HBK provides sensors, measurement systems and testing services for mechanical, acoustic and electrical test engineering.
Hottinger Brüel & Kjær (HBK)
Darmstadt (HBM calibration laboratory) · Denmark (Brüel & Kjær)New on Amplifa
Test and measurement technology from the sensor chain to the software
HBK (Hottinger Brüel & Kjær) is a global provider of test and measurement technology, formed in 2019 through the merger of HBM and Brüel & Kjær; both companies look back on more than 80 years of experience in precision measurement. The portfolio includes sensors (force, torque, pressure, acceleration, displacement, sound), data acquisition systems such as QuantumX, SomatXR, Genesis HighSpeed and LAN-XI, as well as software for durability and reliability (nCode DesignLife, ReliaSoft). In addition, HBK operates the Advanced Materials Characterisation & Testing (AMCT) laboratory with over 25 years of experience in fatigue testing: fatigue strength (E-N/S-N), crack growth testing, testing of joints, tensile, bending and high-speed tests at temperatures from −50 °C to +1000 °C on metals, composites, plastics, ceramics and additively manufactured materials. A DAkkS-accredited calibration laboratory calibrates force transducers from 2.5 N to 5 MN and torque transducers from 0.2 N·m to 400 kN·m. Customers include companies from aerospace, automotive, marine, energy and audio, including Ford, Airbus, Boeing and BAE Systems.
- Site
- Darmstadt (HBM calibration laboratory)
- Processes
- Low-cycle and high-cycle fatigue testing (strain-life EN / stress-life SN), Fatigue crack growth testing, Fatigue testing of sub-element specimens and bespoke parts/components, Fatigue testing of joints (welding, fastening, bonding), Tensile testing, Lap shear testing, Coach peel testing, 3- and 4-point bending tests
- Materials
- Metals, Composites, Additively manufactured materials, Concrete, Polymers, Ceramic, Moulded structural plastics, Alloy
- Certificates
- ISO 9001:2015, DAkkS accreditation D-K-12029-01-00, DAkkS D-K-12029-01-00 (EN ISO/IEC 17025), ISO 376 / DIN 51309 / VDI-VDE 2646, ISO 16063 / IEC 61672
- Founded
- 2019
- Industries
- Aerospace, Automotive & Ground Transportation, Audio, Energy & Infrastructure, Advanced Automation & Robotics, Defense/Marine
- 01
Requirements analysis and consulting
- 02
Sensor development (custom/OEM sensors)
- 03
Test planning and specimen design (with partner company for specimen machining)
- 04
Execution of fatigue, strength and acoustic tests
- 05
Calibration of sensors, measuring instruments and DAQ systems (DAkkS)
- 06
Data analysis and CAE parameter provisioning (nCode, ReliaSoft)
- 07
Certification and reporting
Materials and testing methods
Fatigue and strength testing (AMCT)
Low- and high-cycle fatigue (E-N/S-N), crack growth, testing of joints and components on static and dynamic test machines.
High-speed material testing
Split-Hopkinson pressure bar, Charpy pendulum impact and dynamic tensile/compression tests with DAQ systems up to 250 MS/s.
Acoustic material testing
Impedance, absorption and transmission loss according to ISO 10534-2, ASTM E1050-12 and ASTM E2611-17 with impedance tube systems.
Calibration services
DAkkS-accredited calibration of force, torque, pressure, acceleration, microphone and displacement sensors as well as complete DAQ systems.
Metals and alloys
Strength and fatigue characteristics for steels, landing gear metals and new alloys, including in projects with the US Air Force.
Composites and structural materials
Characterization of advanced composites, concrete, polymers and ceramics for lightweight design and structural integrity.
Additively manufactured materials
Fatigue testing of additively manufactured materials in research projects to advance CAE predictions.
CAE and reliability software
nCode DesignLife, Aqira and ReliaSoft for fatigue simulation, road-load data management and reliability analysis.
