A perfect match: sensor solutions based on customer insights and a passion for problem solving

Sharing strong customer focus

Providing cutting-edge solutions to customers globally, the German sensor specialist works through a network of local partners. These are selected, typically, to share ASC’s strong customer focus. Like StrainSense Limited, ASC’s distribution partner for the UK and Ireland.

The proficient distributor of reliable sensors, instrumentation and data acquisition products based in Milton Keynes, England, liaises closely with businesses across Britain and Ireland to create and supply effective, dependable solutions. In tackling often complex challenges, they source, tailor and apply the best-suited technologies and products to meet respective needs, including specific requirements.

Addressing a market need: customized solutions

“One reason for representing ASC in our marketplace is the absolute quality and reliability of their accelerometers, gyroscopes and IMUs,” says StrainSense Sales & Marketing Manager Andrew Miller. “The other is that the ASC team fully shares our drive to support customers, our technical orientation and passion for solving complex challenges.”

“We’ve thrown some pretty hefty challenges at ASC already,” remembers Andrew. Such as sensor solutions addressing demanding applications in motorsports. Or the recent development of a sensor system for the structural monitoring of a large railway viaduct, forming a critical component of the new HS2 high-speed rail program in the UK. For this, specially designed high-precision ASC quartz accelerometers have been integrated into the 2.1-mile long, curving structure at defined measuring points in deck segments and noise barriers to ensure smooth, safe, stable operation under the extreme stress loads of modern high-speed railway.

“Not only do we look for fitting applications for overseas manufacturers’ assets in the UK and Irish markets,” explains Andrew. “In addition, we liaise directly with our customers and provide technical input to the development of product, to fit particular applications or fulfil an application need.” As the preparedness by other manufacturers to customize products and solutions seems to be decreasing.

A passion for engineering

“We really are an engineering-lead team, with deep expertise in sensor and data acquisition technologies and a passion for the various technical challenges our UK and Irish customers are facing,” states StrainSense Internal Sales Engineer Duncan Farquhar. “For us, it is all about the application – this drives us!”

The company’s experts come with deep experience across many sectors including a strong focus on civil and structural engineering. To that end, they blend their application knowledge and close customer interaction with ASC’s flexible sensor portfolio supporting diverse specs, performance levels and implementation options. On that basis, the team is able to realize comprehensive technology solutions for structural health monitoring of bridges and viaducts, tunnels and other rail infrastructure, buildings, dams, flood defenses and further constructions.

“Beyond our shared customer orientation, we also share with our StrainSense partners that unwavering passion for problem-solving and engineering solutions that work,” states Bay. ASC’s available portfolio readily fits most desired sensor systems, even complex or novel ones. “However, should our vast product range not adequately address an existing need, our own team of engineers stands ready to make the adjustments it takes to create an optimal fit.”

Partnership driving technical excellence

Which happened in the UK HS2 rail project: Close collaboration between the two partners and their customer drove technical excellence. “We always interact with the client first, to properly understand their needs,” states Duncan. The StrainSense team then went back to work with ASC on designing a bespoke solution.

This led to the development of the ASC QBA series: a family of accelerometers specially designed to address high-end measurement challenges in bridge monitoring and civil engineering. Beyond that, the innovative servo-balanced quartz sensors are now available to customers everywhere to also help solve tough measurement, monitoring and navigation challenges in train vibration and tilt control, conveying systems, seismic detection, automotive testing or navigation systems in the aviation and aerospace industries.

“Our shared willingness to customize and problem-solve gives customers what they really want,” Andrew is convinced. “What we also appreciate about the ASC team is their high degree of accountability in our joint development projects. They get us. They work with us. They are proactive. They know what they are doing.”

“At ASC, we look forward to continuing this amazing partnership with StrainSense,” agrees Bay. “Together, we’ll keep pushing the boundaries to create novel sensor solutions. For customers in the UK, Ireland and around the world.”