Pressure gauge manufacturer receives accreditation

Tag: Electric Contact Pressure Gauge

Manufacturer of pressure and temperature gauges, SA Gauge, recently received its South African National Accreditation System (Sanas) accreditation for pressure calibration.

“SA Gauge is the only pressure gauge manufacturing company with this accreditation in the country,” says SA Gauge MD Chris du Plessis. He adds that there are three other manufacturers of pressure gauges in the country, but none of them has achieved the accreditation.

Sanas was commissioned by the Department of Trade and Industry to authorise calibration laboratories, such as SA Gauge, to maintain the integrity of calibration in South Africa.

Sanas is recognised by the South African government as the single national accreditation body that gives formal recognition that laboratories, certification bodies, inspection bodies, proficiency testing scheme providers and good laboratory practice test facilities are competent to carry out specific tasks.

Sanas certificates are a formal recognition that an organisation is competent to perform specific tasks.

Du Plessis says that Sanas accreditation ensures the company’s customers of the accuracy and traceability of all SA Gauge’s products. He adds that this is especially important when imported gauges come in from the East and the accuracies of these gauges are questionable.

“Cheap imports from the East are one of the company’s main challenges, and also the fact that local customers seem not to care about the accuracy of the instruments they purchase,” says Du Plessis.

He adds that the company wants to ensure that its Sanas accredita- tion adds value to its services and products.
Du Plessis mentions that customised instruments are one of the company’s specialities. “All our equipment is manufactured exactly to customer requirements. The instruments are handmade and individually calibrated, which enhances their accuracy tremendously,” he adds.

The company can provide its customers with personalised logos on the gauge dials within a day. Du Plessis says that its closest opposi- tion quotes a minimum of three weeks for this service.

He adds that the company can also provide its customers with pressure test kits tailormade to their requirements. “Customers do not have to change their equipment to suit SA Gauge’s instruments,” says Du Plessis.

SA Gauge manufactures pressure gauges, thermometers, and related pressure and temperature accessories for the accurate measure of pressure and temperature in the hydraulic, pneumatic, petro-chemicals, mining, food and pharmaceuticals industries.

Du Plessis mentions that the company has extensive in-house manufacturing capabilities with short lead times. He adds that this makes it a preferred supplier to many original-equipment manufacturers that require nonstandard items.

About 10% of the company’s products are exported to the UK and Australia.
SA Gauge was established in 1988 and is currently employing 45 permanent staff members.