Atlas Copco has opened a new calibration laboratory, accredited by the UK Accreditation Service (UKAS) in order to deliver complete audit traceability and measurement assurance to its manufacturing customers.
Based at the firm's UK headquarters in Hemel Hempstead, the laboratory enables calibration of its customers' tools and torque measurement equipment to ISO 17025, the highest standard of instrument verification available.
The UKAS accreditation covers BS7882 for torque measurement devices and ISO 6789 for hand held tools.
This level of measurement and traceability assurance enables manufacturers to continually improve production quality and efficiency by minimising the risk of rework, warranty claims and recall costs, as well as reducing the potential for reputational damage.
The new laboratory broadens Atlas Copco's tool and service portfolio by providing a single point of contact for calibration of its own and third-party measuring equipment to the ISO 17025 standard. Calibration is carried out in a temperature and humidity controlled environment approved by technicians.
"Accreditation calibration of measuring equipment used in manufacturing answers the fundamental question of 'who is checking the checker?' and is the first crucial step in ensuring quality in production," said Csonger Tomos, Business Line Manager for Services at Atlas Copco. "Our new UKAS accredited calibration laboratory reflects our customer-driven focus, as it enables us to provide fast turnaround equipment adjustment and repairs to minimise cost and downtime."
In 2019 Atlas Copco celebrated its 100th year in the UK, with its UK office being the first outside its home market of Scandinavia. Today, the UK operation is headquartered in Hemel Hempstead and employs more than 2,500 people at six production centres and multiple sales offices across the country.
