Image: Beamex founders in the mid 1970s
Beamex was founded in 1975, so in 2025 we’ll be celebrating our 50th anniversary. A lot has changed in the process industry over these five decades, and Beamex has been right there through it all. From the early days of manual calibration tools to the advanced digital and automated solutions we see today, it’s been quite a journey.
I’ve had the chance to experience much of this change firsthand since I joined Beamex in the late 1980s. Over the years, I’ve watched as both the process industry and Beamex have evolved, with new technologies and approaches shaping how we do things. It’s been a rewarding experience, and I’d like to share some of that journey with you.
So, let’s take a look back at some of the changes in process calibration over the last 50 years – and how Beamex has grown and adapted along the way!
Let’s start by jumping into a time machine and going back 50 years, to a time when the world of calibration technicians was already undergoing significant change. By the 1970s, the process industry had largely shifted from pneumatic systems to the 4–20 mA electric current signal, which became the standard for transmitting process variables like pressure, temperature, and flow.
However, the instruments themselves remained fully analog. Calibration was still a hands-on, mechanical process. Calibrators were bulky, single-function devices – essentially, they were large, heavy boxes that required technicians to carry multiple tools to handle different types of measurements. In other words, portability was a challenge, and a day in the field involved lugging around these hefty calibrators to different sites.
The documentation process was also entirely manual as there was no software to streamline the process. Calibration results were logged by hand in notebooks, and physical folders were used to archive certificates and other documentation. Paper-based systems were used to plan and schedule calibrations: calendars, lists, and hand-written records were the norm. There was no easy way to search through historical records, and identifying trends often meant digging through mountains of paperwork.
This manual process was slow, prone to human error, and made it difficult to ensure compliance with industry standards such as ISO 9001 and ISO 17025, which demand accurate and traceable documentation.
In the late 70s and 80s, process instrumentation experienced a major shift from analog to digital transmitters. The arrival of digital instruments with embedded microprocessors brought greater precision, reliability, and diagnostic capabilities.
The introduction of smart transmitters and protocols like Highway Addressable Remote Transducer (HART) enabled bidirectional communication, allowing easier configuration and troubleshooting. This leap forward helped improve operational efficiency and reliability across industries.
Beamex Evolution: From Analog to Microprocessor-based Calibrators
Just as the industry evolved, Beamex transitioned from analog calibrators like the Beamex VA to digital microprocessor-based devices. With the shift to microprocessors, Beamex developed more versatile, multifunctional, portable calibrators.
These new devices allowed for higher precision and offered features like data storage; they also kick-started the journey towards automated, paperless calibration. Beamex’s early adoption of embedded software also laid the foundation for calibration management systems, making calibration more efficient and traceable as industries demanded greater compliance and accuracy.
In the late 20th century, the industry began a significant shift toward digital communication protocols to enhance the way instruments communicated with communicators and even control systems. One of the most widely adopted protocols during this transition was HART, which allowed instruments to send both the traditional analog 4–20 mA signal and digital data over the same wires. HART became popular because it offered backward compatibility with existing analog systems while adding advanced diagnostics and configuration options that weren’t possible with analog signals alone.
Alongside HART, fully digital communication protocols such as Foundation Fieldbus (FF) and Profibus also gained traction. Unlike HART, which still relied on an analog signal, fieldbus protocols were entirely digital and allowed multiple devices to communicate over a single bus, reducing wiring complexity and improving communication efficiency. These protocols enabled more sophisticated data exchange and device diagnostics as well as real-time control.
Beamex Response: Calibrators with Integrated Digital Protocol Support
As the industry adopted these digital protocols, Beamex responded by integrating support for them into its calibration tools. The Beamex MC5 Multifunction Calibrator was among the first to include HART communication capabilities, allowing technicians to both calibrate and configure HART instruments with one device. This integration was an important advance, as it provided users with a single tool that could handle both the traditional 4–20 mA signal and the digital diagnostics offered by HART.
Beamex also introduced support for Foundation Fieldbus and Profibus for the MC5, offering basic functionality to communicate with and test instruments using these fully digital protocols.
With the launch of the MC6 Advanced Field Calibrator and Communicator family, Beamex took its digital communication capabilities even further. The MC6 featured improved HART communication and more advanced support for Foundation Fieldbus and Profibus, making it easier for technicians to configure, diagnose, and calibrate instruments directly from the calibrator. These improvements meant that the MC6 not only served as a calibrator but also as a powerful communicator for the digital protocols that had become essential in modern process instrumentation.
