Providing critical services during lockdown

• We calibrated thrust load cells for an aviation engine manufacturer, who told us that our work was critical to the measurement of their products and to keep aircraft flying safely.
• Kindeva Drug Delivery (formerly known as 3M Health Care) manufactures asthma inhaler components and needed their Reference Stage Graticule (RSG) calibrated. This process is key to the quality and release of their products, which was vital during the pandemic.   
• Fluorine-18 is one of the most frequently used radioisotopes in positron emission tomography (PET) used for bone scans, prostate imaging, clinical and preclinical research. NPL analyses samples to make sure they are free of impurities, and this service continued through the lock down period.
• We run DEFRA’s particle network and government flagged the measurement of ambient particulate measurements as crucial during the pandemic.
• Laser Quantum worked with NPL to determine why components in their laser assemblies were losing alignment and how to correct them. These components are key in a range of test equipment which  is used for DNA analysis and in the battle against Covid-19.
• NPL offers a calibration service for hydrophones for medical ultrasound equipment. During the Covid-19 crisis the service was briefly paused, but customers requested resumption in order to ensure the supply of medical equipment to health services, including ultrasound techniques for the diagnosis of Covid-19. 

Find out more about NPL’s current Covid-19 work

Find out more about NPL’s Hydrophone calibration services