UKAS Calibration Services
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MWS Accredited Laboratory Number 9617
MWS carries out UKAS calibration services to ensure your weighing equipment is tested and calibrated to national standards. The UKAS service we offer gives you the assurance that your equipment is operating at its optimum capability and accuracy is being delivered as required by your processes.
What’s included in UKAS service?
- UKAS Survey
- Each weighing scale or laboratory balance is cleaned and checked for correct functionality
- Label with traceability information
- As Found and Definitive Certificates in PDF format emailed or stored on online portal
- Any damage, faults or findings are reported on the standard service report
UKAS Survey
The survey should always be carried out and is done to ensure the customer gets the uncertainties based on the operation of the machine and clarifies any parameters or tolerances as well as ensuring we have the capability for the machine to be serviced (adjustment instructions etc).
UKAS Calibration
The MWS calibration team visits clients’ sites to carry out routine preventative maintenance and traceable calibration. MWS has ISO 17025 UKAS accredited weights, temperature gauges and barometers for assessment and recording of the room parameters prior to calibration.
All documentation is produced in electronic PDF format available from our Calipro system. This ensures clients can easily request or download their own certificates in the event of them being misplaced. Where requested, certificates are uploaded to the MWS online portal for easy retrieval.
We provide UKAS services across the UK from our two service centres located in County Durham and Leicestershire.
North East Regional Cover
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Midlands Areas Covered
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Prior to booking MWS to carry out your calibration of scales or balances, we will ask you whether you want the calibration to be traceable to ISO 9001 or ISO 17025 UKAS standards.
A lot of customers get confused by the myriad of options available to them, none more so than the options of UKAS or ISO 9001 traceability. We are available to give you free advice on what standard you need to be working to and then provide a quotation for this work.
The requirements for traceable calibration
The International Bureau of Weights and Measures state a calibration as the following, “the documented comparison of the measurement device to be calibrated against a traceable device”. In the real world this means the reference standard (in our case a weight) must have been calibrated to an even higher standard than the level being performed by an engineer.
The International Bureau of Weights and Measures is an intergovernmental organisation headquartered in Sèvres, France. The common abbreviation for the this organisation is BIPM.
Traceability of the weight calibrations must lead back to a national standard, ideally a calibration centre such as Tyneside Standards (who MWS use) or Norfolk Trading Standards who are both capable of high level weight calibrations.
The weights are tested and drift monitored over time to provide historical traceability back to the national standard.
Unless there is the traceability of the reference weight then the calibration certificate is void and worthless as the weight cannot be determined as being accurate and within the parameters required by the weights class.
The difference between UKAS calibration and ISO 9001?
UKAS calibration can be considered traceable just as ISO 9001:2017, however, the main difference between the two standards is that UKAS calibration procedures are carried out under an ISO/IEC 17025 quality system by a laboratory that has been audited and accredited by UKAS.
To become UKAS accredited, laboratories have to meet a very high level of requirements.
Due to the high level of the UKAS standard, there are a raft of areas that are audited against; these include employee training, procedures and the labs facilities. UKAS audits once a year to ensure these high levels are being upheld and surpassed.
If you require any further information on what calibration standard is suitable for you then please do not hesitate to contact a member of our service team who are experienced in UKAS work and can give you advice on what your options are.
Contact Us.
You can talk to us by filling the form with your details, or call us on +44 116 242 6910
FAQs
What is UKAS calibration and why does it matter?
UKAS calibration ensures your weighing equipment is tested and calibrated to national standards, giving you assurance that it’s operating at optimum capability and delivering the accuracy your processes demand. MWS holds UKAS Accredited Laboratory Number 9617.
What's included in an MWS UKAS calibration service?
Every visit includes a UKAS survey, a full clean and functionality check of the scale or balance, a traceability label, and As Found and Definitive Certificates supplied in PDF format. Any damage, faults, or findings are also noted on the standard service report.
What happens during a UKAS survey?
The survey establishes the uncertainties based on how your machine operates, clarifies the parameters and tolerances involved, and confirms we have the capability to service the equipment, including any adjustment instructions needed.
How does UKAS calibration differ from ISO 9001 traceable calibration?
Both can be considered traceable, but UKAS calibration is carried out under an ISO/IEC 17025 quality system by a laboratory that’s been independently audited and accredited by UKAS. Reaching UKAS accreditation means meeting very high standards across training, procedures, and lab facilities, and MWS is audited annually to make sure those standards are upheld.
What does traceable calibration actually mean?
It means the reference weight used to calibrate your equipment has itself been calibrated to an even higher standard, with a documented trail leading back to a national standard. MWS uses UKAS-accredited reference weights, which are tested and drift-monitored over time via approved calibration centres, so the traceability behind every certificate is genuine.
Why would my business need UKAS calibration rather than standard traceable calibration?
It often comes down to industry, quality requirements, or customer demand. Safety-critical sectors like aerospace, automotive, oil and gas, and pharmaceuticals typically require the extra rigour of UKAS. External auditors may also request it, and some customers require their suppliers to hold UKAS-traceable certification as part of their own compliance chain.
Which areas does MWS provide UKAS calibration services to?
MWS covers the UK nationwide from two service centres, in County Durham and Leicestershire. Our Northeast team regularly covers Newcastle, Durham, Middlesbrough, Teesside, Leeds, and North Yorkshire, while our Midlands team covers Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire, Derbyshire, and the wider West Midlands.
Where can I access my UKAS calibration certificates?
All documentation is produced electronically via our Calipro system, so you can easily request or download certificates if they’re ever misplaced. Where requested, certificates can also be uploaded to the MWS online client portal for quick retrieval.
I'm not sure whether I need UKAS or ISO 9001 calibration, can MWS help?
Definitely! A lot of customers find the options confusing. Our service team is happy to give free advice on which standard suits your equipment and industry, then provide a straightforward quotation for the work.
Is MWS accredited to carry out UKAS calibration?
Absolutely. MWS is ISO 17025 UKAS accredited (Laboratory Number 9617), reflecting our commitment to the highest standards in calibration and service. Get in touch with our team for further advice or to arrange a visit.