Buehler, a leading manufacturer of metallographic and hardness testing equipment, is commemorating and celebrating the centennial legacy of its Wilson® hardness testers. The Wilson® brand encompasses Reicherter, Wilson, and Wolpert products. Today, they are all known as Wilson and engineered and manufactured by Buehler, an ITW Company.
The acclaimed Wilson hardness brand was originally known as the Wilson Mechanical Instrument Company. Here, Stanley Rockwell and founder Charles H. Wilson introduced the Rockwell hardness tester, an industry standard. Later, Wilson became the home of the legendary Tukon line of micro-indentation testers — renowned for Knoop and Vickers testing. These early inventions revolutionized industry and paved the way for Wilson today, with innovations that improve usability and allow for full connectivity and automation, like the DiaMet software and the powerful and versatile Universal hardness tester.
Buehler’s affiliation with Wilson began in 2012 when the Wilson brand of hardness testers encompassing Reicherter, Wilson, and Wolpert products became part of Buehler’s offering.
According to Buehler general manager Julien Noel, “We are proud to continue the 100-year legacy of innovation and excellence in Wilson Hardness. By having our engineering, manufacturing, and service in-house, Buehler’s Wilson products have become the preferred choice for demanding labs that need to consistently meet quality standards. In the coming year, Buehler will continue to focus on exceeding customer expectations with a new and improved Rockwell tester, and an extended range of hardness reference blocks according to ISO, ASTM, and JIS standards.”
Wilson is engineered and manufactured by Buehler since 2012. Today, Buehler’s Wilson hardness line includes a comprehensive range of hardness testers including Rockwell®, Knoop/Vickers, Universal, and Brinell as well as the comprehensive DiaMet™ software that provides control, data management, and reporting options up to and including fully automatic production systems. Buehler’s hardness testers are complemented by a range of ISO, ASTM, and JIS-certified hardness reference test blocks, accessories, and fixtures.
Buehler works closely with customers in manufacturing, research, and education to create leading-edge hardness solutions. During the last eight years, Buehler improved upon the original Wilson designs and also revolutionized hardness testing with the fully configurable DiaMet software, the Wilson VH3100 Vickers All-in-One hardness tester, and the heavy-duty Wilson UH4000, an eight-turret, large stage universal hardness tester. All hardness equipment, test blocks, and software are manufactured at Buehler facilities.
Buehler launched the DiaMet software to provide an easy operation for automated hardness testing. The proven DiaMet software offers specimen mapping, edge detection, scanning, stitching of overview images, case depth calculations, and statistical analysis tools as well as weld testing and geometric measurement functions and a barcode scanner interface. Data and indent images can be exported to all common file types in user-adaptable templates. Furthermore, DiaMet is available in different configurations based on the capabilities of the hardness tester. It can be applied for a basic machine, without full-automation hardware (motorized XY-stage and Z-axis), as well as a high-end automated tester that can perform multisample testing in a full automated sequence.
The DiaMet software platform works seamlessly with the Wilson hardness equipment line.
Buehler’s priority is to deliver world-class products and services, conforming to ISO 9001, ISO14001, ASTM, DIN, ISO, MIL, and JIS standards and accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 for ASTM and ISO calibration. Buehler’s Wilson® Reference Block Laboratory in Binghamton, New York, has achieved accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025 by A2LA (American Association for Laboratory Accreditation) for Rockwell, Knoop, Vickers, and Brinell hardness test blocks and indenters. A2LA is recognized for the accreditation of testing and calibration laboratories and inspection bodies under the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA). Buehler is accredited by A2LA Certificate Number 2237.01 for direct and indirect calibration of hardness testers in conformance with the current ASTM and ISO standards.
Buehler hardness equipment is available for demonstration at the company’s solutions centers in Buehler’s global locations or at partner centers maintained by Buehler distributors or universities.
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