Beta LaserMike is a major worldwide supplier of instrumentation for process industries. In 2003 they added to their portfolio with the acquisition of the Laserspeed non-contact length and speed measuring product line from TSI Inc.
Sales of the Laserspeed increased significantly and it proved to be a highly successful product line, however in certain countries in Europe there were obstacles to the acceptance of this very accurate and innovative product. For example in Germany any instrument sold for “Legal Metrology” had to have approval from the PTB. This approval was essential if the Laserspeed was to be sold as a replacement for local older-established approved technology. A similar situation existed in other major European markets.
Initially as part of the feasibility study, we contacted the length measuring expert at the PTB to confirm the process of gaining approval and to identify the possible costs involved. He brought to our attention the ‘new’ Measurement Instrument Directive that was due to come into force in Europe at the end of 2009. Using the MID to prove compliance had the benefits that we could do the work in English and we could choose a test house in the UK. The resulting approval would then be applicable across the whole of the European Union rather than specifically in Germany.
I had worked previously for Beta LaserMike in a technical and marketing role, and with previous experience working with the PTB on approval of a grain moisture meter and a working knowledge of German, I was well placed to take on this work.
We took a telephone briefing at the end of June 2006, and made contact with the PTB in early July. By August we had identified NWML Ltd. in Teddington,UK. as an appropriate test and certifying body. We discussed the requirements and the route to compliance with them and then produced a report and action plan based on UK legislation and the WELMEC guidance documents on the MID. This report and plan formed the basis of the management of the rest of the project and along with an engineering guidance document assisted the developers in the USA to complete the work needed to meet the applicable clauses in the MID.
Once the engineering work was completed by Beta LaserMike in the US, we took a prototype product to NWML Ltd and with them ran it through representative tests. As a result we were able to identify one key change to be made prior to submission for full compliance testing.
The product was tested successfully and Opus21 continued to support Beta LaserMike through the approval of their test processes, and of the European Test Facility. Beta LaserMike have gone on to achieve great success with the Laserspeed product in Germany and in the rest of the European market place.
8 January 2012