Services at a glance
I provide you with the following services:
International certification
International certification is the classic service of obtaining certificates for your products in other target countries.
This can include tests and certificates for compliance with the requirement regarding:
- the safety of a product,
- the electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) of a product,
- Products with radio equipment
- the energy efficiency of a product
- harmful chemicals (RoHS)
- food contact safety
.
In most of these cases, it is mandatory to obtain certificates in the respective target country. In some cases, however, it is not necessary to obtain certificates, you only need to ensure that appropriate evidence is available in the form of test reports that are recognized in the target countries.
Unfortunately, it is not always that easy, because the target countries differ in terms of the legally required certificates. In some countries almost all products are subject to mandatory certification, in other countries only certain products. The distinction between which products are classified as subject to certification is diverse. One country uses detailed product lists for this purpose, the next country uses the so-called customs tariff numbers (also known as the HS code) and the next country uses generic terms such as product categories.
If this diversity alone makes it difficult, there are also countries that differentiate between commercially and non-commercially used products of the same category (e.g. coffee machines) and also determine the certification requirement differently.
In the worst case, so-called local tests are required, because CB test reports are not recognized, for example. In this case, test samples must then also be sent to the test laboratory in the target country. This is particularly common for products with radio equipment.
In certain countries, it is advisable to simply strive for independent third-party certification, because product liability law characteristics exist and with third-party certification you can at least minimize the liability risks in the event of a claim. The USA is a typical case in point.
Regardless of this, third-party certifications are always a way of minimizing product liability risks, as an independent test laboratory has checked whether the product complies with the applicable requirements.
I offer you the necessary expert knowledge from over 30 years of experience in product testing of certain product types and international certification for electrotechnical products.
Market access research
Market access research is used to provide manufacturers with a wide variety of market access requirements so that no surprises arise during the actual international approval and the international approval process runs smoothly. Such a market access research is particularly useful for new types of products such as electrotechnical products for electromobility (charging stations, wall boxes, IC-CPDs, charging cables, …). Because these are products that are still subject to rapid changes in the approval requirements in the countries.
Advice on compliance with standards
I offer advice on conformity to standards in certain areas of products in which I have gained several years of experience in testing these products or have also worked in national and international standardization committees. In this way I have acquired the necessary expertise to be able to check existing constructions / designs for conformity with the requirements. Mainly the design is checked.
Conformity tests such as temperature rise measurements, high voltage tests, power consumption and other tests can be accompanied in the customer laboratory with my professional expertise.
My experience extends to EN standards, IEC standards and partly also to UL / CSA standards. National implementations of the IEC standards in countries outside the EU are included insofar as they are based on IEC standards and may only have national deviations.
Since I have a very in-depth knowledge of general normative requirements, I can also familiarize myself with new standards on behalf of customers and also take on consulting services there.
Testing and certification in Europe
In Europe, products must comply with the current normative and legal safety requirements as well as the recognized rules of technology. This can be proven, among other things, by so-called third-party tests of the products and, if necessary, also by corresponding certifications.
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