Paxton EMC test laboratory has been awarded UKAS accreditation for its head office’s in-house public-facing product testing facility.
An official assessment of Paxton’s EMC Test Facility, originally opened in August 2019, was carried out by UKAS at Paxton’s UK headquarters in Brighton. The government-appointed agency evaluated Paxton’s ability and competence to perform product testing, including an audit of the company’s quality management system. The UKAS accreditation confirms that the facility complies with ISO 17025.
Brett Glass, Paxton’s Compliance Manager, has overseen the development of the facility. He explains: “We are extremely proud to have gained UKAS accreditation. For any manufacturer looking for the highest possible quality and level of testing, this is the accreditation they want and need.
“Gaining it has been an in-depth and worthwhile process. Our Compliance team has been working towards it for some time whilst testing our products and that of many manufacturers from the South East of the UK.”
Paxton opened the test facility to maximise the efficiency and quality of their product development. It has enabled them to quickly launch new products and system additions during the pandemic and global component shortage.
Whilst researching during the planning phase of the facility, Paxton decided to offer product testing externally to support businesses with quick pre-compliance testing and bespoke service. This is unlike traditional test houses, which often have long waiting lists and can hinder the speed at which products come to market.
Brett continues: “Many clients are testing their new designs with us because our lead times are shorter than all the current national test houses. If we factor in that 50% of products fail EMC testing the first time around, the pre-compliance testing we offer can be of benefit to keep a product launch timely and on track.
“Ultimately, the test facility aims to be efficient and cost-effective to both large and small businesses. We are flexible and take the best effort approach for our customers.”
The modern facility has been designed and built using industry-leading equipment, including an Electromagnetic Compatibility Chamber (EMC) for manufacturers who need to perform emission and immunity tests at three metres. It also has the equipment to carry out Electrostatic Discharge (ESD), surge, transients, and power quality tests.
Additionally, Paxton installed various Environmental Chambers to test the impact on products from environmental factors, including UV, moisture, cold, humidity, and heat. These powerful machines stress test to determine a product’s expected lifespan and the suitability of components during the design process.
The test facility can be rented by other companies, which can also count on the expertise of Paxton’s knowledgeable engineers.
Get in touch with the Paxton test experts here.