Les Côtes 2, CH-2525 Le Landeron, Switzerland
Les Côtes 2, CH-2525 Le Landeron, Switzerland
Reference standards, calibration-grade gauging, master rings and plugs, and precision components for calibration laboratories, gauge makers, and metrology equipment manufacturers.
The metrology industry exists at the apex of the measurement chain. Calibration laboratories, gauge manufacturers, and standards institutes don't just need accurate measurement — they need measurement that is traceable, documented, uncertainty-quantified, and reproducible across laboratories and borders.
Every measurement in industry — from an automotive bore diameter to a medical implant thread, ultimately traces back to a reference standard. A setting ring with a certified diameter. A master plug with a traceable certificate. A reference gauge block with a known expansion coefficient. The accuracy of these references determines the accuracy of every downstream measurement that depends on them.
PFL serves this community both directly, by manufacturing master gauges, calibration masters, and reference standards, and indirectly, by supplying precision air gauging systems and electronic probes that calibration laboratories and gauge makers use in their own measurement chains.
PFL's ISO 9001:2015 certified manufacturing process and in-house calibration laboratory, located in Le Landeron, Switzerland, within reach of METAS (Federal Institute of Metrology), ensures that every master gauge and reference standard we produce meets the highest traceability requirements.
Every measurement must be traceable through an unbroken chain of calibrations to a national or international standard (METAS, PTB, NIST, NPL). PFL provides calibration certificates documenting this chain for every master gauge and setting standard we manufacture.
Calibration laboratories operating under ISO 17025 accreditation must state measurement uncertainty for every calibration they perform. PFL systems are designed with known, documented uncertainty budgets, enabling labs to incorporate our instruments into their uncertainty calculations.
Reference standards must maintain their certified dimensions over years, not just at the moment of calibration. PFL master gauges are manufactured from stabilized, stress-relieved materials (hardened steel, ceramic, tungsten carbide) that minimize dimensional drift over time.
Measurement systems used in calibration must demonstrate excellent repeatability and reproducibility. PFL air gauging and electronic probe systems routinely achieve Gage R&R values below 10% of tolerance, meeting the most demanding MSA requirements.
From master gauges that anchor the traceability chain to complete gauging systems for calibration laboratories and gauge manufacturers.
Precision-ground and lapped setting rings with certified internal diameters. Used to calibrate and zero air gauging systems, bore gauges, and internal micrometers. Manufactured from hardened steel or ceramic for long-term dimensional stability. Supplied with traceable calibration certificates including temperature and uncertainty statements.
Cylindrical reference plugs with certified external diameters for calibrating air rings, snap gauges, and external measurement systems. Available in go/no-go configurations for tolerance verification or as single-size references for comparative measurement. Hardened, ground, and lapped to specified dimensions.
PFL supplies air plugs, air rings, and pneumatic components to other gauge makers and system integrators who build their own inspection equipment. Our components become part of third-party measurement systems, leveraging PFL's Swiss manufacturing precision in gauging solutions designed and assembled by others.
In-house calibration of air gauging systems, electronic probes, and dimensional standards. Re-calibration services for PFL equipment already in the field. Traceable certificates with stated uncertainty. Located in Le Landeron, accessible to the Swiss metrology community and European customers.
Custom-built reference measurement systems for calibration laboratories. High-accuracy air gauging or electronic probe configurations designed specifically for calibrating other gauges. Temperature-controlled measurement zones, vibration-isolated bases, and uncertainty budgets documented to ISO 17025 requirements.
Non-standard reference gauges manufactured to customer specification: tapered bore masters, thread gauges, profile references, and special-geometry standards. PFL's in-house CNC production and grinding capability enables manufacturing of virtually any gauge geometry with calibration-grade accuracy.
Every dimensional measurement in industry is only as good as the reference standard it traces back to. PFL operates at a critical point in this chain, we manufacture the physical artifacts (master rings, master plugs, setting standards) that calibration laboratories and production facilities use to anchor their measurements to national standards.
The chain works like this: National metrology institutes (METAS in Switzerland, PTB in Germany, NIST in the US) maintain primary standards. Accredited calibration laboratories calibrate their working standards against these primary references. Production facilities use the calibrated working standards to set their gauging systems. PFL participates at the second and third levels, providing the physical gauges and the measurement systems that make this traceability chain work.
Our proximity to METAS (Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology) in Bern enables short turnaround times for calibration traceability and close collaboration with the Swiss national measurement infrastructure.
Direct access to Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology for primary standard calibration. Short physical distance enables rapid calibration turnaround.
Every master gauge includes a detailed certificate: measured value, expanded uncertainty (k=2), reference temperature, measurement method, and traceability statement.
PFL's quality management system is TÜV certified, documented processes for master gauge production ensure repeatable quality from order to delivery.
Master gauges manufactured from age-hardened tool steel, ceramic, or tungsten carbide, materials selected for minimum thermal expansion and long-term dimensional stability.
PFL products used by calibration laboratories, gauge makers, and metrology equipment manufacturers.
Calibration-grade air plugs, air rings, converters, and accessories. Used by labs as reference measurement systems and by gauge makers as components in their own products. Masters and certificates included.
