National Measurement System Flow Programme

TÜV SÜD National Engineering Laboratory is at the forefront of flow and density measurement research, with an extensive range of facilities suitable for testing needs.  As the UK’s Designated Institute for Flow and Density Measurement, we lead the Flow Programme, a UK National Measurement System (NMS) funded programme of activity associated with flow measurement and gears metrology.

What is the Flow Programme?

The Flow Programme is one of the science programmes within the UK’s Nation Measurement System (NMS). The NMS operates within the Business and Science Group of the Department for Business, Energy and industrial Strategy.

The purpose of the NMS is to maintain the UK’s National Measurement Infrastructure and to support strategic metrology research aligned to industrial requirements, typically on a time horizon of about 10 years.  It provides the UK with the resources of a network of National Measurement Laboratories that provide the UK’s base measurement standards and deliver world-leading measurement research in support of UK industry and academia. 

The UK National Measurement Laboratories are:

• National Physical Laboratory (NPL)
• LGC Ltd
• TÜV SÜD National Engineering Laboratory
• National Gear Metrology Laboratory (NGML)
• National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC)
• Regulatory Delivery (part of BEIS)

The NMS enables the UK to compete in global trade and manufacturing by ensuring the consistency and recognition of measurement units and standards throughout the world. The National Measurement Laboratories disseminate measurement knowledge and information through events, research, case studies, training, newsletters, advice and guides, to the wider measurement community.

The Flow Programme leads the NMS activity associated with flow measurement and gears metrology.  It invests in the UK’s Flow Measurement Standards based at TÜV SÜD National Engineering Laboratory in East Kilbride and the Gears Metrology Standards based at Newcastle University.  

Why is the Flow Programme important?

The Flow Programme funds research and development concerning future flow and gear metrology requirements.  It contributes to the UK’s international efforts on flow measurement standardisation, vital for fair and equitable trade, and to ensure that industry across the world has access to the research output of the programme through a range of knowledge transfer activities.

Why choose TÜV SÜD National Engineering Laboratory to lead the Flow Programme?

TÜV SÜD National Engineering Laboratory is a world-class provider of technical consultancy, research, testing and programme management services. We have also recently opened the Advanced Multiphase Facility (AMF), a revolutionary high pressure, high-flow rate multiphase facility with a test range beyond anything currently available in the world and is the UK’s Designated Institute for Flow Measurement.