DeFelsko Calibration & Repairs
South Africa’s official DeFelsko Authorised Service Centre. We calibrate, repair and maintain every DeFelsko inspection instrument, using genuine parts, manufacturer procedures and trained technicians.
Factory-standard service, without shipping overseas
Outside North America, DeFelsko relies on a small global network of Authorised Service Centres to look after its instruments. Storm Machinery is DeFelsko’s appointed service centre for South Africa, and we’re listed on DeFelsko’s own website.
To earn that status, a service centre has to meet DeFelsko’s requirements and standards so that every calibration, repair, diagnostic and maintenance job is done with genuine parts and certified tools, by qualified technicians. In practical terms, that means your gauge gets the same treatment it would at the factory in New York, while it stays in the country and comes back to you sooner.
Every DeFelsko instrument, covered
If it carries the DeFelsko, PosiTector or PosiTest name, we can calibrate it and repair it. If an instrument needs to go back to DeFelsko, we liaise with DeFelsko directly on your behalf, so you only ever deal with us.
- Coating thickness gauges – PosiTector 6000, 200 probes, plus PosiTest DFT models
- Surface profile gauges – PosiTector SPG and RTR replica tape readers
- Environmental and dew point meters – PosiTector DPM
- Salt and dust contamination testers – PosiTector SST and related kits
- Adhesion testers – PosiTest AT pull-off testers
- Ultrasonic wall thickness gauges – PosiTector UTG
- Hardness testers – PosiTector SHD
- Gloss meters – PosiTector GLS
- Pinhole and holiday detectors – PosiTest LPD and HHD
Not sure if we cover your model? Send us the probe serial number and we’ll confirm.
Calibration done to DeFelsko's own procedures
Calibration is the controlled, documented process of measuring traceable reference standards across the full operating range of your instrument or probe, and confirming that the results fall within its stated accuracy. DeFelsko specifies that this is done by the manufacturer, an authorised agent, or an accredited lab, in a controlled environment, using a documented method. As DeFelsko’s authorised agent in South Africa, that’s exactly what we do.
What’s included:
- Full-range calibration to DeFelsko’s manufacturer specifications and published procedures
- Calibrated using test equipment traceable to NIST (the US National Institute of Standards and Technology)
- Inspection of the probe, body, cable and display
- A Certificate of Calibration with every calibrated or repaired instrument
Certificates are issued against the probe serial number. On PosiTector instruments, all the measuring electronics live in the probe, so the probe is the part that’s actually calibrated.
Repairs with genuine DeFelsko parts
Dropped gauges, worn probes, damaged cables, faulty displays and battery issues are all part of life on site. We diagnose the fault, give you a clear quote before any work starts, and repair with genuine DeFelsko parts only. Every repaired instrument is recalibrated and returned with a fresh Certificate of Calibration, so it’s ready to go straight back to work.
Before sending a gauge in, it’s worth running through DeFelsko’s quick troubleshooting steps. Some issues can be sorted on the spot, and we’re happy to talk you through them over the phone.
How often should my gauge be recalibrated?
DeFelsko doesn’t set expiry dates on calibration. The right interval is a decision for you and your quality system, and it should be based on four things:
- How often the gauge is used
- The gauge’s physical condition
- The application you’re measuring
- The environment it works in, and how it’s stored and handled
A gauge used daily on abrasive surfaces will need attention sooner than one that’s handled gently and used occasionally. As a starting point, DeFelsko suggests a one-year interval, counted from the date of calibration, purchase or receipt, and then adjusting from there based on your own experience.
Do you need a SANAS-accredited calibration certificate?
Do you need a SANAS-accredited calibration certificate?
Many quality systems, client specifications and tender documents in South Africa call for calibration certificates from a SANAS-accredited laboratory. If that’s a requirement on your project, it’s an important one, and we want to make sure you get the right certificate first time.
Understanding the two types of certificate
SANAS (the South African National Accreditation System) accredits calibration laboratories against the international standard ISO/IEC 17025. A SANAS-accredited certificate confirms that the laboratory doing the work has been independently assessed for technical competence, and it is recognised internationally through the ILAC Mutual Recognition Arrangement.
As DeFelsko’s Authorised Service Centre, Storm Machinery issues a manufacturer-authorised Certificate of Calibration. Your instrument is calibrated to DeFelsko’s manufacturer specifications and documented procedures, using test equipment traceable to NIST. We don’t currently hold SANAS accreditation, so our certificates are not SANAS-accredited certificates.
