Press and Media

21 November 2019

Mastering complex approval procedures in automation

At SPS in Nuremberg (Hall 4, Stand 521), TÜV SÜD will showcase its extensive service portfolio for the automation industry. The focus of TÜV SÜD's service presentation will be on international certification, explosion protection, functional safety and IT security. The trade fair will take place from 26 to 28 November 2019.

“Time and again, the approval of products such as controls or frequency converters is refused on the basis of design errors or inadequate compliance with national regulations”, says Susanne Dormann, Head of Industrial Components at TÜV SÜD. “Machinery, systems and products must be in conformity with a host of different regulatory acts and standards. Stakeholders who call in external know-how in this area save time and costs.” European certification marks based on EN or IEC standards, for example, are not legally recognised in Canada and North America. In those countries testing within the scope of certification must be carried out by a nationally recognised testing laboratory (NRTL). TÜV SÜD Product Service is the only NRTL outside North America.

The experts also provide testing according to the CB scheme – an international agreement providing for mutual recognition of test results and certificates. With CB certification, electrical and electronic devices can gain access to all 53 member countries of the CB scheme. Access to the market in South Korea is subject to the requirements of the KC mark and KCs mark.

Further services include CE conformity testing and certification for the EU domestic market. Testing and inspection focus on a variety of aspects, including electrical and thermal safety and energy security of IT products, measurement systems and laboratory equipment, machinery, tools, control cabinets, autonomous transport systems or robots.

Combined certification of explosion protection approvals
TÜV SÜD also offers country-specific testing of the suitability of machinery, components and protection systems for use in explosion-hazard areas and zones. For the EU market, products need to show compliance with the European ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU. The IECEx method of testing applies to global approvals. TÜV SÜD offers combined certification according to ATEX and IECEx, which manufacturers can use to prove that their products are in compliance with both sets of requirements.

New requirements for communication technology
Increasing connectivity of machinery and systems poses challenges for manufacturers and operators of information and communication systems. From 20 December 2020 onwards, they must be in compliance with the new IEC/EN 62368-1 safety standard. This standard replaces the standards valid so far and introduces a hazard-based approach, thus helping to prevent electrical fires and other incidents. TÜV SÜD's experts will inform manufacturers on what to look out for when implementing the new standard.

Experience technology at first hand: robot and motor at the TÜV SÜD stand
At TÜV SÜD's trade-fair stand, interested visitors can experience human-machine interaction for themselves in a strategy game played against a robot. Siemens also offers a model of the Simotics HV C motor series. This is currently part of the cooperation between TÜV SÜD and Siemens.

Talks presented by TÜV SÜD Product Service at SPS:

• Talk on explosion protection in control cabinet installation and solutions for global market access, presented in German by Arno Butzke, Wednesday, 27 November, 9:40-10:00 am, Forum Hall 3
• Talk on manufacturing of machines in compliance with US requirements – How to avoid typical mistakes and save time, money and stress, presented in German by Fabian Bartholomäus, Thursday, 28 November, 1:20 –1:40 pm, Forum Hall 10.1

TÜV SÜD supports manufacturers and suppliers of automation systems in gaining product approval in Europe, North America and Asia. The provider of testing and certification services boasts in-depth familiarity with legal regulations and a global network of experts and testing laboratories.

On the occasion of its 30th anniversary, the former trade fair SPS IPC Drives is changing its name to SPS. The acronym ‘SPS’, which was derived from the German term ‘Speicherprogrammierbare Steuerung’ or ‘programmable logic controller’, now stands for ‘smart production solutions’. At the trade fair for electric automation, systems and components over 1,600 national and international exhibitors will showcase their products, innovations and industry trends.

TÜV SÜD at SPS (only available in German): www.tuev-sued.de/produktpruefung/mehrwert-fuer-sie/messen-und-events/sps-ipc-drives.
Further information on the service portfolio of TÜV SÜD can be found at: https://www.tuev-sued.de/product-testing/_branches

Press-contact: Dirk Moser-Delarami