Test and measurement tools now accessible

From its headquarters in Everett, Washington, USA, Fluke played host to the first-ever Fluke Press Summit 2012. Over 80 journalist and editors from around the globe, including representatives from Canada, Brazil, United Kingdom and Australia (Westwick-Farrow Media), gathered for the educational insight into the operation and development of new technology at Fluke. Details of two of its latest products which will be released soon were revealed during the summit. The products were an affordable, easy-to-use infrared thermometer and a vibration meter which can be used for frontline screening.

The Fluke 62 Max and Max+ infrared thermometers are affordable, easy to use and run simply on a AA battery. They can be carried in a tool belt for use in troubleshooting applications and preventative and predictive maintenance. The non-contact tool is suitable for use on electrical equipment.

The 805 Vibration Meter is designed as a frontline screening device for detecting vibration problems as early as possible, ie, before they can potentially cost money and waste energy. The tool is used to detect anomalies and then a full diagnostic tool can be called into action.

According to Jeff Gust, Chief Corporate Metrologist for Fluke, there are a number of reasons why measurement is so important. The first is fair trade. Right back to when gold was traded, it was important for an ounce of gold to be measured correctly to ensure you are getting what you pay for. The same goes for any product traded on weight today. The second is safety - for example, the measurement of voltage needs to be accurate in order to keep employees safe. Third, legislation requirements - for example, homes in Europe need to achieve a certain energy performance standard and measurement accuracy needs to be ensured. Other reasons include interoperability within the global market, traceability of reference points and consistency/quality.

Temperature is second to time as the most frequently measured physical quantity. Fluke has incorporated infrared technology into its thermometers and has made them easier to use. By removing the barriers for use on this technology, a whole range of possible applications has opened up.

Infrared tools are increasingly being used for energy-efficiency applications such as improving building efficiency by detecting heat loss from around windows, doors and pipes. Thermal imaging tools can be used for energy audits, preventive and predictive maintenance, troubleshooting of many electromechanical problems, building inspections, process monitoring and analysis.

Presenting at the summit, Paul Studebaker, Editor-in-chief Sustainable Plant, said: ”Energy efficiency is the entry level drug to sustainability.” The Fluke infrared tools provide measurement information that can detect air leaks, moisture and gas leaks. They can be used for detecting problems and then monitoring the effectiveness of energy-efficiency solutions.

Kevin Gobble from Habitat from Humanity has spent over 18 years in residential construction and has consulted with several sustainability building programs on ways to develop their own best practices. One of the keynote speakers at the event, he sees the future of energy efficiency in homes will be provided by a super-insulated shell with higher R value and less width. He also sees geothermal making a lot of sense by using earth as the heater.

Taking a tour of the Fluke museum, you could see how technology has come a long way since the day when John Fluke Senior, ‘Jim’, founded the company back in 1948. Fluke’s first handheld multimeter was introduced in 1977 and its products continue to become smaller; however, the company laughs and says they still need to be large enough to include all the product’s certifications.

Every new product released by Fluke goes through a rigorous process of testing for safety and durability, starting with customers in the field and retested with the customer in the field. When products are unveiled they are tested well beyond the safety and durability standards. The company says its Net Promotes Score (NPS) rating of customer satisfaction is in league with companies such as Amazon, Apple and Harley Davidson. That level of trust is all important to Fluke, as the customer must trust the integrity of the products.