| BRAND SUMMARY | |
| Parent Company | Fortive |
| Headquartered | Everett, Washington, USA |
| Product Focus | High-end Test, Monitoring, Calibration Equipment |
| Target Markets | Low (to $150), Mid ($400), Premium ($500+) |
| Production Facilities | USA, Europe, Asia |
| Employees | 2,500+ |
The Fluke Corporation has been the leader in the manufacture of multimeters and other technical measuring tools for generations. They consistently produce reliable, accurate and stylish DMMs that are the preferred go-to tool for most electricians.
They have a massive inventory of products, from standard testers to non-contact voltage detectors and highly accurate insulation equipment. Each model is robustly designed and tested, able to withstand shocks and harsh environments more so than most. The brand has a reputation for portability, ruggedness, safety, ease of use and rigid standards of quality.
Examples of highly recommended Fluke Multimeters:
Fluke 115
One of Fluke’s entry-level electrician’s meters, this is a popular option for those starting out, as well as for skilled journeymen / tradesmen. It is nice and compact, has True RMS capabilities and a backlit display. You can also measure current and, although it lacks a low current range, it is good for those who can’t afford a full range model. Read more…
117
A handy, portable device capable of measuring to CATIII 600V AC/DC. It has a slew of features, such as voltage detection, low impedance anti-ghosting and auto-volt. The 117 is among their compact line and can be operated with one hand. Read more…
177
Part of the 170 series of professional multimeters, the Fluke 177 is an excellent device for serous electricians. It is very robust, quick and accurate, and is still a nice size in the hand. Though pricey, you can’t go wrong with this as it will last years. Full review…
87V
Probably one of the best multimeters in the industry. This is an all round meter; good for everything from fine electronic work up to harsh, plant-based engineering. It is very durable and reliable, has a high resolution screen and more features than you could poke a stick at. Read more…
101
If you’re looking for a cheap Fluke, the 101 is it. Billed as a pocket multimeter, it is the smallest of their line and will do the basics. Although there is no current range, you can measure voltage, resistance, capacitance and frequency. You can also check for continuity and it comes with auto ranging. More…
27II
The 27 is a part of the super-rugged 20 Series of Fluke meters. These are watertight, dust-proof devices that are heavily engineered and extremely tough. Despite its high accuracy, great battery life and high price, this is the bottom of this particular range believe it or not. Read more…
323
The Fluke brand also does a range of current clamp meters, including the best selling 323. It measures to 400A AC amps, and although it lacks a Hall effect DC amperage sensor, it also measures AC and DC voltage, as well as resistance and continuity checks. Read more…
Company Background
The company was founded by John Fluke in the late 1940s, later to become the John Fluke Manufacturing Company in Washington State. His electrical metering, instrumentation and calibration equipment was cutting edge and put him in direct competition with Hewlett-Packard.
In the 1960s and 1970s, the market for test equipment was huge, with them taking a healthy portion through its large, bench-mounted digital voltmeters. Even though sales slowed in the 1980s – in large part due to the advent of computer- and module-based measurement devices – their sales in handheld devices remained upbeat.
Today
The Danaher Corporation acquired the firm in 1998, though today it is under subsidiary company Fortive. A global operation with manufacturing facilities and offices around the world, including in Europe and Asia, it has burgeoned into a billion dollar firm. They continue to churn out high-end measuring equipment and are the de facto brand for multimeters in particular.
Fluke Products
Digital Multimeters
There is a huge line of Fluke brand digital meters that range from compact, entry level testers for domestic and light industry electricians to professional, all-encompassing devices for plant engineers, maintenance technicians, and field service and lab-based technicians. Typically, all disciplines are catered to, with new tools to detect errors in complex systems being developed all the time to better aid electronics and test engineers, HVAC technicians, thermographers and so on.
Broadly classified: general purpose, compact, specialty, advanced, and bench.
Modern meters often include an array of extra facets, such as non-contact voltage detects, temperature measurement sensors and even wireless connectivity. The Fluke Connect® app reads measurements remotely via wireless modules, with the data transmitted to smartphones.
Other High End Equipment
Along with multimeters and clamp meters is a complete array of test equipment, such as insulation resistance testers, earth ground testers, portable oscilloscopes, and a slew of condition monitoring equipment to include dedicated thermal imagers, vibration monitors and air quality meters.
They also produce accurate battery analyzers, laser distance meters, power loggers, pressure and temperature calibrators, and data acquisition equipment. Defining market segments within the corporation include calibration, networks and biomedical services, where the need for precision measurement is paramount.
In the sphere of electrical calibration, the Fluke brand excels, particularly since the acquisition of respected companies like Wavetek Wandell Goltermann, DH Instruments and Hart Scientific. They have significantly added to the company’s product lines in pressure and temperature calibration especially. Fluke Calibration offers precisely-calibrated instruments to provide services to governments and organizations where exacting standards are essential.
Testing Facilities
The equipment is calibrated and maintained to NIST Traceable Certificate standard at its own onsite calibration laboratory. This high standard of testing is recognized by the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP).
Products are then put through the paces at their environmental safety lab. Typical test processes here may include: bashing, dropping, overloading, shaking, baking, soaking, freezing and general abuse to give an over the top representation of years of hard use. Any flaws within these tests see the product re-engineered.
Intense research and development aside, with the huge investment in testing, quality control and devotion to getting it right, it is plain to see why Fluke brand multimeters maintain their position as the number one provider of test meters and any other equipment it produces.
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