19 Nov Socorex celebrates 20 years of its Accredited Calibration Service

A track record of growth with no signs of slowing down

Alongside the manufacture of precision liquid handling instruments, Socorex was among the first companies in the 1980s to recognise the importance of repair and calibration services in maintaining reliability and performance of the instruments. Initially, the activity was carried out by a single person, steadily evolving into what is now known as the Socorex Service Centre.

Two milestones gave the Service Centre a decisive boost: the creation of dedicated laboratories and the achievement of ISO 17025 accreditation, granted by METAS (the Federal Institute of Metrology in Switzerland and a member of the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation, ILAC) in 2005. Since then, the Service Centre has grown continuously, expanding both its expertise and capacity. Today, with two ISO 17025 accredited laboratories and a skilled team of versatile technicians, the facility handles several tens of thousands of pipettes annually, servicing instruments of all major brands.

Fig. 1. Every year the of pipettes treated at the Socorex Service Centre increases.

Over the past 20 years, the Socorex Service Centre has become a key accredited calibration provider for hospitals, research institutions, universities, and private industries . Thanks to its technical excellence, modern facilities, ability to handle all brands, consistent service and quick turnaround, it has established itself as a leading name in the Swiss market – with no signs of slowing down.

Results with the highest standard for confidence

What does ISO 17025 certification mean for the Socorex Service Center? It signifies that its calibration laboratories operate competently and generate valid and consistent results, thereby promoting confidence in their work both nationally and around the world. More importantly, this confidence has remained stable for over 20 years, with successful completion of rigorous audits by local authorities every five years.

Since receiving its first ISO/EIC 17025 accreditation in 2005, Socorex Service Centre experienced a dramatic increase in demand for accredited calibration services. This clearly reflects a general shift towards stricter quality assurance in various industry sectors. ISO/EIC 17025 is a part of that and a cornerstone of credible and compliant laboratory operations.

To meet diverse customer requirements, the facility proposes different service tiers, including  those in full compliance with ISO 17025:

Overview of ISO 17025 accredited services available at Socorex

Feature	CLASSIC 2x10 'as left'	PREMIUM 3x10 'as left'	ULTRA 6x10 'as found' & 'as left'	For new instruments 3x10 'as left'
Disinfection				N/A
Instrument registration				N/A
Visual control				N/A
Disassembling, cleaning				N/A
Tightness part replacement as needed				N/A
Other faulty part replacement as needed				N/A
Function and tightness check under pressure				N/A
Gravimetric verification (ISO 8655, manufacturer tolerances)				N/A
Gravimetric calibration	2 volumes (min. & max.)	3 volumes (min., mid. & max.)	3 volumes (min., mid. & max.)	3 volumes (min., mid. & max.)
# of measurements per volume point	10x	10x	10x	10x
Calibration 'as found' certificate
Calibration 'as left' certificate
ISO 17025 accredited certificate	'as left' only	'as left' only	'as found' & 'as left'	'as left' only
BEST FOR...	Cost-efficient, with no compromises	Clients who need extra precision into the state of their laboratory equipment	Most demanding customer, in a highly competitive domain where showing attention to the slightest detail might offer an advantage	Newly established laboratory or one that acquired new equipment

 ISO 17025 accreditation guarantees:

• Reproducible results
• Confidence in testing and measurement procedures
• Recognition across ILAC member countries

Trusted by industry and healthcare leaders

The Socorex Service Centre is trusted by Switzerland’s most respected institutions, including hospitals such as HUG, CHUV, Clinique de La Source, as well as private companies like Nestlé, PMI, UCB, SIGMA, OM Pharma, Synlab, and many others. In these settings, accredited calibration plays a vital role in ensuring compliance and maintaining accuracy in the daily operations of their  laboratories. In regulated industries, it is not just recommended – it is often essential and mandatory as required by Swissmedic. 

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