Industry
Electrical, dimensional and environmental test instruments for component, powertrain and EV development and production.
Automotive instrumentation divides into two duties that are specified quite differently. The first is development and validation testing, where the instrument has to capture a fast-changing signal accurately and record it, and where the result may be analysed for weeks afterwards. The second is production and end-of-line testing, where the same measurement is made thousands of times with a clear pass or fail outcome and a cycle time that cannot slip.
The distinction changes the priorities completely. A test bench rewards bandwidth, channel count and synchronisation. A production station rewards repeatability, cycle time and a fixture that presents the part identically every time. An instrument chosen for one duty rarely performs well in the other, and a specification that does not say which applies usually ends up over-engineered for production or under-specified for development.
The other constant here is that the requirement usually arrives from outside the plant. Torque values, pressures, flow rates, electrical parameters and dimensional tolerances all come with a definition attached - a drawing, a customer standard or an internal test procedure - so the work is to satisfy that definition rather than to choose the best instrument by preference.
Engine, transmission and electric drive test cells. Torque, speed, temperature, pressure and flow are captured together and have to be synchronised, and the channel count is usually high.
Pumps, injectors, valves, heat exchangers and batteries tested individually. Flow, pressure and temperature dominate, frequently at fast rates and with a requirement to record the transient rather than the steady state.
Assembly stations and end-of-line checks. Pressure decay, flow, torque, electrical continuity and dimensional verification, each against a defined limit within a short cycle time.
On-vehicle and rig measurement of electrical parameters, temperature, vibration and position. Portable equipment is often used, and the environment is far less controlled than a laboratory.
| Measurement | What is measured in this sector | Instruments commonly specified |
|---|---|---|
| Pressure | Fuel, oil, hydraulic, brake, inlet and exhaust pressure, static and fluctuating | Transmitters and transducers selected for the frequency response the measurement requires, with the connection and sealing arranged so that the sensor does not alter the system it is measuring |
| Flow | Fuel, coolant, oil and air flow, including fast transients and very small quantities | Coriolis and positive-displacement meters for fuel, electromagnetic and ultrasonic meters for coolant, and thermal or differential-pressure measurement for air |
| Temperature | Coolant, oil, exhaust, surface and component temperature, on the bench and in the vehicle | RTDs and thermocouples, with the choice driven by response time and by whether the sensor has to be embedded in the component being measured |
| Torque, speed and position | Shaft torque, rotational speed, angle and linear position | Torque transducers in the shaft line, encoders and speed sensors, and displacement or position transducers for actuator measurement |
| Electrical | Voltage, current, power, insulation resistance and signal integrity in conventional and electrified systems | Power analysers and meters rated for the waveform, insulation testers for the high-voltage system, and acquisition channels with the bandwidth the switching demands |
| Dimensional and inspection | Component geometry, surface finish, coating and assembly verification | Gauges, indicators and coordinate measurement for development, and purpose-built fixtured gauges for production where the cycle time governs |
Whether the measurement is for development or for production should be stated at the outset; it changes the required bandwidth, the fixture and the record more than the range does.
Frequently asked
The questions that come up in this sector before an order. If yours is not here, send it with the duty and we will answer it alongside the quotation.
Development work needs bandwidth, channel count and synchronisation so that a transient can be captured and analysed afterwards. Production work needs repeatability, a short cycle time and a fixture that presents the part identically every time, because the result is a pass or fail decision made thousands of times. The same measurement appears in both, but an instrument chosen for one duty is rarely the right choice for the other.
Because a sensor slower than the phenomenon produces a smooth, plausible and incorrect record. A pressure spike that is averaged away, or a temperature step that appears gradual, leads to a conclusion about the system that is really a conclusion about the instrument. Where the quantity fluctuates, the frequency content of the measurement belongs in the specification alongside the range.
By measuring mass rather than volume, because fuel density changes with temperature and the quantity that matters for consumption is mass. Coriolis meters are used where a continuous figure is needed and positive-displacement meters where a volumetric or batch measurement is acceptable. Small quantities and fast transients are the difficult cases, and both belong in the enquiry along with the flow range.
A definition of the leak rate that counts as a failure, the internal volume of the part, the test pressure and the time available. Pressure decay testing is sensitive to temperature change during the test and to the volume being tested, so all of those belong in the requirement rather than being settled afterwards. The fixture matters as much as the instrument, because the test only measures the enclosed volume it is given.
