National Standards Testing Laboratory
National Standards Testing Laboratory is a private, independent ANAB-accredited (ISO/IEC 17025:2017) calibration laboratory in Rockville, Maryland, founded in 1966 that provides precision, NIST-traceable force calibration of load cells, proving rings, and force gages in compression and tension modes to industrial, manufacturing, and testing-laboratory clients across the U.S.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1966
- HeadquartersRockville, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What National Standards Testing Laboratory does
National Standards Testing Laboratory (NSTL) is a private, independent calibration laboratory founded in 1966 and headquartered in Rockville, Maryland. The company operates a single-service business focused on precision calibration of force measuring instruments and systems, including load cells (with accompanying indicator or mV/V), proving rings, and force gages. NSTL calibrates devices in both compression and tension modes across a capacity range of 30 lbf to 1,000,000 lbf, with machine calibration capability up to 6,000,000 lbf per ASTM E 4. All calibrations are traceable to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the laboratory is accredited to ISO/IEC 17025:2017 by the ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board under Certificate L2271.
The technical platform consists of NIST-traceable primary force standards with published measurement uncertainty of 0.002% of load up to 12,000 lbf and 0.01% of load from 12,000 to 1,000,000 lbf, operated in compliance with MIL-STD-45662A, ISO 10012-1, and 10CFR Part 21. Beyond standard calibrations, NSTL performs custom procedures, special tests, and technical consultation billed at quoted or hourly rates.
NSTL monetizes through a published pay-as-you-go fee schedule (effective July 1, 2026) with per-device pricing tiered by capacity (1000–5000 series covering 50–1,000,000 lbf) and by mode (compression-only, tension-only, or both), with a $250 minimum per device and a $250/hour technical consultation line. Go-to-market is direct: customers submit devices to the Rockville lab and engage the company by telephone (301-590-0097 / 877-CAL-FORCE), fax, or email. The company serves industrial and manufacturing clients as well as testing laboratories that require NIST-traceable force calibration to satisfy quality system and accreditation requirements.
National Standards Testing Laboratory firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- National Standards Testing Laboratory
- Legal name
- National Standards Testing Laboratory
- Website
- https://forcelab.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1966
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- National Standards Testing Laboratory is a private, independent ANAB-accredited (ISO/IEC 17025:2017) calibration laboratory in Rockville, Maryland, founded in 1966 that provides precision, NIST-traceable force calibration of load cells, proving rings, and force gages in compression and tension modes to industrial, manufacturing, and testing-laboratory clients across the U.S.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
National Standards Testing Laboratory industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Force Calibration Services
- NAICS
- Testing Laboratories and Services (54138), Testing Laboratories and Services (541380)
- SIC
- Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Calibration Services & Standards (Calibration labs, reference standards, traceability services) (IMAGAFAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Weighing & Force Measurement (Load cells, scales, torque, strain measurement) (IMAGAFAF), Test & Measurement Equipment (Oscilloscopes, DAQ, signal analyzers, calibration benches) (IMAGAFAC)
Keywords
Where National Standards Testing Laboratory is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Rockville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
National Standards Testing Laboratory business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Calibration Services: NSTL generates revenue through calibration services for force measuring devices. Fees are based on the capacity and mode (compression, tension, or both) of the device being calibrated. Special services, custom procedures, and technical consultation are billed separately at quoted rates or hourly rates.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | 1000 Series (50-25,000 lbf) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | 2000 Series (25,001-112,000 lbf) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | 3000 Series (112,001-300,000 lbf) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | 4000 Series (300,001-500,000 lbf) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | 5000 Series (500,001-1,000,000 lbf) |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Special Services |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels2 records
National Standards Testing Laboratory product offering
Product offeringCore offering
National Standards Testing Laboratory provides precision calibration of force measuring instruments and systems, including load cells (with accompanying indicator or mV/V), proving rings, and force gages. Calibrations are performed in both compression and tension modes across capacities from 30 lbf to 1,000,000 lbf, with all work traceable to NIST and performed under ANAB accreditation (ISO/IEC 17025:2017) to ASTM E 74 and ASTM E 4 specifications. The laboratory also offers custom calibration procedures, special tests, and technical consultation billed separately.
Product overview
National Standards Testing Laboratory is a single-service calibration laboratory providing precision force calibration services. The company's sole offering is force calibration for force measuring instruments, including load cells with indicators, proving rings, and force gages. Services are differentiated by capacity ranges (50-25,000 lbf through 500,001-1,000,000 lbf) and mode (compression only, tension only, or both). Special services include custom calibration procedures, technical consultation, and special tests.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Force Calibration Services Precision force calibration of force measuring instruments and systems, including load cells (with accompanying indicator or mV/V), proving rings, and force gages. Calibrations are performed in both compression and tension modes with capacities from 30 lbf to 1,000,000 lbf, traceable to NIST, and issued under ANAB accreditation (Certificate L2271) per ASTM E 74. Intended for industrial, manufacturing, and testing laboratory customers requiring NIST-traceable force measurement data and accredited certificates.
- Machine Calibration Services Calibration of testing machines in accordance with ASTM E 4 Specification, with capacity up to 6,000,000 lbf. Performed under ANAB accreditation (ISO/IEC 17025:2017, Certificate L2271) and intended for laboratories and manufacturers operating large-force testing machines that require accredited calibration of the machine's force indication.
- Technical Administration and Consultation Hourly technical consultation and administrative services related to force calibration, billed at $250 per hour. Supports customers with specialized calibration needs, custom procedures, and technical questions around their force measurement programs.
