Fluke Takes Decades of Engineering Excellence to New Heights in Near-Space Challenge
Key Highlights
- ➤87V MAX reached 20 miles (32,000 metres) above Earth
- ➤87V MAX passed 100% of post-flight performance verification tests
- ➤Near-space conditions included −60°C (−76°F) temperatures and 0.87 kPa pressure
- ➤Fluke tests CAT-rated equipment to 12,000 volts versus an 8,000-volt standard
- ➤Fluke raised internal altitude requirements from 6,500 feet to 10,000 feet
Expert Statements
Parker Burke, President of Fluke Corporation
“Every manufacturer claims their tools are tough. What matters is the engineering behind that claim. For generations, Fluke engineers have taken pride in exceeding expectations, often in ways customers never see. The near-space challenge brings that commitment into the spotlight, demonstrating the lengths we go to in testing the tools our customers depend on. We've always believed in giving customers a little more than they paid for, not just in performance, but in the confidence that comes with it. That's how trust is earned. And how we will continue to earn it.”
Jeff Gust, Chief Metrologist at Fluke Corporation
“One customer described Fluke as their 'insurance policy'. That responsibility drives Fluke to go beyond industry standards, subjecting its products to more demanding tests because the ultimate measure of trust is the confidence customers have to do their jobs safely and return home at the end of each day.”
Jeff Gust, Chief Metrologist at Fluke Corporation
“In addition to being safe, Fluke builds products that customers can rely on to perform from the heights of near space to the harshest environments on earth. Whether they're working on an offshore platform, at extreme heights or in remote locations, equipment failure is not an option. It's a responsibility we take enormous pride in. Before a product carries the Fluke name, we go beyond the required tests to understand its limits and give customers greater confidence in its performance. The near-space challenge makes that commitment visible, but it's something our engineers put into practice every day.”
Everett, Washington, Oct. 27, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- For nearly 80 years, Fluke has helped shape the safety and reliability standards that guide the global test and measurement industry, while setting even more demanding requirements for its own products. This approach reflects a deeply embedded engineering culture built on a simple belief: earning customer trust means going beyond what is required.
Fluke put that commitment to the ultimate test, sending its 87V MAX digital multimeter 20 miles (32,000 metres) above Earth, where it encountered temperatures near -76°F (-60°C) and atmospheric pressure of just 0.87 kPa, less than 1% of that at sea level. After returning from conditions far beyond its specified operating environment, the instrument was taken to Fluke's calibration facility in Norwich, United Kingdom, for a comprehensive assessment of its performance and condition.
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