Wolfgang Bahr, Head of ASC Calibration Lab

You joined the ASC team in January 2025. How did your technical career begin?

Even as a child, I was passionate about tinkering and repairing. Before leaving for school in the morning, I would already take apart toys … So, my parents weren’t surprised when I decided to take an apprenticeship as an electrician. After completing my military duty, I started working in the service and repair department of a large US corporation, where I ultimately stayed for 23 years. Over that period, I had the opportunity to learn about a wide variety of topics and gain valuable insights.

What skills were you able to acquire?

Following my work in the service and repair department, where one is constantly challenged with yet new technical issues and has to develop appropriate solutions, I helped set up the final inspection process. In 2007, I moved to error analysis. With this move, I became responsible for all of Europe. This involved ensuring product quality and compliance with a wide variety of international norms and standards across all countries and areas of application in which the products were utilized. We often had to carry out fault analyses at customer sites in the field and to go into great depth in investigating and rectifying root causes. That is where I developed a real passion for material strength and fatigue, fracture patterns, corrosion phenomena … in short, for everything to do with metallurgy.

In 2019, I was appointed laboratory head for calibration services. The lab was brand new. I was responsible for setting it up and obtaining initial accreditation, as well as for the explosion protection certification of products, weekly audits, communication with independent evaluation and certification bodies and much more.

What made you decide to work for ASC?

After changes at my previous employer last year, I began looking for a new challenge. ASC responded to my application quickly and invited me for an interview. The meeting felt right from the start: friendly, warm, yet also professional, based on exciting, innovative technology. I didn’t have to think twice. The switch from a large corporation with lots of bureaucracy and complex processes to a flexible, team-oriented small business environment was appealing.

What are your responsibilities as Head of Calibration Services at ASC Sensors?

I oversee ensuring that sensor products – whether from ASC or other manufacturers – are calibrated to the latest norms and testing standards, leave our laboratory timely and in top-quality condition. To enable that, I need to ensure that the necessary equipment and resources are in place. Relevant accreditations must be completed successfully, so that customers globally can rely on our calibration services meeting the expected quality standards.

What calibration services does ASC offer?

We calibrate accelerometers and vibration sensors of all makes, regardless of technology, for frequency ranges from 0.4 Hz to 10 kHz. This includes capacitive, lightweight piezoelectric (IEPE), piezoresistive and quartz-based accelerometers. We now also offer calibration for angular velocity which benefits customers with gyroscopes and IMUs (Inertial Measurement Units). In addition, we calibrate rod potentiometers and cable position sensors, as well as – in cooperation with partners – tilt sensors.

Our customers may choose between two quality levels: factory calibration or DAkkS accredited calibration in accordance with Directive DKD-R 3-1 for acceleration. DAkkS accredited calibration certificates prove traceability to national standards as required by standards cluster DIN EN ISO 9000 and DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025. Factory calibrations offer high-quality calibration, too, yet are not considered to represent such evidence. Further details can be found on the ASC web site.

Why do sensors require calibration in the first place?

Professional calibration ensures the quality and proper functioning of your sensors, as well as the accuracy of measurement results. In some areas of application, standards and laws prescribe how often or after what level of stress a sensor must be recalibrated. However, ultimately each customer decides for themselves when and how often they want to have their sensors calibrated. On request, we will be happy to remind you of the next scheduled calibration.

A penchant for precision is probably a basic requirement for your profession. Would you describe yourself as an “accuracy nerd”?

My goal is, of course, to fulfill technical responsibilities precisely. However, I have always been a mixture of precision and a little chaos, too. Because you also need to be creative and willing to relinquish control in order to remain open to alternative approaches, break new ground and try out the unknown. If I always worked strictly according to a template, I’d deprive myself of the opportunity to think in new directions and develop new ideas. For me and my career, these opposites have always worked together well.

How do you experience ASC Sensors as a workplace?

Above all, I have experienced excellent collaboration with all my colleagues from day one. Short decision-making paths, openness to change, people are happy when employees contribute new ideas … these are significant differences from my previous workplace. The professionalism of this specialized team – which is relatively small compared to large corporations, of course – is also truly amazing.

Who are you when you’re not working?

My wife and I have twin daughters who are in school and bring us a lot of joy. We live in the countryside and enjoy walking through the surrounding woods and meadows. We also conduct archery with our girls.

As we recently bought a home of our own, I’m often busy with gardening. I also enjoy tinkering with my two old-timer cars and a classic Vespa model. My passion for this comes partly from childhood memories, but this hobby also keeps challenging my creativity and technical problem-solving skills.