HBK help Simond (Decathlon) reach the top

To improve its mountaineering equipment, outdoor specialist, Simond used force transducers to develop safer, more reliable mountain climbing equipment.

Following a recent move to new premises in Chamonix, France, Simond made a major investment in a fall-testing machine, which features a ‘fall tower’. During drops tests from the tower, the behaviour of ropes, harnesses, mountaineering and climbing accessories are measured. Equipped with force sensors supplied by HBK, the machine measures the pressure exerted on equipment during these tests

"The fall tower is designed in-house with safety, precision and efficiency in mind. Until now, we have been using external test equipment, in particular a machine from ENSA (Ecole Nationale de Ski et l'Alpinisme) in Chamonix Mont-Blanc. Now, with our own automated machine, we can carry out more tests at all stages of development since the machine is attached to the designers' office," said Antoine Lomberty, local engineer at the Décathlon mechanical testing laboratory.

The machine enables drop tests, with both free and guided axis, to be carried out from a height of approximately 12 metres. The machine includes actuators (electric motors) and sensors, as well as all safety devices.

Established 150 years ago, the French company has never strayed from its path of innovation and quality. In 2008, it joined the Decathlon brand and gained access to new resources which strengthen its presence in the market. Simond has become the brand dedicated to the company's high-mountain activities and - in this capacity - it has benefited from specific investments to strengthen its position.

About HBK – Hottinger, Brüel & Kjær

HBK – Hottinger, Brüel & Kjær, home to the HBM Test and Measurement and Brüel & Kjær Sound and Vibration brands, is a subsidiary of UK-based Spectris plc, which has annual sales of £1,5 bn and employs approximately 9800 people worldwide.

About HBM Test and Measurement

Hottinger Baldwin Messtechnik GmbH (HBM Test and Measurement, founded in Germany in 1950) is today the technology and market leader in the field of test and measurement. HBM’s product range comprises solutions for the entire measurement chain, from virtual to physical testing. The company has production facilities in Germany, USA, China, and Portugal and is represented in over 80 countries worldwide.

About Brüel & Kjær Sound & Vibration

Brüel & Kjær focuses on sound and vibration solutions and develops advanced technology for measuring and managing sound and vibration. As a specialist in this domain, the company helps customers ensure component quality, enhance product performance and monitor operational compliance.

For more than 75 years, Brüel & Kjær’s research and development people have excelled and many have become recognized global experts, who aid the scientific community and teach at renowned centres. The application of experience and technology promotes quality and efficiency at every stage of a product’s life cycle: design, development, manufacture, deployment and operation. Mastering sound and vibration is a key component in accelerating business growth and improving environmental quality.