The SPEKTRA LABS Network
Your reliable partner for comprehensive solutions for sensors and measuring equipment
Your measuring equipment must function precisely - that's what we're here for. SPEKTRA LABS offers fast, accredited testing and calibration services with clear processes and reliable results. As part of SPEKTRA Schwingungstechnik und Akustik GmbH, we combine experience and innovation to offer you the best solution worldwide.
Precision through experience
On this basis, SPEKTRA LABS was founded to provide customers worldwide with access to precise and efficient testing and calibration services for sensors and measuring equipment.
What is SPEKTRA LABS?
SPEKTRA LABS is your brand for excellence. With an international network of laboratories in Europe and the USA, we offer a wide range of testing and calibration services for dynamic measurement parameters - including vibration, shock, sound level as well as tilt and rotation rate.
Our experts ensure precise calibrations, sound testing and reliable evaluation of measurement results. With technological know-how and individual advice - for measurable results that impress.
Precision that connects - Our vision
Services for sensors and measuring equipment should be available wherever they are needed. With a growing network of accredited locations, we create regional proximity and ensure international standards. Our laboratories are DAkkS (Germany) and A2LA/ILAC (USA) certified and equipped with technologies that are also used in national metrology institutes. This enables companies to have their measuring equipment tested and calibrated efficiently, directly on site.
From our laboratories into your hands.
High-performance products from SPEKTRA.
From economical mobile systems and customized all-in-one solutions to complete laboratory equipment - including exciters, power amplifiers and special accessories. Developed and manufactured in Germany, used worldwide for testing, measurement and calibration tasks.
Customers around the globe appreciate the quality and precision of SPEKTRA.
Our network - precision always close to you
With locations in Dresden (Germany) and San Juan Capistrano (USA), SPEKTRA LABS covers the needs of customers in Europe and North America. The central location of the headquarters in Europe offers ideal conditions for short distances and fast processing, while our US location provides companies in North America with direct access to our services. This allows you to minimize effort and logistics and focus on your core tasks.
SPEKTRA LABS USA
SPEKTRA LABS San Juan Capistrano offers state-of-the-art calibration services for vibration, shock and acoustic measurements. The focus is always on precision and the highest standards.
SPEKTRA LABS Germany
SPEKTRA LABS Dresden develops high-precision technologies as well as calibration and testing solutions. Here, over 30 years of experience meet state-of-the-art processes - for results that set standards worldwide.
FAQ
General questions
Calibration involves measuring the values produced by the device under test (DUT) under certain specified conditions.
A distinction is made between secondary calibration, in which the measured values are compared with reference standards, and primary calibration, in which the measured variable is traced back to a natural constant or other physical measured variables.
Unfortunately, these terms are often confused in practice.
Calibration is the process of comparing an instrument to a standard using a well-documented procedure. Any deviations found are then documented.
Adjustment involves adjusting the instrument. This may be necessary if the deviation is too large or if it does not meet the manufacturer's specifications.
Calibration of measuring instruments is essential for several reasons, especially in areas where accuracy and reliability are critical, such as healthcare, manufacturing and scientific research. The main reasons for calibration are:
- ensuring accuracy and reliability
- improving safety
- complying with national/international standards
- reducing costs (e.g., by avoiding repairs or downtime due to inaccurate measurements)
- improving quality assurance
Calibration can be performed by various bodies – official calibration laboratories, in-house calibration departments, test equipment manufacturers and qualified technicians. However, for many industries and applications, there are standards that must be followed, such as ISO/IEC 17025 which ensures certain quality levels are met, such as traceability of the calibration, competence of the laboratory, and comparability of calibration results. For critical measurements and to comply with industry-specific regulations, instrument calibration by an accredited calibration laboratory is often required.
For formal traceability and international recognition, we recommend an accredited calibration laboratory such as SPEKTRA in Dresden or one of our partner laboratories (SPEKTRA Labs).
