BIA expands range of services: In-house testing laboratory accredited
The components of the automotive supplier BIA must meet the highest quality requirements on the part of the customer. With the retrofitting and accreditation of its own testing laboratory at its Solingen headquarters, BIA is now also authorized to offer and perform official and independent material and surface testing.
The b-lab, which has been audited and accredited by the German Accreditation Body DAkkS, offers the advantage that BIA can now carry out approvals of pre-series components in-house. This is because, according to the requirements of some automotive manufacturers, these may only be carried out by an accredited testing laboratory. "With the accreditation, we create real added value for our customers," emphasizes laboratory manager Dr. Felix Heinzler. "They get the production and testing of the sample parts as well as the documentation directly from one source." By avoiding long waiting times and additional transport costs to external testing centers, the cost structure is clearly optimized and more consistent adherence to tight schedules in the automotive project business is possible, he adds.
"Moreover, b-lab's service portfolio is not only reserved for our automotive customers," explains Dr. Heinzler. As an independent testing laboratory, the lab's own services and capacities are also offered to customers outside the industry and to non-BIA customers. Currently, the testing capacities are being significantly expanded and adapted to the changing processes in the company and in the industry. For example, a change in chrome plating processes is currently taking place throughout the industry. In addition, BIA also started production of painted components only two years ago. All these changes require adapted test procedures in order to continue to ensure the quality to which BIA is accustomed. In preparation for accreditation, BIA has made considerable investments in the structural and technical adaptations of its laboratory facility - a renewed signal of the importance of the Solingen headquarters within the internationally positioned group of companies.
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