In the dynamic power electronics space, accurate measurements are not a preference but an absolute necessity to ensure the efficiency of devices. It is crucial to establish metrological traceability (where metrology is the science of measurement) when calibrating equipment to meet the recognized benchmarks for performance, safety, and reliability.

Measurements International (MI), a pioneer in automating the test and measurement industry, is positioned at the top of the accuracy pyramid in electrical metrology.

The Canadian-owned company is a premier provider of automated electrical metrology and power transformer testing products and services tailored for AC and DC power applications. The unparalleled accuracy of MI’s products benefits customers from high-level industrial and military laboratories to National Metrology Institutes (NMIs), transformer manufacturers, and suppliers. Traceability to international standards ensures consistency across various scientific research, trade, and commerce endeavors.

“Our mission is to provide customers with the highest quality products utilizing state-of-the-art technology, resulting in the highest level of accuracy and improved quality of life,” says Duane Brown, CEO and founder of MI.

The Journey to Unmatched Accuracy

Drawing from their in-depth technical knowledge and expertise in power electronics and metrology, Dr Andrew Dunn and Brown founded MI in 1987. This was when many seasoned metrologists were retiring, and younger metrologists, unfamiliar with the practices of their experienced colleagues, sought greater automation in processes.

MI started off with automated resistance metrology equipment. Automation helped customers and metrologists collect more data to precisely calibrate and improve on manually measured uncertainties.

“Globally, we were one of the first companies to automate DC electrical metrology instrumentation,” says Brown.

In the early years, Dunn and Brown played an instrumental role in shaping MI’s business plans. They offered metrology courses, primarily in North America, to disseminate metrological knowledge, which laid the foundation for the company’s marketing and product development efforts. The combination of education and market research enabled them to gain valuable insights into the metrology market’s needs and demands.

In 2004, MI achieved ISO Guide 17025 accreditation by the Standards Council of Canada for DC and AC calibration, demonstrating its commitment to quality and accuracy in R&D, manufacturing, and calibration services.

Eight years later, MI’s scope of accreditation expanded to include on-site calibrations. It now caters to the calibration needs of clients for AC product lines in ten countries.

Championing Transformer Loss Measurement

Along the innovation timeline, MI is continuously developing world-class electrical metrology products related to quantum, resistance, voltage, temperature, power measurements, and standards. Brown was instrumental in getting the phrases AccuLoss® trademarked, referring to the technology in the AC product line, and AccuBridge® in reference to the technology in the DC product line.

In the AC power sector, electric power systems are major contributors to CO2 emissions, particularly power transformers, which account for about four percent of the emissions. The growing energy losses associated with their use underscores the importance of adopting low-loss transformers. Given the unlikelihood of significant changes in transformer technology, the key lies in accurately measuring losses using AccuLoss® technology to adopt more energy efficient designs.

MI’s promising development—AccuLoss® transformer loss measurement system—aligns perfectly with the global energy sector’s push for sustainable power generation and distribution practices. It ensures new reactors and transformers are designed and manufactured with minimal losses in compliance with applicable standards and directives. This enables manufacturers to achieve potential energy savings while promoting energy conservation.

Using its AccuLoss® technology, MI specializes in providing a wide range of AC instruments and equipment to precisely measure and calibrate electrical parameters that can improve customer uncertainties.

MI’s reference standards for measuring voltage and current artifacts are crucial in the accurate testing and calibration of transformers. Their accredited uncertainties are 20 ppm in magnitude and phase for calibrating voltage transformers and 15 ppm for current transformers.

MI offers power analyzers and wattmeters designed to measure electrical power precisely with an accredited uncertainty of 30 ppm in magnitude and phase at any power factor. Capacitance, inductance, and tan delta bridges are also part of its AccuLoss® product portfolio, used for calibrating high-voltage capacitors and dividers as voltage arms in power distribution systems.

Consulting with a Measurable Impact

Nimbleness in responding to specific client needs is one of MI’s key differentiators.

In one instance, it developed a compact, lightweight, and easily transportable loss measurement system for a transformer manufacturing plant, adeptly navigating the considerations. The client needed the system to be versatile to accommodate various transformer sizes and specifications. Portability and user-friendliness was essential to facilitate quick transitions between different manufacturing sites, streamlining the measurement process. MI’s system enhanced their overall operational efficiency and supported rigorous quality control.

Our mission is to provide customers with the highest quality products utilizing state-of-the-art technology, resulting in the highest level of accuracy and improved quality of life

Recognizing the importance of safety in high-voltage environments, MI also ensured regulatory-compliant design and enhanced operator safety. It further incorporated real-time data analysis capabilities into the system to provide immediate feedback to operators. The client could identify issues and promptly facilitate adjustments during manufacturing.

As calibration and traceability are critical factors for accurate loss measurements, MI prioritized the design to ascertain the system could be easily calibrated and traceable to recognized standards. It also offered comprehensive training and support for the manufacturing plant personnel to effectively use the system and maximize its potential in daily operations.

Powerhouse of DC Metrology Innovations

Beyond its AC power segment, MI has garnered acclaim for its calibration excellence in DC electrical metrology with its flagship resistance measurement equipment.

