ClassNK and TÜV Rheinland Group have concluded a worldwide partnership agreement to expand their testing and certification services portfolio and better serve their clients.
ClassNK, a leading non-profit classification society, has extensive experience in certifying materials and equipment for maritime use, while TÜV Rheinland is a world-renowned product testing and certification body. Both certification bodies operate globally, close to their clients
Advances in technology and economic growth mean that more and more materials and equipment are being designed for both on-shore and maritime installations. Manufacturers of this dual-use equipment face lengthy and costly testing and certification processes before their products can be placed on the market.
ClassNK and TÜV Rheinland will now combine their know-how and experience to provide one-stop testing and certification to clients of materials and equipment used on board ships and on shore to reduce the double burden for manufacturers. This partnership appoints TÜV Rheinland testing laboratories as ClassNK’s partner testing facilities, allowing clients of ClassNK and TÜV Rheinland to contact either partner to obtain the necessary product testing and certifications for on-board and on-shore use.
This isn’t the first time the two parties have joined forces. In 2013, ClassNK and TÜV Rheinland embarked on a partnership to enhance their wind turbine certification services. The agreement facilitated collaboration on type approvals, project approvals, testing facilities, development of measuring methods, and certification of hybrid power generation systems.
“We are proud to collaborate with TÜV Rheinland once again. As the global leader in independent testing, TÜV Rheinland’s expertise is valued worldwide. Through this partnership, clients of both ClassNK and TÜV Rheinland will benefit from the expanded portfolio of certification services and even greater efficiency in compliance,” said ClassNK Executive Vice President Koichi Fujiwara.
TÜV Rheinland’s Executive Vice President Products Prof. h.c. Ralf Wilde said “We are very excited to announce this global partnership, which will bring significant cost and time saving to our clients seeking testing and certification for either on shore or on board products.”