Dr.-Ing. Klaus Kress of the VDE Institute is the new chairman of the European certification procedure group for cables and cords (HAR). Kress is the head of the certification department of the VDE Institute and is responsible for the certification of products and management systems as well as for the implementation of specific certification systems. Furthermore, he is chairman of the forum for the exchange of experience EK1 of the GS certification bodies for low voltage electric equipment.

The “Agreement on the use of a commonly agreed marking for cables and cords complying with harmonized specifications”, in short “HAR agreement”, was signed by certification bodies from 19 European countries. They agreed on mutual acknowledging certificates for cables and cords if they conform with European safety standards. In case a certification body listed in the agreement has certified that a product complies with national and international standards, it can be placed on the market in every other European HAR-country without any additional certification.

The VDE-Institute is the national approbation body for Germany. If products and manufactures are positively tested, they receive the HARmonisation marking. This marking is based on the implementation of safety relevant aspects and acknowledges the conformity of the product with national and international standards. Laboratories which are recognized by the VDE evaluate whether the products meet the requirements and inspect them regularly even after they have assigned the HARmonisation marking.

Dr.-Ing. Klaus Kreß is also member of the committee for technical equipment and consumer products according to § 13 of the “Appliance and Product Safety Act (GPSG)” and of the executive committee of the European certification systems for electro technical products.

About the VDE Institute:
Since 1920, the VDE mark stands for safety and quality in electro and communication technology. The independent test engineers put more than 100,000 electronic products per year to rigid tests before they assign the VDE mark. Worldwide the VDE-experts supervise more than 7,000 manufacturing plants. Cooperation agreements with more than 50 countries make sure that the inspections of the VDE Institute are international recognized. More than 200,000 types of products worldwide carry VDE certification marks. In Offenbach the non-profit VDE Testing and Certification Institute employs about 450 staff members.

More information on www.vde.com

Contact for press information: Melanie Mora, Phone: 069 6308-461, melanie.mora@vde.com