As calibration tools transitioned from analog to digital, managing the increasing volume of calibration data became a growing challenge. In the early days, calibration results were logged by hand, with records stored in physical folders.
The introduction of calibration management software transformed how calibration data was handled. With software, calibration tasks – from scheduling and execution to data recording and reporting – could be automated and streamlined. Technicians could now store all calibration data digitally in a centralized system, making it easier to manage and retrieve records when needed. This not only saved time but also helped reduce the errors that came with manual processes, greatly improving efficiency.
As technology advanced, calibration software added features like automatic reminders for recalibration, guided workflows, and integration with calibration devices. These improvements allowed calibration teams to stay organized, comply more easily with regulatory standards, and maintain a complete digital history of all calibration activities.
Beamex Role in the Development of Calibration Software
At Beamex, we introduced our first calibration software tools in the early 90s, first for specific Epson computers, then MS DOS-based calibration management software, and later we released Windows versions – for example, the Quality Manager (QM6) software.
One of our most successful software products has been CMX Calibration Management Software. This innovative platform allows users to move from paper-based processes to a fully digital workflow, meaning all calibration tasks can be managed in one place from start to finish. With CMX, users can schedule, document, and report calibrations with ease, reducing the time and effort required to maintain compliance with industry standards.
Cloud computing has significantly changed the process industry and the way calibration data is managed. Previously, calibration records were stored locally, which limited access and made collaboration between teams difficult. Cloud-based systems now allow calibration data to be accessed in real time from any location, making it easier to share information across multiple sites and maintain consistent calibration practices.
The cloud also provides automatic backups and enhanced data security, reducing the risk of data loss. It simplifies software updates and allows companies to scale their calibration management without major infrastructure investments, making it a practical solution for growing operations.
Beamex Role: LOGiCAL Cloud-based Calibration
In line with the shift toward cloud solutions, Beamex developed LOGiCAL Calibration Management Software, a cloud-based platform for managing calibration activities. LOGiCAL enables users to perform and document calibrations remotely and store the data in a centralized, cloud-based system, eliminating the need for local installations or software on site.
Over the past few decades, there has been a continuous drive to improve accuracy in process instrumentation. As industries demanded more precise control over their processes, especially in sectors like pharmaceuticals, energy, and manufacturing, the accuracy of process transmitters and sensors became a critical factor. Early analog devices had inherent limitations in precision due to signal noise and manual calibration methods, which could lead to drift over time.
The transition to modern digital instruments helped improve accuracy significantly. Digital devices not only provided more stable signals but also allowed for better correction of errors and more sophisticated diagnostics. As sensor technologies improved, instruments became more reliable, reducing uncertainty and providing operators with more confidence in their measurements.
Along with advances in the devices themselves, there was a parallel need for calibration tools that could meet these higher standards of precision.
Beamex Response: From MC5 to MC6 Calibrators
Beamex has continuously evolved its calibrators to meet the process industry’s demand for increased accuracy. The Beamex MC5, introduced in 1999, was an important step in this journey, offering a high level of accuracy and multifunction capabilities that allowed technicians to calibrate multiple types of instruments with one device.
However, as industries sought even tighter tolerances and even more precise measurements, Beamex responded by developing the MC6 family of calibrators. The MC6 takes calibration accuracy to a new level, incorporating advanced pressure, temperature, and electrical measurement capabilities. It also features a higher-resolution touchscreen interface, making it easier for technicians to perform complex calibrations in the field. The intrinsically safe MC6-Ex model offers the same accuracy for potentially hazardous environments. The MC6-T Multifunction Temperature Calibrator and Communicator adds a high-accuracy temperature block for temperature calibrations.
Over the past few decades, regulations in the process industry have become significantly more stringent. Industries such as pharmaceuticals are among the most heavily regulated, with strict guidelines to ensure product safety, accuracy, and traceability. Industry-specific regulations, like Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 21 CFR Part 11, require that all equipment, including calibration devices, meet rigorous standards for data integrity and traceability.
