Partners & Institutions in Legal Metrology
BOSCHE Weighing Technology collaborates with strong partners in calibration, metrology, and accreditation
Reliable weighing technology is based on clear legal requirements, uniform standards, and strong institutions. BOSCHE Weighing Technology has been closely networked with national and international partners in legal metrology for decades.
Office of Weights and Measures
The Office of Weights and Measures of the German federal states are responsible for the monitoring and calibration of measuring instruments subject to mandatory calibration. They ensure that scales and other measuring instruments measure correctly in commercial transactions and comply with legal requirements. Organizationally, the Office of Weights and Measures are generally assigned to the state ministries of economic affairs and operate according to the guidelines of the German National Metrology Institute (PTB).
Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB)
The Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) is Germany's national metrology institute and the highest authority for all matters relating to accurate measurement. As a federal scientific and technical agency, it reports to the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. The PTB's work in the field of mass and mass determination is particularly relevant to weighing technology, serving as the basis for standards, guidelines, and calibration procedures.
Working Group on Metrology and Calibration (AGME)
The Working Group on Metrology and Calibration (AGME) serves as the central coordinating body for the calibration supervisory authorities in Germany. It comprises the heads of the calibration authorities of the federal states, supplemented by a guest from the German National Metrology Institute (PTB). The AGME's objective is the uniform enforcement of calibration law in practice and the coordination of technical, organizational, and legal issues.
German Academy for Metrology (DAM)
The German Academy for Metrology (DAM) is a joint training and continuing education institution for calibration officers from all German federal states. It is located at the Bavarian State Office for Weights and Measures and is headquartered in Munich. In close cooperation with the PTB (German National Metrology Institute) and the International Organization of Legal Metrology (OIML), the DAM is involved in projects related to metrology, standardization, and quality assurance.
German Accreditation Body (DAkkS)
The German Accreditation Body GmbH (DAkkS) is the national accreditation body of the Federal Republic of Germany. It acts in the public interest and is the sole provider of accreditations in Germany. Among other things, DAkkS accredits calibration laboratories and testing laboratories, thereby making an important contribution to quality assurance and the comparability of measurement results.
European Cooperation in Legal Metrology (WELMEC)
WELMEC is a European organization with the goal of harmonizing legal metrology within Europe. It promotes the exchange of information between member states and supports the uniform application of European and international regulations. A key outcome of this work is the so-called WELMEC Guides, which serve as an important reference tool for manufacturers, authorities, and testing laboratories.
International Organization of Legal Metrology (OIML)
The International Organization of Legal Metrology (OIML) is a globally active institution dedicated to harmonizing metrological regulations in legal metrology. Recommendations published by the OIML – particularly in the field of weighing technology – are applied in many countries and are incorporated into national and international standards.