Atlas Copco Industrial Technique is pleased to announce the recent extension of its SANAS accredited Torque Laboratory’s scope and capabilities.

“We now have ability to do SANAS accredited hydraulic calibrations on torque wrenches up to 45 000Nm,” confirms Calibration Laboratory Manager, Nicolas Van Zyl, adding that Atlas Copco is currently the only laboratory in South Africa that can perform these types of SANAS accredited calibrations. “We also have the ability to do non-accredited calibrations up to 75 000Nm.”

Further improvements to the laboratory’s accredited calibration capabilities include pneumatic torque wrench calibrations up to 2 000Nm as well as electronic displays for torque measuring equipment.

“In addition to boosting our calibration and laboratory measurement capabilities, Deputy Laboratory Manager, Johan Kok, now takes up the responsibility as Technical Signatory alongside Van Zyl for the results that are issued on the certificate,” continues Van Zyl. “We have also appointed more personnel to increase our capacity for expansion. This will also ensure that we maintain our reputation to offer efficient customer service and quick turnaround times to our customers.”

The industry norm for turnaround times on equipment calibration is anything between seven to ten days. Fully aware that maximum uptime is fundamental to customer and end-user productivity and profitability, Van Zyl and his team are committed to delivering a two-day turnaround time on their calibration services giving customers a competitive advantage.

These latest enhancements follow close on the heels of the laboratory achieving SANAS accreditation to the ISO/IEC 17025 standard only a few months ago. “We are extremely proud of our SANAS accreditation as it benefits our customers throughout their production process and management of equipment lifecycle and improve uptime, with the end result of quality products and services,” says Van Zyl.

Furthermore, the SANAS accreditation allows the laboratory to calibrate torque equipment in-house as well as on-site at customer premises across South Africa and the SADEC region. “In addition to Atlas Copco products accreditation also enables us to calibrate external brands,” adds Van Zyl.

Van Zyl, who was responsible for the establishment of the Torque Laboratory in 2016 at the company’s headquarters in Jet Park, Johannesburg, explains that the objective of the laboratory is to support its product solutions from a calibration point of view. “The latest extension of our scope of services adds greater value in our portfolio offering to customers and bolsters our position as a leading innovator and service provider in our field.”

Perfectly aligned with Industrial Technique’s strategy to develop and extend its product offering particularly in the motor vehicle industry, the Torque Laboratory meets the growing demand for more advanced tools and systems with an emphasis on service, know-how and training. It also answers an increasing call for shifts in manufacturing methods and higher requirements in quality assurance and traceability.

Industrial Technique is a business area within the Atlas Copco group that provides industrial power tools, assembly systems, quality assurance products, software and service to the automotive and general industry sectors including electronics, manufacturing, shipyards, foundries, and machine tool builders.

The range comprises approximately 4000 electric and pneumatic tools that include air-line accessories; air motors hoists and trolleys; grinders; sanders; electric and pneumatic screwdrivers and nut-runners; battery tools; pulse tools; impact and torque wrenches; drills and chipping hammers.

The Torque Laboratory’s complete ‘scope of accreditation’ can be viewed on the SANAS website under lab number 870.