The main difference between a calibration protocol and a calibration certificate is their meaning, content and recognition. To put it simply, a DAkkS-accredited calibration certificate offers higher quality and reliability than a factory calibration certificate and that a DAkkS-accredited calibration is more comprehensive, offers formal traceability and international recognition, whereas a factory calibration is less complex and tends to be used in-house.
A calibration protocol (factory calibration) is:
- An internal document prepared by a company/laboratory without accreditation by the German Accreditation Service (DAkkS)
- Less comprehensive and detailed than a calibration certificate
- Not necessarily traceable to national standards
- Based on the (voluntary) commitment of the issuing laboratory
- Not internationally recognized without additional verification
- Generally, it considers only hysteresis and determines the deviation
- Results can usually be used only within the company or for less critical measurements
- Cheaper and faster to perform, but mainly suitable for applications that do not require externally recognized standards.
DAkkS-accredited calibration (calibration certificate):
- Meets the requirements of DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025
- Official document of a DAkkS-accredited laboratory
- Internationally recognized without further proof
- Provides higher accuracy and traceability to national and international standards
- Contains detailed information on measurement uncertainties
- Meets the highest requirements in quality audits
- Required for all applications where legal or normative traceability is required
- Mostly selected for safety-critical and quality-relevant measurement equipment
No, you do not have to send your devices to the manufacturer for calibration. It is (as the name implies) a vendor’s recommendation. You are free to choose any calibration provider.
The calibration interval determines how long an instrument can be used before it must be calibrated. It is the responsibility of the company, not the calibration laboratory, to determine this interval. Instruments that are used regularly should be calibrated every year.
Under certain conditions, e.g. additional stability monitoring by means of intermediate tests, the calibration interval can be extended to 2 years. The calibration interval can be determined based on drift and stability assumptions, or calibration intervals can be specified by application standards.
Whenever the use of an instrument has a direct impact on the primary function of the end product, it is recommended that the instrument be calibrated. This ensures that the output variable of the product can be specified through a traceability chain to the national standard.
If the quality of your products or research results are later questioned in the event of a complaint, the use of calibrated measuring devices can make it easier to provide evidence.
You may send in your devices to be calibrated in Germany, even if your company is not located or operating in the so-called DACH area (Germany, Austria, Switzerland).
German calibration laboratories offer their services internationally and calibrations performed in Germany are accepted worldwide, especially when high accuracy and international recognition are required.
Determining the uncertainty of measurement for a calibration is a complex process that requires specialized knowledge and experience. In principle, it is possible to determine the uncertainty of measurement yourself. However, there are some important prerequisites to consider:
- expertise: You will need a thorough knowledge of metrology, statistics and the relevant standards.
- methodology: The determination is usually done according to the international guide GUM (Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement).
We recommend the following procedure for determination:
- identify the influencing factors: Determine all factors that can affect the measurement
- create a measurement uncertainty budget: Quantify the influencing factors and estimate their impact on the calibration
- statistical analysis: Apply statistical methods to calculate the standard measurement uncertainty
- calculate the expanded measurement uncertainty: Multiplication of the standard uncertainty by a coverage factor (usually k=2 for a probability of about 95 %)
Challenges
- Complexity: Correct determination requires a deep understanding of all influencing factors and their interactions.
- Accreditation: For officially recognized calibrations, the measurement uncertainty must be determined and verified by accredited laboratories.
For most users, it is advisable to leave the determination of measurement uncertainty to accredited calibration laboratories. These have specialized personnel, validated procedures, traceable standards and quality management systems.
Summary: If you still want to determine the measurement uncertainty yourself, you should familiarize yourself intensively with the relevant standards and guidelines and, if necessary, take advantage of training or consulting, such as the seminars offered by SPEKTRA.
- German calibration laboratories have an excellent reputation for accuracy and reliability.
