75 years of conformity assessment services
Dear Clients, Dear Friends,
75 Years in the dimensions of human life represent a period in which three or four generations march through their sunny time.
The 75th Anniversary of the Electrotechnical Testing Institute - EZU is an auspicious occasion to reflect on the results of our work over the years.
In my opinion the EZU history should be divided into four periods as well:1920’s and 1930’s are connected with the names of such great men as Frantisek Krizik and Vladimir List both of whom were present at the birth of the Czechoslovak Electrotechnical Association and in 1926 also at the cradle of the Testing Laboratory.
The laboratory continued with its activities during the difficult years of the war and post war.
From the 1960’s to 1980’s EZU became the most important testing laboratory working within the framework of the national testing system. During this period EZU started its international activities.
EZU joined the scheme the CEE UN scheme for homologation of motor vehicles accessories in 1961. In the same year EZU became a founder member of the CEE European certitication system. EZU joined the IECEE-CB global certification scheme in 1985 and extended its membership to the full scope of the scheme in 1988.
At the beginning of the 1990’s political changes brought about change in the condition in which EZU had been working. In the following years EZU introduced and developed new services in the areas of certification of management systems in compliance with the ISO 9000, ISO 14001 and BS 8800 standards, attestation of gambling machines and the testing of electromagnetic compatibility. EZU became a member of IQNet through the Czech national body CQS later on. EZU further joined the European Certification Systems for product certification like CCA, ENEC, KEYMARK, EMEDCA and CCA-EMC. EZU acquired accreditations as a testing and calibration laboratory and certification body for product and management system certification during the period. And finally EZU acquired from the Czech government authorizations for activities in compliance with the series of Acts of the Czech Republic and created a sound base to become a notified body.
Even though historical circumstances over the years have changed several times, EZU has not changed in the sense that it has remained an impartial and technically competent authority.
I trust that the preservation of these attributes will enable the EZU to fulfil its mission, that is providing Conformity Assessment services, in the 21st Century.
And now I would like to present my view on the role of the CB scheme.
During last ten years more than 70 % of the Czech electrotechnical companies changed its structure. In the same period EZU issued more than 1 000 international certificates, mostly CB certificates. It means that the CB scheme significantly contributed to the support of the Czech producers on foreign markets. I believe that this is the main value of the CB scheme that is appreciated by producers working both in stable and transforming economies.
Vladimír Filiač
Director of the EZÚ
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