CSA Group Expands Electromagnetic Compatibility Testing Program and European Presence With Acquisition of mikes-testingpartners

FRANKFURT, November 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

CSA Group, a leading organization in standards development, testing and certification officially announces the acquisition of mikes-testingpartners gmbh, Germany. mikes-testingpartners gmbh tests and certifies electric and electronic devices and systems for nearly all branches of industry with emphasis on electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), radio parameters, electrical safety, functional safety, environmental simulations and metrology. mikes-testingpartners gmbh facilities are specially equipped for the EMC testing of automotive and a wide range of industrial products with a maximum load of 12 tons.

"The acquisition of mikes-testingpartners gmbh will significantly increase CSA's electromagnetic compatibility testing offerings while expanding our market presence in Europe," says Magali Depras, Vice President for Europe, CSA Group. "With the growth in the availability of hybrid and electric vehicles, this acquisition will provide CSA with a unique advantage in certifying and testing vehicles and electrical products for the European and global marketplace."

The test facility located near Munich includes two anechoic chambers accessible to vehicles, two open area test sites (OATS) up to 30 m test distance, seven shielded rooms, safety and environmental testing equipment, a metrology laboratory and a telecommunication laboratory

Günter Mikes, CEO of mikes-testingpartners, says, "After more than 28 years of MIKES testing and certification business and continuous growth in all major industrial markets and regions I am delighted to join the highly recognized and internationally acting CSA Group. Two extremely successful entities join and bring our major markets of North America and Europe closely together. Our synergies, customer related structures, competence and presence will provide a great benefit to all our customers. CSA clients will obtain direct access to the European markets for European type testing and certification whereas mikes-testingpartners clients will obtain direct access to the North American markets and Asian markets, such as China and India. This is a perfect business opportunity for further growth based on high reputation, sophisticated capabilities, trust and confidence."

mikes-testingpartners gmbh facilities are specially equipped for the EMC testing of automotive products - from complete vehicles down to Electronical Sub-Assemblies and also provide performance testing capability for the requirements of renowned manufacturers according to their specifications.  

As well as EMC testing, they also consider the features which are necessary for an unreserved assessment of conformity. These considerations can include technical requirements arising from other directives and guidelines such as risk management in medical and automation technology or certain reliability investigations for automobile components.

mikes-testingpartners is a Certification Body Testing Laboratory (CBTL) under the IECEE CB Scheme, and its scope includes EMC, Information Technology Product Safety and Audio Video Product Safety.   Furthermore it is fully accredited for EMC, Radio, Safety, Automotive, Metrology and Measuring Instrumentation, and is a Notified Body in Europe for the EMC Directive and the European MID (Measuring Instrumentation Directive).   mikes-testingpartners also offers certification as a Technical Service via the KBA (Federal Motor Transport Authority, e1 and E1 approval) and is recognized by the AEMCLRP - group, empowering it to test and confirm conformity to their manifest of requirements.  It is an AEMCLRP, CB testing laboratory with Notified Body service and status. Further great potential, beside the certification services as an European Notified Body for EMC and MID, is available at mikes-testingpartners to assist their customers in obtaining worldwide approvals through the global partner network. This service is called ICM (International Compliance Management).

The acquisition was enabled through the strategic M&A advisory firm of WAIN Management, Paris, France.  

About mikes-testingpartners gmbh

mikes-testingpartners is an European accredited testing laboratory founded by Günter Mikes. He has been involved with EMC testing since 1978 and established his own laboratory in January 1983 adding additional safety and telecommunication testing since then. This globally recognized and accredited testing laboratory possesses the latest high-tech equipment. mikes-testingpartners provides services in its own accredited and internationally recognized laboratories, supplemented by the ability of measuring on-site at a manufacturer's premises, where, due to size, weight, load conditions or other EuT specific reason a laboratory test is not feasible. In July 2010 Günter Mikes established another important milestone for mikes-testingpartners: the independent and accredited "International Certification Management GmbH" started its global business of Quality Management System Certification on the basis of ISO 9001, ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001 and VDA 6.x. With this subsidiary MTP offers the full scope of services to their customers: Product Testing and Certification plus Quality Management Certification.

For more, visit http://www.mikes-testing-partners.com

About CSA Group

CSA Group is an independent, not-for-profit membership association serving business, industry, government and consumers. CSA Group consists of three divisions: CSA Standards, a leading standards-based solutions organization, providing standards development, application products, training and advisory services; CSA International, which provides testing and certification services for electrical, mechanical, plumbing, gas and a variety of other products; and OnSpeX, a provider of consumer product evaluation, inspection and advisory services for retailers and manufacturers. For more information, visit http://www.csagroup.org

Contact: Anthony Toderian
Manager, Corporate Affairs
CSA Group
+1-416-747-2620
anthony.toderian@csagroup.org