Explore Air Gauging → Sub-MicronPRETEC probes with ≤ 0.02 μm repeatability. Compatible with TESA and other manufacturers' electronics — enabling gauge makers to source probes independently of display system brand.
Explore PRETEC Probes → ManufacturingCNC turning, milling, grinding, honing, and lapping for master gauge manufacturing. PFL's in-house production capability enables us to manufacture virtually any reference gauge geometry to calibration-grade accuracy.
Explore Production → IntelligenceSPC software with measurement uncertainty documentation support. Data export in Q-DAS format for calibration labs. Configurable display resolution down to 0.01 μm for reference-grade measurements.
Explore Displays & Software → CustomReference-grade fixtures for calibration applications. Temperature-stable materials, vibration isolation provisions, and documented uncertainty contributions for ISO 17025 compliant measurement systems.
Explore Fixtures → SupportIn-house calibration, re-calibration, repair, and maintenance for all PFL equipment. Traceable certificates. Located in Le Landeron, Switzerland, accessible to European metrology community.
Explore Services →Technical answers about PFL's solutions for the metrology industry.
Need a master gauge or calibration service?
Contact Our LabPFL manufactures master gauges in three primary materials, each optimized for specific requirements. Hardened tool steel (58–62 HRC): the most common choice, offering excellent wear resistance, good thermal stability, and cost-effectiveness for production-floor masters. Tungsten carbide: superior wear resistance and dimensional stability for high-use masters in automated systems. Technical ceramic (ZrO₂ or Al₂O₃): the best long-term dimensional stability and lowest thermal expansion coefficient — ideal for primary reference standards in calibration laboratories. PFL engineers recommend the optimal material based on your application: frequency of use, required calibration interval, and environment.
Every PFL calibration certificate includes: measured dimension (actual size, not just nominal), expanded uncertainty with coverage factor (typically k=2, 95% confidence), reference temperature (20°C ± stated tolerance), measurement method and instrument identification, traceability statement identifying the reference standard chain to a national institute (typically METAS), date of calibration, environmental conditions during measurement, and calibration technician identification. For ISO 17025 accredited laboratories, PFL certificates provide the information needed to incorporate our masters into your lab's uncertainty budget calculations.
Re-calibration intervals depend on usage frequency, environmental conditions, and your quality system requirements. As a general guideline: primary reference masters used in controlled laboratory environments are typically re-calibrated every 12–24 months. Working masters used on the production floor (daily use, exposed to handling, temperature variation) should be re-calibrated every 6–12 months. High-use masters in automated systems measuring thousands of parts per day may need re-calibration every 3–6 months. PFL recommends establishing calibration intervals based on historical stability data, we can help analyze your master gauge calibration history to optimize intervals.
Yes. PFL supplies air plugs, air rings, air-to-electronic converters, and pneumatic components to gauge makers and system integrators worldwide who incorporate them into their own branded measurement solutions. We offer OEM pricing, custom specifications, and private-label options. Our air gauging components are manufactured to the same Swiss quality standards whether they carry the PFL name or not. This is a significant part of our business — many gauging systems in the field contain PFL components inside, even though the end user sees a different brand name.
Yes. PFL's calibration certificates are structured to provide the information ISO 17025 accredited labs need for their uncertainty budget calculations and traceability documentation. We state expanded uncertainty with coverage factor, reference standard identification with traceability chain, environmental conditions, and measurement method. For reference measurement systems we build for calibration labs, we provide complete uncertainty budgets documenting every contributor: instrument repeatability, master gauge uncertainty, temperature effects, operator influence, and resolution, following the GUM (Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement) framework.
Choose ceramic when: you need the best possible long-term dimensional stability, the master will serve as a primary reference in a calibration lab, you need minimal thermal expansion (ceramic has roughly 1/3 the expansion coefficient of steel), or you need a non-magnetic and non-corroding reference. Choose hardened steel when: the master is used on the production floor with frequent handling, cost is a significant factor, you need fast delivery (steel masters have shorter lead times), or the master must match the thermal behavior of the workpiece material. PFL engineers can advise which material provides the optimal balance of stability, durability, and cost for your specific application.
Yes. PFL's in-house CNC production facility includes turning, 3/4-axis milling, grinding, honing, and lapping — enabling manufacturing of virtually any gauge geometry. We regularly produce: tapered bore masters (for ISO, Morse, and HSK taper verification), thread reference gauges, spline and gear profile references, multi-diameter stepped masters, and application-specific gauges of custom geometry. Each is manufactured to calibration-grade accuracy with traceable certificates. If you can draw it and dimension it, PFL can manufacture it.
PFL air gauging systems and PRETEC electronic probe systems routinely achieve Gage R&R values below 10% of tolerance, which is classified as "acceptable" by automotive (AIAG MSA Manual) and general industry standards. For reference-grade laboratory systems, we target below 5% of tolerance. Every PFL test bench and measurement system is delivered with a documented Gage R&R study using the ANOVA method, typically based on 3 operators × 10 parts × 3 repeats. This documentation supports your MSA requirements for IATF 16949, ISO 13485, and other quality system standards.
Tell us the dimension, tolerance, and material — we'll manufacture the master gauge and deliver it with a traceable calibration certificate.