Mass metrology

We measure all sorts of things every day, from potatoes on sale at the greengrocer’s to the ingredients for medication. Accurate measurements of mass are important for safety, health and cost reasons.

Introduction

Mass

We measure all sorts of things every day, from potatoes on sale at the greengrocer’s to the ingredients for medication. Extreme precision is required for the latter, because an excess of as little as 1 mg (0.001 grams) of a particular substance in a drug could already be lethal. The detection of illicit drug use requires even greater accuracy. In that case, our measurements are in nanograms per litre (0.000 000 001 g/L).

But mass measurements are not restricted to small quantities. In ports, ships unload large quantities of bulk cargo, which is often charged by weight. Time is money, and measurements must take place during unloading on conveyor belts, making accuracy a complex matter. It goes without saying that accurate measurement of mass is important for safety, health and cost reasons.

VSL and mass

VSL manages the primary standard for mass and we provide various mass metrology services to clients including weighing scale producers and calibration laboratories.

Consultancy

We support and advise manufacturers and end users with regard to questions, enabling them to improve measurement and inspection methods to optimise the quality of their processes and products.

Would you like to know more about our services?

Our experts are happy to help.

Jaïr Blom
Sales Engineer

Custom services

Custom mass metrology

Our in-depth knowledge of measurement and the interpretation of measurement data enables us to provide the following services:

    • Guidance in setting up and accrediting quality systems
    • Guidence of the setup of your calibration laboratory, for example calibrating your measurement standards to E0 class
    • Develop a calibration plan of your measurement standards
    • Advice for interpretations of various (measurement) standards
    • Validation of measurement software

Every situation is unique. Any questions? Don’t hesitate to contact us.

Calibration

Mass calibration services

Mass measurements play an important role in trade, industry and process control. Analytical laboratories also use mass measurements. VSL calibrates and adjusts weight sets from class M1 to class E1, where we can determine conventional mass, true mass and Newtonian mass. Calibration by VSL provides traceability and the highest accuracy in the Netherlands.

Our areas of expertise