calibrate proving devices?

    No, we do not calibrate to ISO 376 standard. PCM adopt BS 8422:2003 which covers industrial load cells and weighing systems. 

  • Do PCM supply a collection and delivery service?

    Not as standard. We use a local same day courier service, if necessary, but this is more expensive than using standard overnight delivery. In most cases, the customer will ship the goods to PCM, and we will return the consignment via a next working day courier service. 

    Please send any shipments to: Procter & Chester (Measurements) Ltd, Units 2-4 Cotton Drive, Dalehouse Lane, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, CV8 2UE.
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