Press releases
Press information No. 02/2008 (August 2008)
Press information No. 01/2008 (October 2008)
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Press Release No. 02/2008 (August 2008)
Simultaneous EMC test cuts costs
The EMC Competence Center (EMC C.C.), a division of Mitsubishi Electric Deutschland, is now also offering tests of Electrical equipment safety as an expansion of its portfolio of services. The independent test laboratory, which is located in Ratingen/Düsseldorf, is starting operations with a specialist laboratory fitted according to latest technical standards and has been able to recruit experienced test engineers for this new task.
In the first step, tests are conducted there according to the Low Voltage Directive; in the near future, recognition by the VDE Testing Institute will also be provided and thus make it possible to award the GS test seal for products with that. "As an accredited EMC testing laboratory and a Notified Body, we have been active - testing and also consulting for well-known companies - in this field for over 20 years. With the new division 'Electrical Equipment Safety' under the same roof, our customers will be offered many advantages in the form of time and cost-saving ", according to Wolfgang Landgrebe, Division Manager of the EMC C.C.
The Low Voltage Directive (2006/95/EU) is, besides the EMC Directive, the most important regulatory instrument for the safety of electrically-powered equipment. It applies mainly to electrical equipment for use at a nominal voltage of between 50 V and 1000 V when operating with alternating current and between 75 and 1500 V for direct current. As an EU directive it has a preventative character and is designed to ensure that electrical equipment can only then be offered on the market, if in proper use it does not represent any risk to safety.
For tests which are conducted in the EMC Competence Center the VDE recognition ensures an international testing level. The tests are conducted on exactly the scale which is necessary and meaningful in the individual case. In addition to full inspections with all the necessary tests, the range of services also includes 'slimmed down' test packages, for example, if components which have already been tested are being used. As a rule, tests of electrical safety are relatively complex. The required time consumed can be considerably reduced, however, by awarding the commissions to the EMC C.C., since, for example, the test of electrical safety can be conducted at the same time as the EMC test. As a result of the combined test offered, significant costs can be saved.
The development of new products up to market maturity can be time-intensive and the way to the market long. An advantage which should not be underestimated is that, on request, the EMC C.C. can already support and advise its customers during development, for example, on the assessment of the technical status quo and early optimization measures. In this way high, subsequent costs can be saved, because post-development can be more expensive by factor of around 1000.
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Press Release No. 01/2008 (October 2008)
EMC Law, BNetzA informs on stricter market control
In a series of events for specialists in June and September, the EMC Competence Center of Mitsubishi Electric Deutschland, Ratingen/Düsseldorf, provided information about the new EMC Law, which hads been in force since 1st March this year, and its far-reaching consequences. In this connection, a speaker from the Federal Network Agency (BNetzA) commented in detail on the theme of market control. Due to the great interest shown, the half-day event will be repeated at the end of January 2009 in an updated form.
Themes, in particular, were the obligations and regulations for manufacturers, suppliers, importers and operator of equipment and stationary plants, all of whom are affected by the new regulations similarly. For them, in this connection, it is of a special importance that, with the introduction of the new conformity assessment procedures, the implementation and responsibility now lie solely with the respective companies. There it must now be precisely document how the electromagnetic compatibility has been guaranteed.
Besides the presentation of the new EMVG, the following topics were dealt with in detail: market supervision in practice, CE marking in accordance with 2004/108/ EU and e-certification. Supplementary to that, the EMC Competence Center introduced its EMC solution concept to meet the challenges which the affected companies now additionally have to face up to. The portfolio of the EMC Competence Center includes the services of an accredited EMC-testing laboratory, an EMVG Notified Body, a recognized technical service, ('e 13'), a testing laboratory for electrical safety as well as for international automotive factory standards (AEMCLRP) and much more.
Really topically on the theme of market control, a representative the BNetzA, which as an executive authority is furnished with extensive powers (sales restrictions/prohibitions), Return Ordinance, imposition of fines etc.). In this field considerable further changes are to be expected, in particular in the form of a much stricter procedure currently in planning, the outlines of which were already described to the participants. For this purpose, the BNetzA wants to increase its personnel. The increased EU involvement in this area also includes the new fast warning system (RAPEX) which was also presented. On this subject, every Friday the European Commission publishes an up-to-date online overview of hazardous products which have been reported to it by the individual national authorities.
Event information: (02 11) 17 14 97-0 or
info@emc-mee.de