Other sectors, such as food and beverage, also face growing regulatory pressure, requiring tight control over processes to ensure product quality and safety. In addition to industry-specific rules, general regulatory frameworks like ISO 9001 (for quality management systems) and ISO 17025 (for calibration and testing laboratories) have helped motivate companies to keep accurate records, maintain traceability, and ensure compliance with both internal and external audits.
These increasingly strict regulations demand that calibration processes not only deliver precise measurements but also provide full traceability and secure data management, making compliance an essential part of daily operations.
Beamex Response: Tools and Software to Meet Regulatory Requirements
In response to these growing demands, Beamex has developed its calibration tools and software to help industries remain compliant with evolving regulations. Special attention has been given to addressing the needs of highly regulated sectors like pharmaceuticals. Beamex’s CMX software is designed to help companies ensure compliance with industry standards and regulations, offering features such as secure data storage, audit trails, and electronic signatures that meet the requirements of FDA 21 CFR Part 11 and GMP. In addition, the Beamex MC6 family of calibrators have been developed for data integrity and electronic signature requirements.
In recent years, cybersecurity has become a critical concern for industries that rely on digital systems and data management, including the process instrumentation and calibration sectors. With the increasing connectivity of devices and the use of cloud-based solutions, the need to protect sensitive calibration data from cyber threats has become more pressing. Industries, particularly those handling critical infrastructure, are subject to stringent cybersecurity regulations to ensure that both operational data and intellectual property remain secure.
Ensuring the security of calibration systems, which often integrate with other control and data management systems, is now a key focus for many companies as part of broader risk management strategies.
Beamex Response: ISO 27001 Certification and NIS2 Knowledge
To address these challenges, Beamex has taken significant steps to enhance the cybersecurity features of its products and systems. This includes developing secure communication protocols, ensuring robust data encryption, and implementing rigorous security measures within its cloud-based solutions like LOGiCAL. In recognition of these efforts, Beamex achieved ISO 27001 certification, a globally recognized standard for information security management. This certification reflects Beamex’s commitment to safeguarding customer data and ensuring compliance with the highest standards of cybersecurity. Furthermore, the company has ensured it is fully up to date with the requirements of the EU's Directive on Network and Information Security (NIS2), which strengthens cybersecurity standards across essential sectors. Although the Directive does not directly impact Beamex, many of our customers must comply with NIS2, which may also affect their supply chains.
As industries embrace the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), the real-world applications of these powerful tools are beginning to extend into areas like calibration and maintenance. AI and ML can analyze vast amounts of data, detect patterns, and predict outcomes, making them particularly useful for predictive maintenance, fault detection, and process optimization.
In calibration, AI and ML could eventually help predict when instruments are likely to go out of tolerance, optimize calibration intervals, and improve the overall efficiency of calibration processes. By leveraging AI-driven insights, industries can reduce downtime, avoid unnecessary calibrations, and improve accuracy. The ability of these technologies to process historical calibration data and make predictions could lead to more proactive, data-driven decision-making in maintenance and calibration operations.
Beamex Approach: Exploring AI and ML
At Beamex, we are closely monitoring the development of AI and ML applications in calibration. While these technologies are just beginning to make inroads in the field of calibration, Beamex is actively exploring their potential through proofs of concept and ongoing research. Our goal is to understand how AI and ML can enhance calibration processes in the future, particularly in areas like predictive calibration scheduling and more efficient data analysis.
Last, but certainly not least, sustainability has become critically important in the industrial landscape, driving a shift toward environmentally conscious practices and efficient resource use. At Beamex, we embrace this evolution through our "Sustainable by Design" approach, developing long lasting, serviceable products that not only meet stringent industry demands but also minimize energy consumption and waste.
Solutions like the MC6 family and LOGiCAL software enable streamlined, resource-efficient calibration processes with accurate, traceable results, helping our customers to reduce their carbon footprint. Beyond product innovation, Beamex is committed to sustainable operations through energy efficiency, waste reduction, and responsible sourcing, building a resilient and environmentally conscious future for the process industry.
The calibration landscape continues to evolve, with several key trends shaping the future:
During the past 50 years I have seen major changes in the process instrumentation world, and Beamex has been transforming right alongside. From the move to digital tools and smart protocols to the rise of cloud-based software and integrated systems, we've adapted to help industries work more efficiently. As technology continues to evolve – through automation, AI, and digitalization – Beamex remains committed to providing solutions that keep pace with the needs of modern calibration and compliance.