HBM expands optical measurement technology

HBM Test and Measurement expands its product portfolio for optical measurement technology. The products are mainly used in structural tests and in the development of lightweight materials.

In transportation, construction, mechanical engineering and the energy industry, lightweight materials are increasingly being developed and used to achieve significant weight savings. Optical measurement technology achieves considerable advantages here in materials testing with increased strain levels and high load changes thanks to small geometric dimensions and high measured value stability. Also, in the environment of strong electromagnetic interference, the optical sensors are the first choice compared to electrical strain gauges due to the immunity to these influences.

With the acquisition of the Portuguese optics specialist Fibersensing S.A. in 2014, HBM Test and Measurement is dedicating itself even more intensively to this topic. HBM's new alignment makes it the world's only supplier of the entire optical measurement chain. These include fiber optic Bragg sensors such as strain gauges, strain, temperature and inclination sensors, accelerometers and interrogators, which can be connected to any standard PC via TCP/IP using an Ethernet interface. Due to the extremely high stability and service life of the optical measuring chains and the advantages mentioned, plant downtimes are significantly reduced, for example, when inspecting rotor blades for wind turbines. Likewise, remote power supply, which is sometimes required for safety reasons, is a thing of the past.