The history of calibration services begins with the standardization of weights and measurements of length and distance. Before standardization, measurements varied widely from place to place, and often changed from person to person. For example, one of the first measures of distance in the world was the cubit. People measured cubits as the distance from a person’s shoulder to the tip of their nose. Since no two people are the exact same size, using this system, no two measurements could be exact.

Electronic technology has served to dramatically improve the ability of calibration services. Most sensors and transducers can now provide more accurate measurements than ever before. These tools are also more versatile than they were in the past, and some are even capable of measuring different types of instruments in multiple locations for comparison. This high degree of precision was never possible when workers used manual calibration methods. Advances in electronic technology have made it possible to gauge exact numbers on high tech equipment to maintain high quality performance.

To find the right one for you, start by writing out a list of your requirements. Make sure to include not only the details of your instrument or machine, but also requirements like your budget and whether you can deliver your instrument to the service provider, or you need the service provider to come to you (on-site calibration). Once you have jotted down your requirements, start browsing the calibration companies we have listed on this page. Pick out three or four service providers in which you are most interested, then reach out to their respective customer service lines. Discuss your application at length which each of them. Make sure to write down notes or request a written quote. Once you have done this, compare and contrast your conversations. Determine which service provider will best serve you and go with them.

Throughout the th century, calibration services proved themselves essential to a number of industries, especially the oil and gas industry. In the s, concerned parties formed two of the most powerful and important standards organizations, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Those who carry out calibration services rely heavily on the literature put out by IEC and ISO to keep them informed on up-to-date standards of alignment and metrology, or the science of measurement.

Examples of the many instruments that experts can calibrate include load cells, lab scales, data acquisition sensors, temperature sensors, laboratory chemical sensors, strain gauges, automotive sensors (light sensors, temperature sensors, mass airflow sensors, wheel speed sensors, fuel level sensors, airbag sensors, etc.), proximity sensors, optical gauges (fiber optic sensors, LED sensors, photon counters scintillators, photo switches, etc.), temperature gauges (thermometers, calorimeters, thermocouples, bimetal strips, pyrometers, flame detectors, etc.), navigational instruments, Geiger counters, and more.