Accredited testing laboratory according to DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025:2018

The Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA in Stuttgart operates a testing laboratory whose competence has been confirmed by the Deutsche Akkreditierungsstelle GmbH (DAkkS). The scope of accreditation according to DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025:2018 covers the following fields:

Material testing:

Tests on paint raw materials, coating materials, coatings and coated surfaces

• Corrosion and climatic tests
• Mechanical testing of coated surfaces
• Tests for paint wetting impairment substances
• Optical tests
• Coating thickness measurements
• Media resistance tests
• Determination of fogging behavior
• Determination of burning behavior
• Determination of the odor behavior
• Selected analytical testing methods

Cleanliness testing technology

• Determination of particulate contaminants with automated microscopic evaluation
• Determination of air cleanliness based on particle concentration (Admission to the accredited area with the new certificate coming soon.)

Biological testing: In vitro test systems

• Cytotoxicity tests
• Irritation and corrosion tests on reconstructed human tissue models (Admission to the accredited area with the new certificate coming soon.)

Medical device testing:

• Biological testing: In vitro cytotoxicity tests
• Physical testing: Testing of particulate impurities (Light microscopy)

Where formally possible, the Fraunhofer IPA test laboratory practices the flexible category B scope.  This empowers the testing laboratory to include further standardized test procedures in the above-mentioned accredited test areas in a prompt, flexible and unbureaucratic manner.

At the same time, the testing laboratory attaches the utmost importance to the reliability of its test and measurement procedures as well as to meeting the expectations and requirements of its customers.

The tests are performed in different laboratories belonging to the institute; these are operated by the following working groups:

In the Department of Coating Systems and Painting Technology:

• Analytics and Material Testing
  
• Applied Coating Technology
• Painting Process Engineering
• Wet Application and Simulation Technology

In the Department of Ultraclean Technology and Micromanufacturing:

Cleanliness Technology

For many years, Fraunhofer IPA has been successfully operating an ever-growing quality management system according to DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025.

DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025 was developed with the aim of improving people’s confidence in the work performed by laboratories. By rigorously implementing DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025 requirements, we achieve valid and reproducible results and demonstrate our expertise in the areas accredited by Deutsche Akkreditierungsstelle GmbH. (Registration number of the accreditation certificate: D-PL-11140-07-00 with the partial certificates D-PL-11140-07-01 and D-PL-11140-07-02.)

The main DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025:2018 requirements applicable to our quality management system are summarized below:

Confidentiality and impartiality

• We carry out all activities for you impartially.
• Everything we do is treated confidentially.

Clear definitions within the quality management system

• All testing activities that we perform for you, including the test equipment used, the authorized members of staff concerned, and the premises, are clearly defined.
• The organization, structure, responsibilities and authority of our accredited department within Fraunhofer IPA are precisely described.
• We are constantly improving our quality management system for you.

Work geared to customer needs

• Any products or services obtained externally are verified and approved by us.
• All requests, quotations and contracts are reviewed following established processes. Of course, we will inform you if we consider your proposed procedure to be outdated or inappropriate, as well as of any contractual discrepancies.
• If you submit a complaint to us, it will be handled according to a standardized process that we arrange with you.

Accredited test procedures, measurement uncertainty, traceability and verification

• Subject to the flexibilization according to category B, we can now add further standardized test procedures - in line with your request - to our already accredited test areas in a prompt, flexible and unbureaucratic manner.
• Where possible, all measurement and test results that you receive from us are metrologically traceable.
• We also calculate the margin of measurement uncertainty for our test and measurement results for you if this is feasible. If you wish, this can be taken into account in a statement of conformity.
• All tests with a valid version of a normative basis are verified to make certain that the required standard of performance is achieved.

Monitored test procedures and staff competence

• Regular internal audits and external assessments (e.g. by DAkkS) ensure that the requirements of DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025 are implemented in our quality management system and when we carry out our test procedures.
• The competencies and qualifications of our personnel are specified in all areas and are regularly monitored.

Validity of your results

• We undertake a variety of measures to ensure the validity of your results. Depending on the procedure, these include the use of reference materials with control cards, the execution of round robin tests and proficiency tests with other accredited laboratories, and comparisons in our own laboratory.

Risk and opportunity analyses

• We conduct regular opportunity/risk analyses in various areas of our quality management system in order to continuously improve our services for you.

Range of services in flexibly accredited area category B

Range of services in the accredited area without flexible accreditation

Range of services in the accredited area without flexible accreditation