Network access key to high precision process monitoring and control

08 September 2011

As an authorised distributor for the RAE portable gas monitors, Ashtead Technology has invested heavily in a new service and calibration facility that has been expanded to cope with a growing demand from customers.

The company's Letchworth based service team have all received comprehensive training by RAE and the new service and calibration workshop is fully equipped with all the necessary specialist tools and spares in addition to a wide range of calibration gases. Service Manager Dave Mills says: "We are now able to service and calibrate the entire range of RAE toxic gas monitors in addition to the other gas detectors and monitors that we rent or sell to customers."

The calibration facility has been stocked with certified calgas bottles for all of the most commonly required gases for health and safety, confined space, leak detection, contaminated land and emissions monitoring applications. These include VOCs, CO, CO2, NO, NO2, H2S, LEL (CH4) and Isobutylene.

Among Ashtead's customers the most popular RAE products have been the advanced MiniRAE 3000 with its extended range 0 to 15,000 ppm, and the easy to use MiniRAE Lite PID.

The new facility offers a rapid turnaround time for service jobs – typically 3 to 5 days, in addition to discounts for loan units and for customers with multiple units. Ashtead Technology also offers highly competitive annual service and maintenance contracts which offer customers peace of mind because Ashtead's service department automatically contacts customers to arrange for service work to be conducted in a timely manner and to offer loan units when necessary.

Typically, each service job would include a zero and span calibration in addition to a full functionality test to check pumps, flow rates, response times, membranes, mechanical and electrical parts check in addition to a thorough clean.

Environmental Product Manager Jay Neermul says: “The new service and calibration facility will be of particular interest to users of RAE equipment in applications such as occupational health and safety, leak detection, confined space entry, pre-screening during refinery and plant maintenance, hazardous material response, landfill and contaminated land."