EMKA has always believed it is important to support their standard and custom products with a comprehensive in-house testing facility. This has been a significant part of EMKA engineering over many years and now their Technology Centre has been accredited by the Deutsche Akkreditierungsstelle GmbH – DAkkS) (The German National Accreditation Body) for ten selected test procedures. According to the standard DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025, it confirms the capability of EMKA as a world market leader for locking devices, hinges and seals in the performance of material, life cycle and environmental simulation tests. Their test laboratory thus meets all legal and standards requirements at the highest international level.
The test laboratory is located in the company’s technology centre, with allows EMKA to offer a wide range of measuring and testing procedures – always taking into account the high-quality requirements for locks, hinges and seals. The facility has extensive equipment: from the water jet and dust test system, a salt spray and climate chamber on a spectral analyser to the tensile tester. The focus is on numerous processes in the field of environmental simulation testing, technical and mechanical testing of fittings as well as material analysis and life tests.
Among other things, DAkkS examined the quality management system of EMKA, selected measuring equipment and the implementation of test procedures by trained personnel. In a technical audit and a system audit, DAkkS employees assessed the conditions in the EMKA Technology Centre. They also tested the expertise of the laboratory staff and issued the relevant notification after successful completion of the accreditation process. Subsequently, DAkkS confirmed that EMKA possesses technically trained personnel as well as the technical and organizational abilities to carry out selected tests in accordance with the relevant standards and regulations. Accredited to DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025, the test laboratory is now a conformity assessment body (CAB).
A suitable quality management system – which describes all process steps and structures in detail – is one of the prerequisites for the accreditation by DAkkS. Strict guidelines ensure that the correct test equipment is tested in suitable procedures and that all necessary measured variables, including measurement uncertainties, are included. In addition, a DKD calibration of relevant measuring equipment is necessary. “The accreditation by the independent, higher-level national accreditation body leads to a higher acceptance of products”, emphasises Dr. Thomas Koliwer, CTO at EMKA. “This gives customers greater confidence in the safety and quality of our test procedures and thus of our products.”