Both are legitimate, traceable records of a properly performed calibration. The right one for you depends on what your quality system or your client specifies.
| Manufacturer-authorised certificate (Storm Machinery) | SANAS-accredited certificate |
|---|---|---|
Calibrated by | DeFelsko’s Authorised Service Centre for South Africa | A laboratory accredited by SANAS to ISO/IEC 17025 |
Method | DeFelsko’s manufacturer specifications and documented procedures | The laboratory’s accredited, documented method |
Traceability | Test equipment traceable to NIST | Traceable standards, with accreditation recognised internationally through the ILAC MRA |
Typically suits | Quality systems and clients that accept manufacturer calibration | Quality systems, clients or tenders that specify SANAS accreditation |
Not sure which you need?
Check your quality manual, or ask your client’s quality team, before you send your instrument in. If a SANAS-accredited certificate is required, tell us upfront and we’ll gladly help you find the right route. If a manufacturer-authorised certificate is accepted, we’ll calibrate, repair and return your instrument locally, to DeFelsko’s own specifications.
Keeping your readings accurate between calibrations
Whichever certificate you hold, it records your instrument’s accuracy on the day it was calibrated. DeFelsko coating thickness and surface profile gauges are designed to be checked and adjusted on site, and the coating inspection standards SSPC-PA 2 and ASTM D7091 call for gauges to be verified against known reference standards at least at the start and end of every shift. We’re happy to help you set up a simple verification routine with certified shims, so your readings stay trustworthy from one calibration to the next.
Sending your instrument in
- Get in touch – Email us at sales@stormmachinery.co.za or contact your nearest branch with the instrument model, probe serial number and what you need (calibration, repair or both).
- Send or drop off – Pack the instrument securely and send it to our workshop, or drop it off in person. Please remove the batteries from PosiTest HHD holiday detectors before sending.
- Inspection and quote – We inspect the instrument and confirm the work and cost with you before we start.
- Back to work – Your instrument comes back calibrated, with its Certificate of Calibration. Straightforward calibrations are completed within 1 working day from the date of order. PosiTector DPM dew point probes, and inspection kits that include one, take 3 to 5 working days from the date of order. For repairs, we’ll confirm the timeline when we send your quote.
FAQs
Are you an official DeFelsko service centre?
Yes. Storm Machinery is DeFelsko’s Authorised Service Centre for South Africa, and is listed on DeFelsko’s website.
Do I need to send my gauge overseas for calibration?
No. We calibrate and repair DeFelsko instruments locally, to DeFelsko’s own procedures, which saves you international shipping, customs delays and downtime.
How long does a calibration take?
Most straightforward calibrations are completed within 1 working day from the date of order. PosiTector DPM dew point probes need 3 to 5 working days from the date of order, and the same applies to inspection kits that include a DPM probe. Repair times depend on the fault, and we’ll confirm the timeline with your quote.
Why doesn't the serial number on my gauge body match my certificate?
On PosiTector instruments, the measuring electronics are in the probe, so the probe is what gets calibrated and certified. If you use one body with one probe, the simplest approach is to track the instrument by its probe serial number.
Can I check my gauge's accuracy myself between calibrations?
Yes, and you should. With a set of certified verification standards or shims, you can check your gauge whenever you need to using DeFelsko’s written procedures. Ask us about the right set for your instrument.
Can certified shims and standards be recalibrated?
DeFelsko recommends replacing standards once they’re visibly worn or scratched, and offers a trade-in discount on a new set. We can help you arrange this.
Will you update my instrument's software during a calibration or repair?
Software and firmware updates aren’t part of our calibration or repair service, because you can do them yourself at any time. DeFelsko’s PosiSoft software gives you full access to the latest updates for your instrument, so it’s always running the current version without needing to send it in. If you’d like a hand, our team is happy to guide you through the update process.
Do you offer SANAS-accredited certificates?
Our certificates are manufacturer-authorised DeFelsko certificates, traceable to NIST, rather than SANAS-accredited. If your quality system or client requires SANAS accreditation, let us know before you send your instrument in and we’ll help you find the right route. The SANAS section above explains the difference.
Book your calibration or repair
Keep your DeFelsko instruments accurate and audit-ready. Email sales@stormmachinery.co.za or contact your nearest Storm Machinery branch to book a calibration, request a repair quote or ask a question about your gauge.