Fujitsu joins the TRaC Partner Laboratory Programme to Enhance Support for Companies Seeking European Certification

TRaC, the largest UK-based provider of testing, validation and certification, announces that Fujitsu General EMC Laboratory Limited has joined the TRaC Partner Laboratory Programme, enhancing services offered to manufacturers wishing to certify products for sale in the UK and Europe. This programme enables Fujitsu to provide CE certification to Japanese manufacturers with the support of TRaC's expertise.

The TRaC Partner Laboratory Programme helps test facilities based outside the EU to provide a reliable and efficient certification service. TRaC helps partners draw up test plans, verifies testing meets European legislation, generates reports and produces the technical file that demonstrates compliance. TRaC also ensures that other documentation such as Declarations of Conformity, approvals listings, labelling and instruction manuals meet the stringent requirements of their intended markets. The programme eliminates

TRaC Announces Plans for Major Investment in the North West of England

TRaC, the leading testing, certification and validation company, announces plans for a major investment of ?1 million in a new test facility in Up Holland, Lancashire.

The investment, which is supported by the North West Regional Development Agency, will create the largest comprehensive test facility in the North West of England and generate new jobs for the region. The new facility will provide convenient local test services, simplifying the certification process and helping companies in the region reduce the time to market of their products.

TRaC is the largest British test and certification company, providing a comprehensive service at seven locations across the country, as well as offering global reach through worldwide partnerships. The new facility will be much larger than the company's existing Up Holland site that it will replace,

TRaC opens flagship DSL test facility to address world market

TRaC – testing consultancy of choice for major telecoms operators around the world – has unveiled its expanded flagship DSL test facility during an official opening ceremony at its UK headquarters.

 

Robin Mersh, chief operating officer at the Broadband Forum - the global organisation working to develop the full potential of broadband, and of which TRaC is a member – cut the ribbon officially opening the newly extended centre, in Hull.

 

The opening follows the re-location of TRaC's Santa Clara test operation back to the UK and has created the most advanced and comprehensive independent DSL testing capability anywhere in the world today.

Robin Mersh said: "The growth of broadband around the world has created

TRaC one of the first to offer new VDSL2 testing following new Broadband Forum standards

TRaC - testing consultancy of choice for major telecoms operators around the world - is today (10 December 2009) set to become one of the first laboratories in the world to offer testing against new standards announced yesterday by the Broadband Forum.

TRaC will be utilising its newly extended Hull, UK-based test laboratory to offer its global customer base testing against the new Broadband Forum Technical Reports (TRs) TR-114 and TR-115.

"We have been offering VDSL2 testing for two years but without specific industry-defined standards. Now we have new Broadband Forum recommendations which allow our customers to test their products against a recognised benchmark, in order that they can respond to operator RFPs anywhere in the world where VDSL2 is deployed," said TRaC Telecoms & Radio

Canada Certification Mark Changes

Products that have been certified for electrical safety in Canada will need to make some changes to the certification mark that is applied to their products. Certification marks indicate or confirm that a product or component meets standards for safety performance. Some of the marks issued for products sold in Canada include MET, UL, CSA.

Which ever certification mark you are applying, whether it is the MET mark, UL, CSA or another, if the approval covers Canada, you will have to make some changes. A new ruling by the Standards Council of Canada has required that the type of certification is clearly indicated on the mark (label) used to indicate certification. This can be achieved by either indicating the actual standard to which the product has shown compliance or using the following terms "Electrical Safety" or

TRaC achieves IECEx qualification

Manufacturers of equipment designed for operation in hazardous areas and explosive atmospheres can simplify the process of marketing their products internationally, using the services of test house TRaC, which is now qualified under the IECEx System.

IECEx is an internationally-recognised Conformity Assessment System that runs under the auspices of the IEC; it deals with equipment that operates in any environment where there is a risk of explosion due to the materials used within it.  Under a designation accepted in, currently, 31 countries, all such locations are known as Ex Areas, and products tested and found to be safe for use in those areas, as Ex Equipment.  Using an electronic certification scheme, equipment that has passed all the required tests is listed on a single database, and is accepted as the basis for national approval in any of

TRaC Strengthens Stress Analysis Services with Appointment of Experienced CAE Specialist

TRaC, a leading provider of FEA services to the Aerospace, Defence, Automotive  and general engineering industries, announces the appointment of Graham Andrews as Commercial Manager of its Analysis division.

Through stress analysis, OEMs are able to refine existing products and develop new products that are more robust, reliable and ultimately competitive, in an accelerated timeframe. "FEA is now an important part of product development, necessary to maintain overall competitiveness," said Andrews. "Engineers face ever shortening time to market and product lifecycles, whilst the demand for innovation increases. TRaC provides a service which ensures your products meet your performance goals; handling weight reduction, fatigue, stress and overall product performance issues, so your engineering teams can focus on innovation."

Having almost 20 years of experience in computer aided engineering services, solutions and consultancy, Graham

TRaC Awarded IECEE Accreditation for In Vitro Diagnostic Medical Equipment

TRaC, a global leader in testing and certification services has announced that it has successfully expanded its IECEE CB Scheme Testing Laboratory (CBTL) capabilities. The new capabilities include product safety and conformity assessment testing and certification of In Vitro Diagnostic (IVD) type products.

The new accreditation allows TRaC to test and issue IECEE CB Scheme Test Certificates to conduct IEC 61010-2-101 (Particular requirements for IVD medical equipment) and IEC 61010-2-081 (Particular requirements for automatic and semi-automatic laboratory equipment for analysis and other purposes). These standards are heavily used within the IVD equipment arena and have some particular requirements for risk management and risk assessment as called up by ISO 14971.

TRaC will provide manufacturers with market access to more than 40 countries that participate in the IECEE's CB Scheme, reducing their time-to-market.

TRaC Offers Safety Test Service for In Vitro Diagnostic Medical Systems

TRaC, the leading test house, now has full accreditation at its UK facilities to carry out safety testing of all medical diagnostic products that fall within the scope of the In Vitro Diagnostic (IVD) Medical Devices Directive.

In Vitro Devices are items of diagnostic equipment that carry out medical tests on samples (for example, blood) obtained from the human body, but that do not operate directly in contact with the body.  The IVD Directive lays down a specific set of requirements for such equipment (distinct from diagnostic equipment such as monitors that are connected to the patient and have their own regulatory framework) in terms of their safety, quality and performance.

The IVD Directive sets out four classifications of product: General; Self-Test (i.e. products that patients may use themselves without medical supervision); and two higher categories of Test Kits and Devices that

Why does volcanic ash cause aircraft flights to be cancelled?

The news is full of stories about the significant disruption to air traffic in Northern Europe due to the volcanic eruption in the south west part of Iceland's Eyjafjallajoekull glacier.

Aircraft are not permitted to fly into volcanic ash clouds because there is a risk of damage to aircraft components and systems by:

• Abrading forward facing surfaces including cockpit windows, control surfaces, wing leading edges. Cockpit windows can be pitted enough to cause significant hazards during landing.
• Causing engine failure due to accumulations forming on the turbine blades caused by fusing of the silica particles at around 1100 OC.
• Coating the plane enough to cause it to become tail heavy.
• Penetrating the aircraft, contaminating the passenger compartment and affecting the aircraft's internal systems.