Sites and laboratory equipment
Darmstadt (HBM calibration laboratory)
DEDAkkS-accredited calibration laboratory and sensor development
- Materials
- Metals, plastics, castings
- Calibration machines for forces from 2.5 N to 5 MN
- Torque calibration 0.2 N·m to 400 kN·m
- Pressure calibration 0.1 to 10,000 bar
- Primary calibration of accelerometers according to ISO 16063-11 (laser interferometry)
AMCT Laboratory
Material characterization and fatigue testing
- Materials
- Metals, composites, plastics, ceramics, concrete
- Static and dynamic test machines and test rigs
- Temperature range −50 °C to +1000 °C
- Impedance tube/transmission loss test systems (Type 4206, 9737, 9740)
- PULSE acoustic measurement platform
Denmark (Brüel & Kjær)
DKDevelopment and production of sound and vibration technology
- Materials
- Metals, plastics, castings
- LAN-XI modular DAQ systems
- Fusion-LN DAQ platform
- Genesis HighSpeed up to 250 MS/s
Test objects and measurement objects
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low-cycle and high-cycle fatigue testing (strain-life EN / stress-life SN)Testing | – | – | – | – | Metals, Composites, additively manufactured materials |
| Fatigue crack growth testingTesting | – | – | – | – | Metals, Composites |
| Fatigue testing of sub-element specimens and bespoke parts/componentsTesting | – | – | – | – | – |
| Fatigue testing of joints (welding, fastening, bonding)Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
| Tensile testingTesting | – | – | – | – | Metals, Plastics, Composites |
| Lap shear testingTesting | – | – | – | – | – |
| Coach peel testingTesting | – | – | – | – | – |
| 3- and 4-point bending testsTesting | – | – | – | – | – |
| Fatigue testing under elevated temperatures (-50°C to +1000°C, isothermal and Chaboche)Testing | – | – | – | – | Metals, Landing gear metals |
| Fracture mechanics / crack growth characterizationTesting | – | – | – | – | – |
| High strain-rate material testing (Split-Hopkinson Pressure Bar, Charpy pendulum, dynamic tensile &Testing | – | – | – | – | Composites, Steel, Concrete |
| Acoustic material testing (impedance, absorption, transmission loss; ISO 10534-2, ASTM E1050-12,Testing | – | – | – | – | Insulation materials, Road surface/asphalt, Noise-control materials |
| Force transducer calibration (2.5 N to 5 MN, DAkkS, ISO 376)Testing | – | – | 2.5 N – 5 MN | – | – |
| Torque transducer calibration (0.2 N·m to 400 kN·m, DIN 51309, VDI/VDE 2646)Testing | – | – | 0.2 N·m – 400 kN·m | – | – |
| Pressure transducer calibration (0.1 bar to 10000 bar)Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
| Accelerometer calibration (primary calibration according to ISO 16063-11, laser interferometry)Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
| Microphone & preamplifier calibration (accredited and traceable)Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
| Displacement sensor calibration (including on-site service in Europe)Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
| Sound level meter, sound calibrator, pistonphone, noise dosimeter and vibration meter calibrationTesting | – | – | – | – | – |
| DAQ system calibration (QuantumX, SomatXR, Genesis HighSpeed, LAN-XI, Industrial Electronics, DAkkS)Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
| Aircraft noise certification testing (Static Engine Certification Test SECT, Flight CertificationTesting | – | – | – | – | – |
| Naval noise & vibration certification and sea trials (MIL-STD-740, MIL-STD-1474E)Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
| Vehicle pass-by noise testing (type approval)Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
| Custom OEM sensor developmentEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Durability / fatigue CAE simulation and analysis software (nCode DesignLife, Aqira, ReliaSoft)Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Test specimen design and manufacturing (via partner company for specimen machining)Engineering | – | – | – | – | Metals, Composites |
9 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High-speed DAQ system / transient recorder (up to 250 MS/s) | HBK Genesis HighSpeed (GenHS) | – | – | – | – |
| Modular DAQ system (sound & vibration) | HBK LAN-XI | – | – | – | – |
| DAQ platform | HBK Fusion-LN | – | – | – | – |
| Acoustic measurement and analysis platform | Brüel & Kjær (HBK) PULSE (e.g. Type 7758) | – | – | – | – |
| Impedance tube/transmission loss test system | Brüel & Kjær (HBK) Type 4206 / 9737 / 9740 | – | – | – | – |
| Static and dynamic test machines / test rigs (fatigue & material testing) | HBK AMCT Facility | – | – | – | HBK AMCT Laboratory |
| Force calibration machine (2.5 N to 5 MN) | HBK (HBM) Calibration laboratory | – | – | – | – |
| Marine torque sensor | HBK T40MAR | – | – | – | – |
| DAQ system for high-speed analysis | HBK SomatXR / QuantumX | – | – | – | – |
Additional services
Reference customers
Quality and accreditations
Testing and calibration services are performed according to ISO 9001:2015 (AMCT facility) and under DAkkS accreditation D-K-12029-01-00 for the HBM calibration laboratory. Accredited and traceable calibrations are performed according to ISO 376, DIN 51309, VDI/VDE 2646, ISO 16063 and IEC 61672.
| Evidence | Darmstadt (HBM calibration laboratory) | AMCT Laboratory |
|---|---|---|
| ISO 9001:2015 | ||
| DAkkS D-K-12029-01-00 (EN ISO/IEC 17025) | ||
| ISO 376 / DIN 51309 / VDI-VDE 2646 | ||
| ISO 16063 / IEC 61672 |
History
- 1942
Foundation of Brüel & Kjær by Per Vilhelm Brüel and Viggo Kjær on 28 November in Denmark.
- 1992
Brüel & Kjær is sold to the German holding company AGIV and split up.
- 2000
Spectris division is sold to Fairey Group Ltd.; renamed Spectris Plc in 2001.
- 2009
Brüel & Kjær acquires LDS Test & Measurement and Lochard Ltd.
- 2019
HBK formed through the merger of HBM and Brüel & Kjær.
- 2020
Merger of Brüel & Kjær with Hottinger Baldwin Messtechnik into HBK (Hottinger, Brüel & Kjær) effective 1 September.