Kiwa N.V. is going to partner VDE Institute, the testing and certification branch of VDE (German Association for Electrical, Electronic &Information Technologies) in the international market for testing and certifying electrical and gas appliances and components. The partnership results in an one-stop-shop where both parties offer holistic and cost-effective services for manufacturers and retailers. The joint service portfolio includes all the necessary testing facilities in accordance with EU Directives and standards for electric and gas powered products.
With this partnership customers benefit from shorter turn-around times and for the world-wide marketing of their products. It will enable Kiwa to award the internationally recognised CB Certificate via VDE. This certificate offers customers direct access to markets in more than 50 countries affiliated with the "Worldwide System of Conformity Testing and Certification of Electrotechnical Equipment and Components (IECEE)" of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).
The IECEE set up the CB Certification Scheme, which consists of a test report and certificate. Under provisions of the CB Certification Scheme, a certification institute may work together with a maximum of one organisation that is responsible for product testing in the specified product categories. From now on, two globally recognised institutes will therefore take care of the entire inspection, testing and approval process.
As a result of the partnership, customers will be able to choose which organisation tests and approves their products for CB Certification. Until recently, this choice did not exist.
Besides being able to obtain the CB Certificate, the partnership offers other advantages to the customers of both organisations. For example, the combined services portfolio of VDE and Kiwa will be made easily accessible via a single portal. For customers, this means that virtually all electrical and gas products can be included in globally recognised testing and certification schemes.
The VDE Prüf- und Zertifizierungsinstitut GmbH (VDE Testing and Certification Institute) is a nationally and internationally accredited institute for testing and certifying the safety, electromagnetic compatibility and other product characteristics of electrical appliances, components and systems.
Kiwa is an internationally operating quality assurance organisation that continually strives to improve processes, products, personnel and organisations. We do this by offering our customers certification schemes, training courses, inspection, advice, research and our technological expertise. Kiwa is active in practically every market segment, varying from energy and drinking water supplies to the construction industry, agriculture and food production, the care sector and corporate social responsibility. Kiwa has a staff of more than 1,000 highly trained employees and more than 30 offices and testing facilities in eight European countries and China.
In February 2011, the testing laboratory in Apeldoorn will be officially opened and both organisations will celebrate their new partnership.