Particularly noteworthy among its award-winning contributions is its series of automated resistance bridges deployed in every NMI that has become the laboratories’ workhorses for calibrating resistors to the highest precision standards.

In 2002, MI entered the quantum metrology market with its groundbreaking AccuBridge® technology for calibrating DC instruments with critical electrical units—resistance, voltage, current, and temperature. At that time, Brown’s son, Ryan, joined MI. In his first two years, he was a guest worker at the National Research Council of Canada (NRCC) studying quantum hall technology to become the quantum hall expert at MI.

The AccuBridge® 6020T temperature bridge, renowned for its speed, measurement accuracy, and data handling capabilities, has emerged as the preferred choice for primary lab-level thermometry measurements worldwide.

Attesting to the product’s competency is a key comparison of the triple point of water (TPW) conducted by the National Research Council of Canada (NRCC). The goal of this exercise (the key comparison) was to quantify the level of agreement (in metrology, we call it “equivalence”) between the national standards of temperature at 273.16 K (the triple point of water cells) of 15 different countries. NRC received the cells from the participating countries and intercompared the triple point temperatures realized by the cells. The comparison was done by measuring the resistance of a standard platinum resistance thermometer (SPRT) in thermal contact with the triple point of the cells. The SPRT resistance was measured using the MI6020T Premium temperature bridge and a 25 Ω reference resistor. The linearity of the MI 6020T was estimated to be better than 2•10-8, corresponding approximately to 5 µK in temperature.

In 2008, MI designed a 20,000 A DC current transformer (CT) for CERN, a prominent particle physics community.

This DC extender served as the primary unit for calibrating CTs used in the tunnel of the large hadron collider.

MI recently released multiple brand-new products, including a DC range extender to replace various shunts in the calibration process for current generating instruments. The range extender removed two of the dominant uncertainties in shunt measurement, the power coefficient and the temperature coefficient. Measurement time was decreased from a few hours to a few minutes. The list also encompasses a transfer standard for artifact calibration, three standards in one box, and a secondary DC voltage divider for calibrating the voltage ranges of digital multimeters and calibrators.

MI also expanded its offerings to include a liquid helium quantum Hall series of products, which has been installed in several NMIs around the world. The quantum Hall effect (QHE) is an intrinsic standard for resistance and operates at a temperature of 1.2 K to 4 K. The Quantum Hall values are described by R = h/e2 where h is Plancks constant and e is the elementary charge.

MI QHE systems offer direct traceability to SI units without the need for an intermediary third party, which sets them apart. These products have made their way to numerous nations worldwide, playing a pivotal role in the maintenance programs for the U.S. Army and American Air Force’s primary calibration laboratories.

MI is transitioning its QHE products to a completely cryogen free system as liquid helium has become expensive and hard to get.

The company aims to release its cryogen-free QHE system and the cryogenic Current Comparator (CCC) in 2024, which operate at a temperature of 4 K, which can be used along with easily accessible graphene samples and, at the same time, keep its larger QHE systems for experimentation purposes and using gallium arsenide samples in the temperature range of 1.2 Kelvin to 4 Kelvin.

Its DC metrology products find widespread utility among a multitude of sectors. NASA, the 514 Aerospace Institute in China, the U.S. Military, the Department of Energy, Sandia and Los Alamos, Fortune 500s, and key players in the aerospace sector like Lockheed Martin and Boeing are among MI’s customers. A global network of pharmaceutical organizations, research institutions, government entities, and calibration laboratories also form an integral part of its customer base.

Cornerstones of Modern Metrology

Home to dedicated employees comprising engineers, scientists, and technologists, the Ontario-based facility attributes its nearly 40 years of industry-wide success and longevity its technology and its exceptional customer service. MI dedicates its efforts to continually interact and receive feedback to innovate its equipment. A product lifespan of 20 to 30 years is a testament to the quality and durability of its offerings.

Guaranteed customer satisfaction garners MI repeat business and word-of-mouth referrals. Its global presence in countries such as the Europe, Asia, and the U.S. highlights its dedication to broadening its market reach to serve more customers. A significant percentage of its products and services are exported to international markets.

Staying abreast of technological advancements, MI is significantly investing in its R&D and strategic diversification efforts, aligning with the evolving needs of primary-level NMIs to design and develop cutting-edge instruments in the future.

Building on a promising pipeline, MI continues to make a world of difference in metrology and instrumentation with its quality, accuracy, and functionality. It is poised to develop transfer standards concentrating on secondary and tertiary level measurement laboratories and transformer calibration facilities in the accuracy pyramid.

In 2017, the company underwent some changes to get ready for the future. Dr. Alessio Pollarolo became VP of Measurement Science. In 2022, Brown stepped down from his many roles to become CEO, and Browns son Ryan became President, and a new chief metrologist was hired in 2022.

‘Measurements’ is not just its name but an unwavering passion. A consistent track record of innovation paired with its quality of the highest-order measurement solidifies MI’s position at the helm of the test and measurement industry for all electrical metrology needs.