They need instruments rated for the voltage and the measurement category involved, and the measurement approach has to be safe to carry out at all. Insulation testing and power measurement on an electrified powertrain are not the same duties as their low-voltage equivalents, and the instrument class follows from that. State the system voltage and what has to be measured before any instrument is selected.
Whether the measurement is for development or production, the standard or drawing that defines it, the range and the dynamic content of the signal, the synchronisation and record requirements, the fixture arrangement if the check is repeated, and the environment at the measurement point. Those answers settle the specification, and the remaining questions are commercial.
Published products
Thermocouples
Spring-clamp thermocouple with a stainless steel M12×1.5 threaded head and a braided high-temperature shielded lead, for moulds, extruders, heating bands and other points that need a probe pressed into place.
Digital Calipers
Digital vernier caliper in 150, 200 and 300 mm ranges with a 0.01 mm display, metric and inch switching, zero at any position, and an IP54 version for wet or dusty work.
Dial Indicators
Mechanical dial indicator and dial gauge for comparative measurement, in 0.01 mm and 0.001 mm graduations with dial diameters from 42 to 80 mm.
Micrometers
Outside micrometers in two grades: digital styles reading to 0.001 mm, and mechanical styles from 0-25 to 225-250 mm, both with carbide measuring faces and a ratchet stop.
4XC (13 models) · Laboratory Microscopes
Metallurgical microscope for reflected-light examination of metals and other opaque specimens, in inverted and upright stands with long working distance objectives, a trinocular camera port and optional image analysis software.
7110 (8 models) · Electrical Safety Testers
Compact programmable safety tester with 5 kV AC and 6 kV DC withstand voltage, insulation resistance to 9999 MΩ, five stored programs and PLC remote control.
7305 (3 models) · Electrical Safety Testers
Programmable ground bond tester with a regulated AC test current, settable resistance limits, self-zero lead correction and PLC remote control in three current classes.
7440 (4 models) · Electrical Safety Testers
Bench safety compliance analyser combining AC and DC withstand, insulation resistance and, on the top model, ground bond testing, with stored programs and a matrix scanner interface.
8205 (2 models) · Insulation Resistance Testers
Bench insulation tester with a 100 to 1000 V direct output, resistance measurement to 9999 MΩ, programmable rise and test times, a PLC remote interface and automatic discharge.
AMX-HM · PLC Systems
Programmable logic controllers with an integrated touch screen, in 4.3, 7 and 10 inch formats, combining discrete and analogue I/O, PT100 inputs, high-speed counting and relay outputs in one panel unit.
AS803F (5 models) · Light Meters
Digital lux meter covering 0 to 200,000 lx with a sensor head that rotates through 180 degrees, lux and foot-candle units, data hold, maximum and minimum capture and a separate ambient temperature reading.
AWA5636-0 (5 models) · Noise Meters
Class 2 digital sound level meters in five configurations, from a basic instantaneous reading instrument up to an integrating and statistical model with 8000 records of storage.
CH1201 (4 models) · LCR Meters
Bench turns counters for coils up to 80,000 turns, with automatic ranging, no calibration before a measurement, and DC resistance measurement on the two R models.
CH2711 (4 models) · Power Meters
Bench instrument combining a 150 W electronic load in four modes with a true root mean square power meter, on a 4.3 inch colour screen with a numeric keypad and USB data storage.
CH2801 (5 models) · Power Meters
Single-channel bench power meter with a 4.3 inch colour screen, true root mean square measurement, energy totals, and five models reaching 40 A or down to 0.05 mA, one with harmonic analysis.
CH6321A (5 models) · Electrical Test Equipment
Programmable DC electronic load with 150 V and 500 V inputs, 60 to 240 A, 600 to 1500 W, six load modes and battery, dynamic and OCP test functions.
CH8811+ (6 models) · Electrical Test Equipment
Six-model programmable DC load from 600 W to 1200 W, with 120 V or 360 V input, 60 A, six load modes, battery discharge with curve plotting and remote sense.
CXT2518-4 (5 models) · Electrical Test Equipment
Bench scanners that step a four-wire measuring circuit through 2 to 64 channels, applying per-channel limits, in ranges from 1 µΩ to 2 MΩ and at up to 40 readings per second.
CXT3513 · Electrical Test Equipment
Benchtop tester measuring the three winding resistances of a three-phase motor from 10 µΩ to 20 kΩ, calculating spread and unbalance for star or delta connection and sorting against limits.
