Intertek, a leading provider of quality and safety services to a wide range of industries around the world, is to invest more than EUR 3 million in the development of a new laboratory to test the components of electric vehicles at its Kaufbeuren (Bavaria) site. The investment will be made in the first half of 2012 and will increase Intertek's service offering to the automotive industry. The official opening of the biggest Intertek laboratory for e-mobility in Europe will take place in July 2012.
The laboratory, which will be one of the most advanced in Europe, is being built on a 3,300m² site and will employ about 50 people. It will conduct all required tests for the developers and manufacturers of charging stations, for components manufacturers and the automotive industry, including batteries and battery management systems, charging stations/smart grids, plugs/plug connections and components for electric vehicles.
All of the structural requirements for the laboratory extension and the technical equipment are expected to be completed by the end of 2011. From February 2012, the laboratory will be ready to test complete charging stations, with the offering being extended in April 2012 to include abuse tests for cells, battery modules and battery packs and then again in May 2012 to include tests for plugs and plug connections. The environmental testing of battery packs up to 800kg in weight will be available from June 2012.
Intertek has been a sought-after partner for the automotive industry and components manufacturers for many years, testing according to German regulatory requirements, for the North American market, as well as UL and SAE standards. Intertek Germany is accredited according to ECE-R100 (safety of vehicles with electrical engines) and is a recognised technical supplier at the KBA for EMV-tests (e1/E1), and provides environmental tests for cells, batteries and battery modules weighing up to 100kg.
Joachim Ihrke, Commercial & Electrical Director, said: "The future belongs to e-mobility. Our modern, mobile society is increasingly environmentally-aware and this is leading to an acceleration of the development of the electric engine. Stricter environmental regulations and standards are being discussed and in the more dominant automotive markets, lawmakers and manufacturers are seeking to reconcile an increased demand for mobility with ecological awareness, with vehicle manufacturers in particular being compelled to develop safe and high-quality solutions. This multi-million euro investment makes Intertek a European pioneer in this industry of electric vehicles. This new laboratory will further strengthen our global service network for e-cars, batteries and automotive components, supporting our existing laboratories in the USA, China, Germany, UK and Spain and providing customer-oriented services that are optimally aligned to supply the growing global demand."
The laboratory, which will be one of the most advanced in Europe, is being built on a 3,300m² site and will employ about 50 people. It will conduct all required tests for the developers and manufacturers of charging stations, for components manufacturers and the automotive industry, including batteries and battery management systems, charging stations/smart grids, plugs/plug connections and components for electric vehicles.
All of the structural requirements for the laboratory extension and the technical equipment are expected to be completed by the end of 2011. From February 2012, the laboratory will be ready to test complete charging stations, with the offering being extended in April 2012 to include abuse tests for cells, battery modules and battery packs and then again in May 2012 to include tests for plugs and plug connections. The environmental testing of battery packs up to 800kg in weight will be available from June 2012.
Intertek has been a sought-after partner for the automotive industry and components manufacturers for many years, testing according to German regulatory requirements, for the North American market, as well as UL and SAE standards. Intertek Germany is accredited according to ECE-R100 (safety of vehicles with electrical engines) and is a recognised technical supplier at the KBA for EMV-tests (e1/E1), and provides environmental tests for cells, batteries and battery modules weighing up to 100kg.
Joachim Ihrke, Commercial & Electrical Director, said: "The future belongs to e-mobility. Our modern, mobile society is increasingly environmentally-aware and this is leading to an acceleration of the development of the electric engine. Stricter environmental regulations and standards are being discussed and in the more dominant automotive markets, lawmakers and manufacturers are seeking to reconcile an increased demand for mobility with ecological awareness, with vehicle manufacturers in particular being compelled to develop safe and high-quality solutions. This multi-million euro investment makes Intertek a European pioneer in this industry of electric vehicles. This new laboratory will further strengthen our global service network for e-cars, batteries and automotive components, supporting our existing laboratories in the USA, China, Germany, UK and Spain and providing customer-oriented services that are optimally aligned to supply the growing global demand."