- Special Tests and Custom Calibration Procedures Custom calibration procedures and special tests designed and executed for force measuring instruments that fall outside standard catalog services, including additional loads, bridges, ranges, and high-capacity tension devices requiring special fittings. Priced per quote or at cost. Intended for customers with non-standard device configurations or specialized testing requirements.
Quantifiable outcome
- Force calibration uncertainty of 0.002% of load up to 12,000 lbf
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use National Standards Testing Laboratory
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
National Standards Testing Laboratory technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
National Standards Testing Laboratory partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)coreNSTL's force standards are standardized or calibrated directly by NIST. All calibration certificates and reports reference the NIST Lab Numbers applicable to the NSTL Standards used. This provides the foundational traceability required for calibration accuracy and regulatory compliance.
- ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board (ANAB)coreANAB is the accreditation body that granted NSTL Certificate Number L2271, confirming NSTL's compliance with ISO/IEC 17025:2017 for force calibration services. ANAB performs continuous audits of NSTL's quality management system.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves3 records
Expansion highlights3 records
National Standards Testing Laboratory competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Transcat: Transcat is a publicly traded calibration services and test/measurement instrument distribution company. It serves industrial and life-science customers with both calibration services and the equipment used to perform them, competing with NSTL on calibration while also being a potential partner.
- Fluke Calibration: Fluke Calibration (a division of Fortive) manufactures precision calibration instruments including deadweight testers and pressure/electrical calibration standards, and also supports calibration laboratories globally. They are a broad incumbent in the metrology/calibration space that overlaps with NSTL's addressable market.
- MTS Systems: MTS Systems manufactures materials testing and calibration equipment for force, fatigue, and structural testing applications. They are a broad incumbent in the test/measurement space whose equipment NSTL and peers calibrate, making them an adjacent ecosystem participant.
- Instron: Instron (part of Illinois Tool Works) manufactures materials testing machines and provides related calibration services. They are a broad incumbent whose testing machines are routinely calibrated by NSTL and similar labs, making them an adjacent player in the force measurement ecosystem.
- Trescal: Trescal is one of the world's largest calibration services providers, offering force calibration alongside a broad portfolio of dimensional, electrical, and physical calibrations with mobile on-site capabilities. It is a broad incumbent that competes with NSTL in force calibration but with much wider service scope.
Others
- National Physical Laboratory (NPL): NPL is a UK national metrology institute that maintains primary force standards and provides traceability. They are an ecosystem enabler/reference body rather than a commercial competitor, but they shape the standards and traceability chain that NSTL's services depend on.
Direct peers
- J.A. King & Company: J.A. King is a calibration services provider serving manufacturing clients with force, mass, pressure, and other physical calibration services. They are a direct peer competing for the same industrial customer base with comparable on-site and in-lab calibration capabilities.
- Morehouse Instrument Company: Morehouse Instrument Company is a direct peer — a specialized force calibration laboratory offering NIST-traceable calibration of load cells, proving rings, force gages, and deadweights. They are the closest competing specialist to NSTL in force-only calibration.
- Davis Calibration: Davis Calibration provides ISO/IEC 17025 accredited calibration services across force, pressure, torque, and other physical parameters. They are a direct peer competing with NSTL in industrial force calibration, though with a broader service menu.
Emerging players
- Calibration Solutions: Calibration Solutions is a regional calibration services provider offering force, dimensional, and pressure calibration to industrial customers. They are an emerging/regional player with partial overlap to NSTL in force calibration but broader geographic reach in some markets.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
National Standards Testing Laboratory social profiles
Digital presenceNational Standards Testing Laboratory compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance8 records
National Standards Testing Laboratory financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
National Standards Testing Laboratory leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
National Standards Testing Laboratory funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
National Standards Testing Laboratory M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about National Standards Testing Laboratory
What does National Standards Testing Laboratory do?
National Standards Testing Laboratory provides precision calibration of force measuring instruments and systems, including load cells (with accompanying indicator or mV/V), proving rings, and force gages. Calibrations are performed in both compression and tension modes across capacities from 30 lbf to 1,000,000 lbf, with all work traceable to NIST and performed under ANAB accreditation (ISO/IEC 17025:2017) to ASTM E 74 and ASTM E 4 specifications. The laboratory also offers custom calibration procedures, special tests, and technical consultation billed separately.
Is National Standards Testing Laboratory a public or private company?
National Standards Testing Laboratory is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was National Standards Testing Laboratory founded?
National Standards Testing Laboratory was founded in 1966. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is National Standards Testing Laboratory based?
National Standards Testing Laboratory is headquartered in Rockville, United States, in the North America region.
How does National Standards Testing Laboratory make money?
One revenue line is on record: calibration Services.
Who are National Standards Testing Laboratory's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Transcat, Fluke Calibration, MTS Systems, Instron and Trescal. National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is listed as an others. Direct peers are J.A. King & Company, Morehouse Instrument Company and Davis Calibration. Calibration Solutions is listed as an emerging player.
Does National Standards Testing Laboratory have an API?
No public API is recorded for National Standards Testing Laboratory.
What industry is National Standards Testing Laboratory in?
National Standards Testing Laboratory's product category is Force Calibration Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAGAFAH, Calibration Services & Standards (Calibration labs, reference standards, traceability services), with a secondary code of IMAGAFAF, Weighing & Force Measurement (Load cells, scales, torque, strain measurement). Its NAICS code is 54138 and its SIC code is 8734.