DT9205A (3 models) · Digital Multimeters
Handheld digital multimeter with a 1999-count display and 32 ranges covering AC and DC voltage and current, resistance, capacitance, diodes and transistors, with continuity, overload protection and automatic switch-off.
eTM-152MF (5 models) · Electrical Test Equipment
Bench DC power supply in a narrow 80 mm case, with 15 to 150 V and 2 to 20 A models, four-digit voltage, current and power readout, and preset without shorting the output.
GH880 (2 models) · Surface Roughness Testers
Portable surface roughness tester reading Ra and Rz with up to 26 parameters, eight built-in standard editions and four interchangeable sensors for bores, grooves and curved surfaces.
HB-10N (6 models) · Material Testing Machines
Bench calibrator for torque wrenches from 1 to 5000 N·m, with a lever loading arm, height and length adjustment, peak hold and an RS232 link.
HDP-5 (4 models) · Material Testing Machines
Screw torque tester with a cable-connected detector head, for checking the torque of screws already tightened, with peak hold, averaging and stored readings.
HG-8 (2 models) · Temperature Recorders
Eight or sixteen channel thermocouple scanner with a 5 in touchscreen, a scan interval from one second to a day, live-circuit rating and MODBUS RTU communication.
HG2611D · LCR Meters
Bench leakage current tester for aluminium electrolytic capacitors, with a 0 to 500 V adjustable charging voltage, three current ranges from 0.01 µA to 30 mA and settable charge and discharge times.
HG2776A (2 models) · LCR Meters
Two bench inductance meters, one covering 100 Hz to 200 kHz in 37 points at 0.05% accuracy and one covering four points to 10 kHz at 0.1%, both with four-terminal connection and multi-parameter display.
HG2810B (6 models) · LCR Meters
Bench LCR bridges covering fixed-frequency and wide-band models, with 0.10% or 0.05% basic accuracy, five-terminal connections, bin sorting and optional RS232 and HANDLER interfaces for incoming inspection and production sorting.
HG3030 · LCR Meters
Three-channel DC resistance tester for motor windings, covering 10 µΩ to 2 MΩ at 0.05% accuracy, with simultaneous three-phase display, percentage comparison and pass or fail sorting.
HG7683 (2 models) · Insulation Resistance Testers
Bench insulation resistance meter with a voltage range from 1 V, resistance to 100 TΩ, three measuring speeds, five-bin sorting and 600 stored records on the wide-range model.
HG7804 (2 models) · Electrical Safety Testers
High-power safety tester with AC and DC withstand, insulation resistance, open and short detection and arc detection, in a four-channel and an eight-channel version with scanner expansion.
HG7829A (3 models) · LCR Meters
Precision bench LCR bridges covering 20 Hz to 300 kHz, 500 kHz or 1 MHz at 0.05% basic accuracy, with 1 mHz frequency resolution, a 7-inch colour display, 40-point list sweeps and graphical analysis.
HG9813 (4 models) · LCR Meters
Four impulse winding testers reaching up to 10 kV, with corona analysis, high-speed waveform capture, a 7-inch colour display and pass or fail outputs for inter-turn insulation testing of coils and windings.
HIT-10000S (3 models) · Material Testing Machines
Split-type impact torque tester for powered wrenches and hammers, with a separate transducer, TRACK, PEAK and PPEAK modes and three large-capacity sizes on a colour touch display.
HP-10S (5 models) · Material Testing Machines
Bench torque tester for setting the clutch of electric screwdrivers, with five ranges, three units, ten stored readings, peak hold and an RS232 link.
LJ12A3 · Proximity Sensors
M12 inductive proximity switches for non-contact metal detection, in shielded 2 mm and unshielded 4 mm versions with NPN, PNP, two-wire DC and two-wire AC outputs.
LK1008S (4 models) · Temperature Recorders
Temperature recorder built from 8 to 64 channels, with 8 GB flash memory that holds data through a power cut, four-level alarms and a choice of a 5 in keyed or 7 in touch panel.
LK2670AX (6 models) · Electrical Safety Testers
Adjustable hipot tester series with 0 to 5 kV and 0 to 10 kV outputs, leakage ranges to 500 mA, presettable test time and optional PLC control.
