UPI Laboratories Europe BV specializes in the calibration and supply of hardness testing indenters and test blocks for Vickers, Rockwell, Knoop and Brinell. Working under ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation (RvA), we ensure full traceability and international recognition through the ILAC network. Our diamond indenters, carbide balls and hardness test blocks meet ISO and ASTM standards and are manufactured to a consistently high quality.
Calibration test blocks are reference pieces with a calibrated hardness value. You use them to verify that your hardness testing setup is giving the expected result before you measure real parts. A simple routine with the correct block lets you confirm your indenter, load, optics and operator method are all in control.
UPI supplies blocks for Vickers (HV), Rockwell (HR with the correct scale letter), Brinell (HBW) and Knoop (HK). Choose the scale that matches your test. Place the block securely, make the indent under the defined load and compare your reading to the block’s certificate. Keep a clean surface and space indents well apart to avoid work-hardening; as a rule of thumb, keep more than three indentation diameters between indents when applicable. Regular block checks help you spot drift early and prevent bad readings on production parts.
Test blocks do wear. Replace or recalibrate when you see one or more of the following:
Keeping the whole system healthy also depends on the tools you use with your blocks. Below are the key UPI items that protect your accuracy.
A crisp, stable diamond tip is essential for clean impressions and repeatable measurements. UPI diamond indenters are precision mounted to match the diamond’s grain structure for long life. Each indenter is supplied, meeting the relevant ISO and ASTM requirements.
Roundness and size matter. UPI carbide balls are produced from the highest and purest quality carbide for accuracy, consistency and reliability. We calibrate each ball with laser scanning microscopes to ensure it meets the applicable ISO and ASTM limits.
UPI hardness test blocks are made from homogenous base material, finished mirror or matt, and laser engraved for clear identification. We can supply blocks with a NADCAP compliant grid to support programs that require defined indentation layouts and easy audit trails.
UPI Laboratories operates under ISO/IEC 17025 (RvA) for the calibration of hardness testing indenters. Our RvA scope (viewable on the RvA website) shows what we calibrate and the best achievable accuracy. This supports a clean chain from your blocks and indenters to recognized standards.
Standards make your results comparable and trusted. UPI supplies products that meet the relevant ISO and ASTM standards for hardness testing. Our diamond indenters are compliant with these standards. Our carbide balls for Rockwell and Brinell are calibrated against the applicable ISO and ASTM requirements using laser scanning microscopes. UPI hardness test blocks are manufactured to meet or exceed the relevant ISO and ASTM standards and are laser engraved for clear, durable marking. For users who follow aerospace procedures, blocks can be supplied with a NADCAP compliant grid for consistent layouts and simple documentation.
Traceability builds confidence from the shop floor to your customer’s audit. UPI Laboratories works under ISO/IEC 17025 with RvA accreditation, which demonstrates measurement traceability and ongoing oversight. RvA is part of the ILAC arrangement, alongside bodies such as UKAS, DaKKS, COFRAC, NVLAP and A2LA. That international network supports acceptance of certificates across borders.
Your documentation package should show an unbroken link:
If you need to show exactly which items are covered, refer to our scope on the RvA website and include it in your quality file.
UPI Laboratories Europe BV focuses on the parts that define your result: certified diamond indenters, pure and precise carbide balls and high-quality hardness test blocks.
Want practical advice or a quote? Contact us via the contact form or by e-mail and ask for our brochure and the link to our RvA scope. Tell us your materials, test loads and scales: we will recommend a lean set of calibration test blocks and accessories that keep your hardness testing reliable day after day.
