Japanese Engineering Services, commonly known as JES, are a leading importer of Japanese industrial products - such as components, equipment and machinery - into the European market. JES’s CE Marking requirements began from conception in 1995, when it became a requirement for importing products into the European Union.
IES has a long standing relationship with JES, working with them since 2010 on projects in the UK and overseas, involving the likes of Honda UK, their tier 1 suppliers and Pall industrial. JES values IES as a valuable partner and an organisation which complements its own skill set in providing a complete turnkey solution to the end customer.
IES specialises in providing an on-site CE Marking and Testing service around Europe, which ensures JES machinery and other factory equipment - from injection moulding machines to electronic test equipment - meets a wide range of UK and European standards. CE marking is typically required for first time installations, or machines which have been drastically altered, such as a change in function or general layout.
This assignment involved CE marking for a Quick Die Changer (QDC) imported by JES. It is a critical piece of machinery used at a factory in Italy where automotive brake parts are produced for a variety of European automotive manufacturers. The QDC is a large device which runs along a 30 metre ‘train track’, changing the dies in press machines which make brake pads for automobiles. This allows different templates to be applied for the metal used in the manufacturing of brake shoes for various models.
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The Italian Job’
On-site CE Marking and Testing from IES typically deals with machinery which is vitally important in day to day factory operations, meaning any downtime must be kept to a minimum. This occasion was no different, and IES were faced with the challenge of completing all testing on the QDC in as small a time frame as possible, while demonstrating the thoroughness and exacting standards which IES CE Marking is renowned for.
Transportation required the safe, secure and swift transportation of all testing equipment and personnel from Bristol, UK, to the automotive manufacturer’s facility in Turin, Italy.
The testing itself had to be as safe as possible, both for the personnel present and other workers around the factory.
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The Ideal Solution
As the QDC was a new machine, IES advised on which regulations it was necessary for the QDC to meet, which in turn provided the basis of which tests were administered. In this case, there were two regulations which tests were carried out under. These were British and European standards (BS EN 61000-6-4:2007+A1:2011) for “industrial, scientific and medical equipment; radio frequency disturbance characteristics; limits and methods measurement”, and European standards (EN61000-6-2:2005) for “electromagnetic compatibility (EMC); generic standards; immunity for industrial environments”.
A two man team is typically required for a project of this nature, but IES sent a three man team to Italy; benefitting from the extra efficiency afforded by a relatively large team for this type of assignment.
The ‘third man’ in the IES team was also able to take extra safety precautions to ensure testing posed no dangers to workers inside the factory, as well as neighbouring equipment. A space of three metres around the machine was ring fenced by IES beforehand for the purposes of safety and efficiency.
A series of eight tests was planned and executed by the IES team - they were designed to meet the main facets of the two standards required; Emissions and Immunity. Emissions tests were undertaken for conducted emissions and radiated emissions, while for Immunity, tests were undertaken for RF conducted immunity, electrostatic discharge, fast transient bursts, surge immunity, voltage dips and interrupts and radiated immunity.
IES completed the CE assessment against the relevant directives and provided a Technical File for self-assessment. This left the end customer fully prepared to submit the Technical File and complete a successful self-declaration.
Ticking every box
IES completed all planned testing successfully, ensuring the QDC meets its required standards, and clearing the machine for every day industrial use.
Emissions testing assured that the QDC will not interfere with other equipment in the factory and can withstand natural phenomena, which is an essential consideration in work places with electronically controlled machinery that is potentially dangerous if disrupted. Immunity testing assured that the QDC would not be damaged and would continue to work as it should do despite a number of exposures.
The project was finished to the highest standards in two days, one day less than the typical testing time, thanks to the size of the IES team, and the efficiency of the work itself. This provided JES with an extra day’s use from the QDC.
“We know how each other work”
Andrew Turner, Managing Director at JES, had the following words about the service he has received from IES and CE Marking Consultant, Martin Wood:
“I’ve known Martin and IES for many years and we’ve worked well together on projects in the UK and further afield. We know how each other work and bounce off of each other nicely. When new legislation comes in we learn from each other to fill any knowledge gaps.
“We are very reactive to market demands and needs and are already working on projects for next year, including a new valve line and other modification facilities which are coming over from Japan. So next year I will be working with IES very closely on some of those projects.”