LK2675A (5 models) · Electrical Safety Testers
Leakage current tester with 0 to 250 V adjustable output, 300 VA to 2000 VA supplies, true-RMS AC/DC measurement to 1 MHz and a three-phase model.
LK2678BX (4 models) · Electrical Safety Testers
Four-terminal ground bond tester with 1 to 50 A output across four models, 0 to 600 mΩ ranges, presettable test time and upper limit alarm.
LK2679C (6 models) · Insulation Resistance Testers
Programmable insulation resistance tester with 0.5 to 1000 V direct output, resistance to 10 TΩ, leakage current from 10 pA and SCPI control over USB, RS232, RS485 or a handler interface.
LK7110+ (5 models) · Electrical Safety Testers
Menu-driven programmable hipot tester with 5 kV AC and 6 kV DC outputs, insulation resistance to 9999 MΩ, four test modes and standard RS232 and PLC interfaces.
LK7140P (6 models) · Electrical Safety Testers
Programmable hipot and insulation tester with 5 kV AC and 6 kV DC outputs, 50 GΩ insulation range, arc detection and four or eight scanning channels.
LK9661D (3 models) · Electrical Safety Testers
Combined safety compliance tester running withstand, insulation, ground bond, leakage and no-load power tests in one sequence, with 100 programs of eight steps.
LS160 (6 models) · Spectrophotometers
Pocket solar film tester that reports visible transmission, ultraviolet rejection and infrared rejection together when a sample is placed in its slot, at either 940 or 1400 nm.
LS170 (7 models) · Colorimeters
Handheld colorimeter that reads the colour of a surface and reports its difference from a stored standard, with a choice of measurement geometry, a colour library held on the instrument and a tolerance that returns a pass or fail.
LS225 (4 models) · Coating Thickness Gauges
Coating thickness gauge with interchangeable magnetic and eddy current probes, five-point calibration and an accuracy of ±(2% of reading + 0.3 µm) for plating and paint on small parts.
LS238 (5 models) · Coating Thickness Gauges
Handheld paint thickness gauge with a 3500 µm range, automatic recognition of steel, galvanised steel, aluminium and plastic substrates, and a putty detection warning for used-car inspection.
PG6 · Photoelectric Sensors
Photoelectric sensors with background suppression, in diffuse, through-beam and retro-reflective forms, sensing from 100 mm to 15 m with a 1 ms response and IP67 sealing.
PW9800 (5 models) · Power Meters
Single-phase power meter range with ratings from 5 mA to 200 A, four-window LED display, five readings per second and optional RS232, RS485 or relay output.
QJ300N (4 models) · Electrical Test Equipment
Linear bench supply, 30 V at 3 or 5 A, with 1 mVrms ripple, fine and coarse adjustment on one knob, three stored settings and an option for USB control.
SJ2511 (6 models) · Electrical Test Equipment
Bench four-wire DC resistance meters covering 0.01 µΩ to 2.4 GΩ across the group, with basic accuracy from 0.006% to 0.1%, test current to 10 A and three-level comparator sorting.
SJ2682A (6 models) · Insulation Resistance Testers
Benchtop insulation resistance meter with programmable direct voltage from 0.5 V, resistance ranges to 100 PΩ on the top model, micro-current measurement from 0.1 fA and four-bin sorting.
SJ5013 (3 models) · Electrical Test Equipment
Programmable insulation testers that read volume resistivity, surface resistivity, insulation resistance and leakage current on rubber, film, fabric, powder and liquid specimens, up to 100 PΩ at 1000 V.
SJ5511 (2 models) · Electrical Test Equipment
Four-terminal conductor testers that read resistance, resistivity and conductivity on wire and bar from 0.02 mm diameter, with 0.02% basic accuracy and up to 10 A test current.
SJ7110 (6 models) · Electrical Safety Testers
Programmable safety tester range applying up to 5 kV AC or 6 kV DC, measuring leakage current against preset limits and insulation resistance to 50 GΩ, with arc detection and ten memory groups.
SJ9800 (5 models) · Power Meters
Benchtop electrical parameter meter with four LED windows showing voltage, current, power and power factor together, 0.5 class accuracy, automatic range switching and optional serial communication.
TCP-400 (4 models) · Temperature Recorders
Benchtop multi-channel temperature recorder for 8 to 64 thermocouple inputs, with a colour touchscreen, per-channel correction, four-level alarms and USB logging.
