Re-branding reinforces the global reach of BABT and TUV Product Service

UK-based testing and certification solutions provider TUV Product Service Ltd/BABT is embarked upon a re-branding programme to emphasise its role as the UK arm of the global testing and certification organisation TÜV SÜD Group, which has in excess of 130 offices and 9,000 employees in over 30 countries.

UK managing director Jean-Louis Evans reflects: “The octagon certification mark is a trusted symbol which guarantees objectivity and neutrality. Now the ‘SÜD’ device will be added to the marks, logos and media presentation of TUV Product Service and all subsidiaries of the newly-named TÜV SÜD Group to underline the global scope of our business.

“Our new corporate identity is launched at a time when more and more manufacturers are addressing a global marketplace and therefore value a compliance partner with wide-ranging knowledge of market access requirements and with on-the-ground expertise in many countries. Now, manufacturers and consumers alike will come to recognise the new octagon as a symbol of competence, certainty and quality wherever in the world they encounter it.”

TUV Product Service works in partnership with TÜV SÜD Group offices on every continent to deliver compliance solutions to UK manufacturers, speeding entry to markets worldwide through local knowledge, contacts and expertise. Solutions can include, for example, advice and cooperation of local offices with reference to entry requirements, and agreements for TUV Product Service/BABT to conduct factory audits in the UK in support of quality and product certifications. UK manufacturers producing in other countries can benefit from TUV Product Service’s partnerships with local TUV offices for delivery of testing, consultancy, audit and training services. These agreements take their place among a raft of measures to assist market entry worldwide, including MRAs with many countries, and empowerment of local technical certifiers to produce documentation for approval by TUV Product Service or BABT.

One exception to the new branding is BABT, which delivers global market access solutions for the radio and telecommunications market, and maintains its well-recognised BABT logo with ellipse. Jean-Louis Evans concludes: “This exception is justified by a unique 20-year tradition during which BABT’s Notified Body Number, 0168, has become the global telecommunications industry’s most respected affirmation of regulatory conformance.”

For further information contact TUV Product Service Limited, Octagon House, Concorde Way, Segensworth North, Titchfield, Fareham PO15 5RL. Tel: +44 (0) 1489 558100 Fax: +44 (0) 1489 558101. Email: info@tuvps.co.uk or Website at http://www.tuvps.co.uk

About TÜV SÜD Group

TÜV SÜD Group is a leading technical service company active in the industry, product and transport sectors. Its range of services embraces consultancy, inspections, tests and expert opinions as well as certification and training. Its core objectives are those of reliability, safety and quality as well as environmental protection and cost effectiveness.

Established 130 years ago as a steam boiler inspection association, TÜV SÜD Group is now a globally active, future-oriented company. It continues to enjoy success in its conventional services such as periodic vehicle roadworthiness testing ("TÜV sticker"), testing and inspection of industrial plants, product testing or expert opinions, whilst new fields of activity such as e-business, data security or automotive development round off the portfolio.

TÜV SÜD Group is represented internationally by more than 130 sites. In 2003 around 10,000 employees achieved sales amounting to EUR 938 million.

About TUV Product Service

With over 50 years’ experience, TUV Product Service is a leading international expert providing testing, certification/qualification and consultancy services to a range of industry sectors covering defence, aerospace, transportation, industrial, IT/Consumer and medical to name but a few. A UKAS accredited testing laboratory (no. 0141 Group) with a proven multi-disciplinary team, TUV PS is capable of handling the most demanding projects to the strictest timescales.

The full range of services on offer includes Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC), Environmental (Vibration/Shock, Water Ingress, Highly Accelerated Life Testing (HALT), Climatic, Sand/Dust, Solar Radiation and Packaging Performance), TEMPEST, Nuclear Survivability, Lightning, and Electrical Safety.

TUV Product Service’s consultancy team also has the knowledge and experience to assist you from the initial generation of ideas all the way through to implementation.

About BABT

BABT provides a full range of compliance solutions to the radio and telecoms industry to enable fast access to more markets. Services include compliance management, GSM/GPRS/WCDMA terminal and base station testing, Bluetooth wireless technology product qualification, EMC, Environmental, Safety, Telecoms, RF & SAR Testing, regulatory conformance services, management systems certification, product certification and training.

BABT has been serving the telecoms market since 1982 providing a single point of expertise for certification and approvals. In that time it has issued over 15,000 product approvals and thousands of quality system approvals for manufacturers all over the world and in all sectors of the radio and telecoms markets.

This press release is issued in accordance with clause 1.2j of the British Codes of Advertising and Sales Promotion, and therefore cannot be subject to a transaction of any kind.