Underwriters Lab to make B'lore testing hub

Underwriters Laboratories (UL), a US-based product safety standards developer and certification organisation, plans to make Bangalore its global testing hub over the next two years in three phases.

UL, which has been in India for the last 10 years, at present operates a 250-member testing lab in Bangalore. It is engaged in testing various products for safety. It caters to around 1,200 clients in India.

"In the next two years, we expect the Bangalore centre to become the hub for testing products from across the world. It will also have capabilities to test all categories of products. At present, we are in the first stage of expansion involving an investment of $1 million," said Manish Bhatnagar, Director (Sales & Marketing), India & South East Asia, UL.

By the end of the calendar year, the number of engineers employed at UL's Bangalore centre will reach 400. In the first phase, UL India will reach out to more customers and expand its capabilities to test products. In the second phase, it will test products for clients from West Asia and South East Asia.

"In the third phase, we expect UL India to become the global testing hub. We are developing a similar global testing hub in China," he added. Apart from India and China, UL's testing centres in Asia are located in Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia.

UL India is also using other laboratories and centres to test products for safety in the country. It recently authorised the government-owned Electronics Research Test Lab in the eastern region to test products for safety on behalf of UL India.

The industry sector covered by UL include audio/video, automotive, household appliances, components, industrial control equipment, IT equipment, lighting, medical devices, plastics, telecom equipment, wire and cable, and fire.

Bhatnagar pointed out that most Indian companies, despite lower entry tariffs in other countries, are unable to export their products since they do not have safety certification. "UL will help such companies meet the safety standards. Any product carrying UL certification has acceptance in foreign countries," he said.

He stated that most international retailers do not sell products without the UL certification. "For instance, Wal-Mart sells only UL-certified products. We are in discussion with Indian retailers like Croma and e-zone to sell UL-certified products," Bhatnagar said.

UL is in the process of launching an India-specific mark. "The specifications for various electrical appliances in India vary. We have to get the manufacturers conform to the standards. We are evolving the specifications for India UL mark," he said.