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 World Class Calibration Facilities
The backbone of our calibration capabilities is the design, construction, and
operation of our physical facilities. Troemner’s Mass Calibration
Laboratories were constructed to meet the strict environmental
guidelines listed in NIST/NVLAP
Handbook 150-2G section 2.8. In order to maintain the strictly
controlled environment, the Mass Calibration Laboratories were
designed and constructed as a building within a building. Within
Troemner’s corporate headquarters, three Level I Laboratories
and one Level III Laboratory sit upon separate 30" foundations
that are isolated from the rest of the building with layers of
sand and concrete to eliminate vibration. The walls are 12"
thick and provide a temperature and vapor barrier to the outside.
The climate in each of the Mass Calibration
Laboratories is strictly monitored and controlled with each
laboratory having its own HVAC system. Temperature in the laboratory
is measured to 0.05 degree C and maintained at 21.5 ±1
degree C, with no more than a 0.5 degree C change per hour. Humidity
is measured to ± 2% and maintained within 40-50%, with
no more than a 5% change per hour. Barometric pressure is measured
to 0.01 mm Hg. Although the temperature and humidity are tightly
measured and controlled, the design of the air handling system
allows for minimal air velocity, so air currents are kept to a
minimum.
QuickLINKS:
> State-of-the-Art Equipment
> Unmatched Standards
> Highly Trained Personnel and Proven Calibration Procedures
> Accreditation
> Additional Laboratories and Calibration Systems
> Calibration Devices - Alphabetical List
> Calibration Devices Listed by Service
 State-of-the-Art Equipment
All mass comparators
used in Troemner’s Mass Calibration
Laboratories are state-of-the-art with the highest precision
possible. Troemner can measure as precisely as 0.0001 mg. Each
comparator rests on a marble table to reduce effects from vibration
and has its own temperature probe mounted within the weighing
chamber to measure the temperature at the time of calibration.
The comparators are interfaced to a host computer outside the
laboratory for processing calibration data. Troemner’s custom
software programs ensure the accuracy of the data collection and
calculation process. Troemner’s staff of metrologists and
calibrators is equipped with mass standards directly traceable
to NIST.
Troemner’s
precision weights are sampled regularly throughout the manufacturing
process to determine the magnetic properties of the material.
Stainless steel is tested for magnetic permeability and for
magnetic susceptibility. Once Troemner’s two-piece weights
are machined and polished, they are checked using a Gaussmeter
prior to the calibration. Troemner’s stainless steel one-piece
weights are all individually tested for magnetic susceptibility
using a state-of-the-art susceptometer. Troemner’s susceptometer
procedure is based on Dr. Richard Davis’s paper, "Determining
the Magnetic Properties of 1 kg Mass Standards." Troemner
has completed an interlaboratory comparison with several internationally
recognized metrology organizations to determine the effectiveness
of the susceptometer.
Unmatched Standards
Troemner’s traceability back to nationally recognized standards is guaranteed.
Direct traceability to NIST is achieved and maintained through
the use of several standards that are not only returned to NIST
on a regular schedule, but also are intercompared in our laboratories
to monitor their stability.
Highly Trained Personnel and Proven Calibration Procedures
World-class
metrology facilities and state-of-the-art calibration equipment
are only as good as the people who manage the measurement process.
Troemner has an excellent staff of certified metrologists and
NIST trained calibrators who adhere to strictly established metrology
practices in order to provide low statistical uncertainties second
only to NIST. Our weighing instruments and mass standards are
continually maintained according to the NIST
Mass Measurement Assurance Program (MMAP) procedures and to
ISO 9001 and ISO/IEC
17025 guidelines. Troemner’s procedures utilize multiple
standards during a calibration to assure accuracy of the process
and to validate the standards. If a measurement does not pass
statistical tests calculated during each calibration, then the
measurements are repeated and investigation is initiated to find
the root cause of the failure.
Accreditation
Troemner’s
focus is to achieve the highest levels of accreditations for
weights, mass standards and calibration services. Third party
accreditations by internationally recognized organizations provide
critical, regularly scheduled and unbiased assessments of Troemner’s
quality programs and technical capabilities. Accreditations
assure our customers that Troemner meets and maintains the most
rigorous testing and manufacturing standards. Since 1995, both
NVLAP
and UKAS have
accredited Troemner’s Mass Calibration
Laboratories. Troemner offers either NVLAP or UKAS calibration
for precision weights. Troemner
can also provide you with NVLAP Magnetic
Susceptibility Determination Calibration and NVLAP
Density Determination Calibration for your one-piece precision
weights.
The combination
of a highly trained staff, controlled physical conditions and
precise equipment enable Troemner’s Mass Calibration Laboratories
to produce mass measurements with very small uncertainties.
Traceability Chart for Troemner Weights
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