- International recognition: Calibrations accredited by the German Accreditation Service (DAkkS) are recognized worldwide due to multilateral agreements.
- High quality standards: German laboratories are subject to strict quality controls and regular audits, consistently ensuring high quality calibrations.
- Professional competence: Like SPEKTRA, other German calibration laboratories have decades of experience and highly qualified personnel.
- It should be noted that special customs formalities and import duties may apply when shipping measuring instruments internationally.
Calibration services at SPEKTRA
No. We are a manufacturer-independent accredited calibration laboratory and therefore offer calibration services for devices of different manufacturers.
SPEKTRA is accredited for various measurands, e.g. vibration, acoustics, shock, audiometry, dynamic pressure, impact energy, dynamic force, rotation rate, inclination, velocity etc.
Please refer to our accreditation certificate for the complete scope. Our service finder will help you to select and request the appropriate calibration.
At the moment, we offer calibration certificates in German and English. However, other languages may be possible on demand.
- Option 1: You have access to the SPEKTRA Cloud: Log in to the cloud via your customer account to retrieve the current certificates. If the certificates you need are not available, please contact us. We will be happy to help you.
- Option 2: You do not have access to the SPEKTRA cloud: Please contact us. We will be happy to email you the calibration certificates or set up cloud access for you.
We offer a wide range of on-site calibrations (VOK) upon request. Alternatively, we would be happy to advise you on whether a mobile test system or your own calibration system would be worthwhile for you.
The measurement uncertainties according to GUM (Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement) for our calibration services can be found in our accreditation certificate D-K-15183-01-00.
Currently, we do not offer a reminder service or test equipment management. For larger quantities of test equipment, we recommend that you sign a framework agreement with us. Our experts can then make recommendations on how to manage your test equipment and minimize downtime.
Yes, on request, we can offer express calibration within 48 or 72 hours.
Our colleagues in the internal sales department are available
Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
at +49 351 400 240 or by e-mail at sales@spektra-dresden.com
Service contract
- Dispatch of the measuring instruments by our customers to our company headquarters
- Incoming goods inspection at SPEKTRA (the consignment is checked for completeness, if anomalies are found, the customer is consulted)
- Order confirmation (preparation of the accompanying documents with the expected delivery date, consultation with the customer in the event of deviations)
- Calibration and preparation of calibration certificates in the DAkkS-accredited calibration laboratory
- Return shipment via FCA Dresden in the customer's original packaging; shipment with SPEKTRA's own forwarding agent or according to the customer's specifications
- Invoicing after return shipment of the measuring instruments
Our lead time is typically 5-7 business days from receipt of order. For larger quantities of test equipment and special calibrations (e.g. laser vibrometers, primary calibrations, audiometric instruments), the lead time may vary.
Express calibration within 48 hours or 72 hours after receipt of test equipment and acclimatization is available upon request for an additional fee.
Shipping from the customer to SPEKTRA is organized and ordered by the customer. We use the transport packaging provided for the return of the calibration goods. SPEKTRA will only repackage the equipment if it is obvious that it will be damaged if returned in its original packaging. The cost of packaging is included in the calibration price.
Shipping is ex works with a carrier of the customer's choice or with a carrier of our choice. In this case we pass the shipping costs on to our customers. Our standard shipping method is overnight express, so that our customers can get their test equipment back as quickly as possible.
Please always pack your sensitive test equipment securely in its own packaging. This will also be used for the return shipment. Sensitive test items must be packed with sufficient padding to withstand minor impacts during transportation.
Specific user questions
Of course you can calibrate individual elements of a measurement chain. However, these results cannot be fully used to make statements about the entire measurement chain, because the influences between the individual elements of the chain cannot be taken into account. Therefore, we recommend that you always calibrate the entire measurement chain.
Please send all cables and accessories. We need all elements of the measurement chain to give you a qualified statement about your DUT.
