ASC Wind Energy News - Accreditation from the German Accreditation Centre (DAkkS) and new products in The Windfair Newsletter

Pfaffenhofen, 13 June 2013 – The German Accreditation Centre (DAkkS) has accredited the calibration laboratory of Advanced Sensors Calibration (ASC), one of the world's leading manufacturers of acceleration and angular rate sensors and IMUs (inertial measurement units), under the standard DIN EN ISO 17025:2005. By issuing this accreditation, the German Accreditation Centre confirms the company's high technical competence in the calibration of accelerometers. ASC has also developed two new IMUs: the units ASC IMU 6.x and ASC IMU 6C.x are characterised by their robust workmanship and their high shock resistance. They can be used, for example, in motor vehicle development, in rail vehicles or in drilling platforms.

The German Accreditation Centre certified that ASC has a high level of expertise in calibrating the mechanical measurement of acceleration in compliance with DIN EN ISO 17025:2005. The standard is regarded as a world-wide quality standard for testing and calibration laboratories, and it ensures both the technical expertise of the staff and also an internal quality management system within the laboratories. The accreditation process also checks the testing methods, the systems used and the preparation of calibration protocols.

In its calibration laboratory, ASC offers pendulum and sinus calibration and uses a Spektra calibration machine to check the measuring accuracy of its customers' accelerometers. Two shakers with integrated reference sensors are available for low frequency calibration in the range 0.2 to 150 Hertz and medium frequency calibration from 10 to 10,000 Hertz. Pendulum calibration with an impact force of up to 2000 m/s² is particularly suitable for sensors which are used for crash tests in the automotive industry.

“We are very pleased about the confirmation by the German Accreditation Centre”, says Peter Bay, Managing Director at ASC. “It means that we can now present our many years of experience and our expertise in this field. We use our calibration service to ensure the measuring accuracy of our own sensors, and also the accuracy of sensors from other manufacturers.”

Product range extended: ASC IMU 6.x and 6C.x

ASC has extended its range of products by adding two new highly shock-resistant and low-noise IMUs, based on MEMS technology, which can also compensate for high temperatures. The two new units, the ASC IMU 6.x and ASC IMU 6C.x, each consist of three accelerometers and three angular rate sensors and measure with a total of six axes.

Capacitative accelerometers are integrated into the ASC IMU 6.x. They work with a greatly reinforced output signal which means that this IMU is also ideally equipped for very small measuring ranges. They can be used in applications such as stabilising oil platforms, rail transport testing and in the automotive and agricultural sector. The ASC IMU 6C.x, on the other hand, uses piezoresistive sensors with a bridge output signal. This makes it particularly suitable for high measuring ranges, for example for crash tests in automotive development projects.

With their lightweight and compact form, both IMUs are low in weight and robustly constructed. This makes them very stable, so that they can withstand even heavy impact without any problems. Development work on the IMUs is being permanently continued. Currently, for example, work is in progress on digital signal outputs. The units are also optionally available in protection class IP67, which makes them dust-proof and splash-proof.

Depending on the field of application, the ASC specialists adapt the cables and connectors individually to meet the requirements of their customers.

About ASC

ASC (Advanced Sensors Calibration) GmbH has its headquarters in the Bavarian town of Pfaffenhofen and is one of the world's leading manufacturers of capacitative and piezoresistive accelerometers, angular rate sensors and IMUs (inertial measurement units). In addition to standard sensors, ASC is particularly specialised in providing customised solutions which are exactly geared to the needs of the customer. They can be produced even in small production runs. ASC products are used in a wide range of industrial sectors such as automotive, rail vehicles, wind power, agriculture, air and space travel, geophysics, deep well drilling, tunnelling, automation and mechanical engineering. Leading global companies such as Audi, BMW, VW, Siemens Transportation Systems, Fendt, Wölfel, LMS and the German Aerospace Center (DLR) put their trust in ASC products.

The company offers supplementary services such as maintenance, repair and calibration both for its own products and for third party products. ASC is also the exclusive distributor of accelerometers from Honeywell, angular rate sensors (gyros) from Systron Donner Inertial, piezoelectric sensors and uninsulated piezoresistive sensors for in-dummy applications from Niell-Tech in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Further information can be found on the newly designed ASC website under www.asc-sensors.de.