TH100 (4 models) · Hardness Testers
Portable Leeb hardness tester reading HL and converting to HB, HRC, HRB, HRA, HV and HS in one key, with a D impact device, 360° measurement and ten built-in materials.
TH1941 (6 models) · Digital Multimeters
Benchtop digital multimeter range in 4½, 5½ and 6½ digit models, with dual VFD or colour LCD displays, DCV to 1000 V, four-wire resistance and USB, GPIB or RS232 control.
TH2689 (4 models) · LCR Meters
Bench capacitor leakage testers with adjustable test voltage, leakage current measurement down to the nanoamp region, insulation resistance to 99.99 GΩ, timed charging and comparator limits.
TH2822A (4 models) · LCR Meters
Four handheld LCR meters covering 100 Hz to 100 kHz, with 0.25% or 0.1% basic accuracy, a dual parameter backlit display, automatic range and Mini-USB control, for measuring inductors, capacitors and resistors away from the bench.
TH2882A-3 (3 models) · LCR Meters
Impulse winding testers that apply a high-voltage pulse to a coil and compare the response waveform against a reference, for finding inter-turn shorts, weak insulation and winding faults in single-phase and three-phase parts.
TH9310 (6 models) · Electrical Safety Testers
Programmable safety tester with a 480 by 272 TFT display, AC and DC withstand voltage to 6 kV, insulation resistance to 10 GΩ, twenty test files of twenty steps and arc detection.
TT220 (3 models) · Coating Thickness Gauges
Magnetic and eddy current coating thickness gauge measuring 0 to 1250 µm on steel and aluminium, with automatic probe identification, statistics, limit alarms and 500 stored readings.
UTD2102CEX+ (3 models) · Electrical Test Equipment
Two-channel digital storage oscilloscope with 100 MHz bandwidth, 1 GSa/s sampling, 64 kpoint memory, a 7 inch display and recording of up to 1000 screens.
YP4000 (3 models) · Temperature Recorders
Touchscreen temperature recorder for 8 to 64 isolated inputs, with four-level alarms, internal storage that survives power loss and wireless viewing from a PC or phone.
YP4035 (7 models) · Electrical Test Equipment
Programmable AC source from 350 VA to 10 kVA, with 45 to 400 Hz output, two voltage ranges, 2% distortion and RS-232 control for bench and line testing.
YP9901 (3 models) · Power Meters
Panel digital power meter reading voltage, current, active power, power factor, frequency, apparent and reactive power in four windows at once, with an RS232 Modbus RTU port as standard and current ratings from 20 A to 200 A.
YP9950 (3 models) · Electrical Safety Testers
Touch screen safety performance tester combining withstand, ground bond, insulation, leakage and electrical parameter measurement in one sequence, in three configurations.
ZX1373X-12A (3 models) · LCR Meters
Bias bridge instruments combining a high-frequency LCR meter with a 0 to 12 A or 0 to 25 A DC current source, with 0.25 mA current steps, sweeps up to 3600 s and stackable slaves to 225 A.
ZX5560B (5 models) · Electrical Test Equipment
Four-terminal battery testers that read internal resistance and terminal voltage together, from 0.1 µΩ to 3.1 kΩ and up to 1500 V DC, with bin sorting and handler output.
ZX70A-200K (4 models) · LCR Meters
Bench impedance analyzers covering 20 Hz to 5 MHz for piezoelectric ceramics, crystals and ultrasonic transducers, with four-wire Kelvin ports, frequency sweeps and a three-level comparator.
ZX8510BN (5 models) · LCR Meters
Compact bench LCR bridges with four to ten test frequencies up to 100 kHz, basic accuracy from 0.2% to 0.05%, four-wire Kelvin terminals and three or four-bin sorting.
ZX8816 · LCR Meters
Pulse winding tester for coils from 0.1 µH to 1 mH, with four-terminal sensing, voltage compensation, breakdown voltage analysis, a 200 MHz sampler and a fastest test time of 18 ms.
ZX9320SA-2 (4 models) · Electrical Safety Testers
Compact scanning safety tester with two, four or eight channels, AC and DC withstand, insulation resistance to 50 GΩ and nine-level arc detection.
Send the process conditions and the standard you have to meet, and we will confirm the instrument, availability and documentation that can accompany the order.
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Send the technical detail and we will confirm availability, lead time and terms. In-stock items ship within 48 hours; customized specifications typically take 2-10 days. Minimum order quantity is 1 pc.