In the manufacturer’s datasheet you will find the recommended measurement range of your device under test. Within this range, you are free to limit your application range of the DUT. We recommend calibrating your device in the range of use because a device under test should always be calibrated according to its application.
Each calibration provides both a measured value and an associated measurement uncertainty, which is documented in the calibration certificate. The conformity assessment of a calibration must also take this measurement uncertainty into account in addition to the permissible tolerance. This results in borderline cases in which the measured value lies within the specified tolerance interval, but could also lie outside it with a certain probability if the measurement uncertainty is considered.
If a piece of test equipment does not receive a declaration of conformity, this does not automatically mean that it is defective. The tolerance intervals specified by the manufacturers often do not take measurement uncertainties into account.
The standard DIN EN ISO 14253-1:2018 allows the calibration laboratory to evaluate the measurement results according to the tolerance limits of the calibrations specified by the customer. In this case, conformance must be checked against this customer specification. In addition, the customer can choose between different decision rules.
Details on the determination of measurement uncertainty, applicable standards and decision rules can be found in our white paper Conformity Assessment.
This means that the DUT cannot be calibrated according to current processes and standards and is thus declared “unable to be calibrated“. This can be due to different reasons, such as:
- Physical damage (Scratches, bent parts, visible damage to the display)
- Functional damage (No meaningful measured values, incorrect display ...)
- Measuring problems (Measurement deviation outside the tolerance, unstable measured values)
- Wear and tear
- Contamination
- Missing documentation
The consequence for the user is that the measuring device may no longer be used for quality-relevant measurements and must be repaired, adjusted or replaced before further use. A new calibration can then be attempted.
For warranty reasons, SPEKTRA is not allowed to carry out any repairs on your device. The manufacturer is usually the right contact for this.
If repairs are necessary, we will contact you and you will decide what to do. Through cooperation with some manufacturers, we can sometimes offer to send the DUTs directly to the manufacturer instead of to you. This reduces downtime and saves money.
Yes, we carry out so-called environmental tests in our laboratory.
Quality-conscious companies include environmental tests in the overall cost optimization of a product as early as the planning phase of product development. Automotive suppliers, manufacturers of electronic components, sensors and measuring and testing equipment use our expertise and our wide range of services.
Our portfolio includes:
- mechanical tests (vibration test, sine/resonance search, noise, shock tests)
- climatic tests (cold, dry and humid heat, temperature shock)
- combined mechanical/climatic tests
- monitoring/recording of digital and analog signals
Quality / Certifications / Accreditation
The quality management at SPEKTRA is certified according to ISO 9001. This certification is recognized worldwide as the standard for the highest quality assurance.
SPEKTRA is authorized to issue calibration certificates according to DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025 for the accredited quantities acceleration and acoustics.
We are a certified conformity assessment body for the conformity assessment of sound level meters and sound level calibrators. We are accredited according to DIN EN ISO/IEC 17065 by the German Accreditation Body.
Our quality management system has also been certified according to DIN EN ISO 9001 since 2013.
Further certifications can be found on the company's website: Certificates and Quality Policy
National calibration certificates such as COFRAC (France) or A2LA (USA) are generally also recognized in Germany due to international agreements.
These multilateral agreements ensure mutual recognition because the calibration processes follow the same international standards, in particular ISO/IEC 17025 which defines the requirements for testing and calibration laboratories.
Accreditation is not required if you only want to perform an internal check, also known as factory calibration.
Such a calibration record is:
- less complex and detailed than a calibration certificate
- not necessarily traceable to national standards
- based on voluntary commitment of the issuing laboratory
- not internationally recognized without further supporting documentation
These results are typically used only internally or for non-critical testing. Becoming accredited or working with an accredited partner is recommended if you need higher quality or reliability, which is required for many applications and quality management specifications.
Note: We have provided further specific FAQs for the topics OxTS devices and SPEKTRA seminars for you.
Precision starts here. Contact us for comprehensive calibration and testing services!