The UK’s Accreditation Service (UKAS) has expanded the scope of Atlas Copco’s UKAS calibration accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025:2017, which will enable the industrial tool manufacturer to provide calibrations for electrically powered and controlled torque devices from just 0.2Nm up to 2,000Nm – at its dedicated calibration facility in Wolverhampton and at customer manufacturing sites.
In 2022, Atlas Copco says it became the first and only organisation in the UK accredited to UKAS ISO/IEC 17025:2017, enabling it to provide on-site calibration for measuring both the torque, to BS EN 7882:2017, and, crucially, angle parameters to VDI/VDE2648-1, for torque transducers up to 1,400Nm and 360 degrees, respectively. Additionally, the company secured accreditation for the on-site calibration of torque wrenches to BS EN ISO 6789-2:2017, up to 1,500Nm.
The additional UKAS accreditation covers wide torque ranges for the full portfolio of Atlas Copco electric assembly tools and any other tightening tools that are electrically powered and electronically torque controlled. These include Micro Torque screwdrivers for low torque applications – such as electronics; cordless Tensor IxB assembly tools with integrated digital controllers for industrial assembly and vehicle production; and SRB HA smart battery nutrunners that provide traceable high torque bolt tightening, for critical applications in the energy sector.
Approval from UKAS to provide on-site calibration allows a customer’s electric tools to be calibrated by Atlas Copco at their location, as a flexible alternative to sending the tools to a laboratory. Providing a cost-efficient and more sustainable solution for unscheduled calibration, this approach saves on production downtime, packaging, and logistics, as well as the need for reserve tools. On-site measurement and traceability assurance is an essential asset for manufacturers, which supports the collective ambition to continuously improve quality and production efficiency by minimising the need for re-work.
The increased scope of the UKAS calibration accreditation also reflects Atlas Copco’s corporate strategy of ensuring that appropriate ISO standards are consistently met across all of the organisation’s global production locations and customer centres.
Nicolas Van Zyl, calibration manager at Atlas Copco UK, commented: “Calibration is a key component of Atlas Copco’s ‘Smart Integrated Assembly’ concept, ensuring the accuracy and process reliability of assembly tools. Providing UKAS accredited calibrations makes a real difference for manufacturers, allowing electric assembly tools to be quickly re-calibrated and put back to work on the production line straightaway.”
Will joined Fastener + Fixing Magazine in 2007 and over the last 12 years has experienced every facet of the fastener sector – interviewing key figures within the industry and visiting leading companies and exhibitions around the globe. Will manages the content strategy across all platforms and is the guardian for the high editorial standards that the brand is renowned.
