Analysis
Partnership between UL and I²PS facilitates access to international markets
Underwriters Laboratories (UL) is the first testing and certification company to offer extensive international certifications for electrotechnical components and products used in industrial automation technology under the terms of the CB scheme. Underwriters Laboratories Inc. is one of the world's leading certification companies for product safety and has its headquarters in the USA while UL's UK branch is based in Guildford, Surrey.
The CB certificates are accepted in virtually all countries, including those that are not party to the agreement. The CB scheme was given a particular boost thanks to the fact that relevant testing makes access to the Chinese CCC mark much easier than it is normally. The CB Scheme also provides access to the D mark as part of the Nordic Certification Scheme, the GOST-R mark in Russia, the Inmetro mark in Brazil and the S mark in Argentina, for example. As a special service to industry, UL currently offers the D mark as part of the CB report. With the D mark, manufacturers can not only confirm the safety of their products in Europe, but also, with the CB report, achieve further local testing marks in order to expand their business in other regions. It is therefore a natural step, in this context, to also seek cover for North America with the UL Mark.
The goal of Underwriters Laboratories is to make the industry's access to international markets as easy as possible. This is why Underwriters Laboratories has extended its range of certification solutions through cooperation with the Institute for International Product Safety GmbH, the I²PS in Bonn. I²PS acts as the CB Testing Laboratory (CBTL) under the National Certification Body (NCB) of UL Denmark. UL is thus able to take advantage of the vast wealth of expertise and the I²PS's broad testing spectrum in the field of electrical engineering, electronics and environmental simulation. The I²PS's testing services range from materials testing, the simulation of environmental stresses such as climate, vibration/shock, protection class and EMC testing to short-circuit and internal arc tests with currents of up to 300,000 A. What's more, I²PS also offers state-of-the-art analytical tools such as high-speed video, laser vibrometers and X-ray testing systems for more detailed investigations.