Optical Measurement Solutions

ITER is an international fusion experiment aiming to demonstrate a new, clean, and sustainable source of power. HBK was entrusted with the supply of advanced optical strain‑gauge measurement systems designed to perform in some of the harshest conditions imaginable—extreme radiation, vacuum environments, powerful electromagnetic fields, and cryogenic temperatures. 

DB Systemtechnik, the independent testing authority of Deutsche Bahn, is exploring how HBK’s optical strain‑gauge technology could transform the way wheel‑rail forces are measured during railway vehicle approval testing. Traditional electrical strain‑gauge installations require extensive wiring, drilling, and weeks of labour per wheelset—adding cost, complexity, and mechanical risk. By using optical strain gauges, the company aims to significantly reduce installation time, minimise structural intervention, and enhance safety.

At Spain’s Endesa Hydroelectric Plant, HBK delivered high‑precision optical measurements under extreme environmental and time‑critical conditions. Tasked with installing a thermally compensated FBG‑based strain monitoring system on a steel adduction pipeline—spread across remote sections and hundreds of meters from the control room—the team completed the full deployment in just three days. 

When an earthquake reduced L’Aquila’s historic Santa Maria del Suffragio church to ruins, engineers faced a delicate challenge: rebuild a landmark while ensuring its long‑term structural resilience. To support the seismic reinforcement of the centuries‑old structure, HBK deployed advanced optical FBG sensing technology to monitor strain and temperature in critical pre‑stressed tie rods—providing continuous, high‑resolution insight where precision was non‑negotiable.