CPV 384 – Instruments for Checking Physical Characteristics

What does CPV 384 cover?

CPV group 384 covers instruments for testing the physical properties of materials and substances. This includes materials testing machines (tensile testing machines, compression testing machines, bending testing machines), hardness testing devices (Vickers, Brinell, Rockwell), viscosity measuring devices (viscometers, rheometers), density measuring instruments (pycnometers, densitometers), surface roughness measuring devices, and instruments for testing optical, acoustic and thermal properties.

Contracting authorities include materials science research institutes, federal institutes for materials research (such as national equivalents of the German BAM), universities with technical degree programmes, quality assurance laboratories for public infrastructure (road materials laboratories, construction materials testing centres), health authorities (medical device testing), and armed forces for materials qualification testing. The full CPV structure is available at the European Commission (SIMAP) and Regulation (EC) No 213/2008.

Materials testing instruments are frequently designed for specific standards testing to DIN, EN or ASTM specifications. Technical specifications in tenders define standard compliance as a minimum requirement. Accreditation by national bodies and traceability to national measurement standards are mandatory for accredited testing laboratories.

Typical Services in CPV 384

• Materials testing machines (tension, compression, bending, torsion)
• Hardness testing devices (Vickers, Brinell, Rockwell)
• Impact resistance testers (Charpy, Izod)
• Viscometers and rheometers for liquids
• Density measuring devices and pycnometers
• Surface roughness and profilometry instruments
• Instruments for thermal expansion and conductivity

Examples of Tenders with CPV 384

• Materials testing machine for a national materials research institute: Procurement of a servo-hydraulic universal testing machine (250 kN) with digital control, specimen holders for various test standards and analysis software – published on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily).
• Hardness testing devices for a materials laboratory at a technical university: Delivery of three combined Vickers/Brinell/Rockwell hardness testers with automated image analysis and LIMS interface for the materials science laboratory – published.
• Rheometer for quality assurance in a road construction laboratory: Procurement of two dynamic shear rheometers for bitumen testing to EN standards, including temperature control unit, calibration weights and initial accredited calibration – published on TED.

Current tenders with CPV 384 are published on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily) and on national procurement platforms.

Who is CPV 384 relevant for?

Public Contracting Authorities

National materials research institutes, universities, road construction materials laboratories, quality testing centres and health authorities are the main contracting authorities. Standards compliance of instruments and national accreditation for measurement services are central requirements. Long device lifecycles and availability of spare parts are important procurement criteria. Further guidance is available from the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK).

Companies and Bidders

Manufacturers and distributors of materials testing equipment, calibration laboratories and service providers are the relevant bidders. Standards compliance certificates (DIN, EN, ASTM), reference lists from comparable institutions and after-sales service are the key competitive factors.

How does Bond help with CPV 384?

Tender Match – Automatically Find Tenders (CPV 384)

With tender.match, materials testing equipment manufacturers and distributors automatically receive all relevant tenders with CPV 384 directly in their dashboard. BOND indexes tenders from over 1,000 procurement portals in the EU – from TED to national platforms and regional contracting authorities. Instead of manually searching dozens of portals every day, matching materials testing contracts are filtered and delivered by industry, competency, region, and company profile. An automated gap analysis immediately shows where the company meets the requirements and where gaps exist. This ensures companies never miss a deadline and can focus on preparing their bids.

Company Match – Find the Right Partners and Suppliers (CPV 384)

For companies looking for suppliers, subcontractors, or consortium partners for materials testing laboratory projects, company.match provides direct access to qualified firms from an EU-wide database of over 28 million companies. Especially for larger laboratory equipment contracts that a single company cannot handle alone, company.match automatically identifies suitable partners for bidding consortia and partial services – increasing the chances of winning the contract.

Frequently Asked Questions about CPV 384

What does the CPV code 38400000 mean?

The CPV code 38400000 classifies instruments for checking physical characteristics within the EU's Common Procurement Vocabulary. It covers materials testing machines, hardness testers, viscometers, density meters and surface roughness instruments procured by research institutes, testing laboratories and quality assurance facilities.

How do I find tenders with CPV 384?

Tenders are published on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily) for EU-wide procedures and on national platforms. Bond aggregates all relevant tenders automatically.

What are the requirements for participating in tenders with CPV 384?

Accredited testing laboratories require instruments calibrated with traceability to national measurement standards (ISO/IEC 17025). Standards compliance (DIN, EN, ASTM) and references at comparable institutions are typically required. The applicable frameworks are VgV and UVgO depending on contract value.