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Your requirements - our performance. What can we do for you?

Manufacturers are increasingly having to look beyond the boundaries of their own country for sales markets for their products and are converging more and more on the overall European market. This results in a wider spectrum of products and increased searching by manufacturers for convincing arguments to sell their goods.

Hitherto important sales arguments in the European states have been the national quality and test marks such as, for example, the GS test mark for the German-speaking market. If a product has been awarded this test mark, the consumer knows that the goods he or she has bought meet the highest standards.

As customers react with great dissatisfaction when they discover that the goods they have bought are of poor quality, the result is always an immense loss of confidence and thus a considerable loss of reputation on the consumer market. Certification of a product means that particular attention is paid to product-related measures to assure quality. These include regular inspection of the production facility to ensure uniform product quality for both manufacturer and consumer. Unequivocal test marks are thus an important part of every manufacturer's consistent marketing and product strategy.

The concrete goal here was to meet the wish of consumers and manufacturers for a quality mark which would be valid for Europe. The result was

ENEC - The European Safety Mark for Electrotechnical Products
The acronym ENEC stands for:

EN = European Norms EC = Electrical Certification 24 = Identification No. of the Certification Body

The ENEC mark is the mark of conformity jointly agreed on between the certification bodies of the Member States on the European Community to cover a large percentage of all electrotechnical products. The ENEC mark is proof of product conformity with particular European safety standards.

An ENEC mark can only be awarded by a certification body participating in the ENEC procedure, such as for example the TÜV Rheinland Product Safety GmbH in Cologne.

This means that if TÜV Rheinland Product Safety GmbH has awarded an ENEC mark to a product, this same product will be treated by the other European certification bodies participating in the ENEC procedure as if they themselves had checked, tested and certified it. A further test and certification by another certification body in a different European country is no longer necessary. There is automatic mutual recognition of the test results. The manufacturer does not need to make any further applications. The ENEC test mark clears the way for the free movement of goods between European states.

Within a short time after the ENEC Agreement came into force on the 5th October 1993, more than 6,000 products had been awarded an ENEC test mark.

The Advantages of the ENEC Test Mark and of Collaboration with TÜV Rheinland Product Safety at a Glance
I. What are the advantages of the ENEC test mark?

• 1. You save time

Only one safety test per product is required for all countries in Europe, instead of the complicated and above all time-consuming procedure of applying for a test and certification in each country. You speed up your entry on the European market.

It is of course possible to apply in addition for a GS test mark if desired.

• 2. You take advantage of the high level of market acceptance

The ENEC Agreement is already a fully functioning certification system recognized throughout Europe. A product mark of safety and quality valid for all of Europe, with the level of market acceptance it brings with it.

• 3. You ensure your entry to the European market

For you as manufacturer or dealer it is important that your product has a good image on the European consumer market as regards quality, safety and performance. The award of the ENEC mark guarantees you that your product complies with the legal requirements and relevant EC Directives.

• 4. You save on costs

Having to go through only one certification body, such as TÜV Rheinland Product Safety GmbH in Cologne, minimises the time and cost factor involved in putting the certified product on the market. You invest only once in the testing and certification required for ENEC, instead of incurring test and certification costs in each European country.

II. Why is TÜV Rheinland Product Safety the Right Business Partner for You?

• 1. Everything from a single source

You have one contact person for handling certification of your products for all of Europe. We clarify points for you - we co-ordinate - we test - we certify - everything from a single source. If you wish, we can be your contact right from the product concept and remain your contact up to possible product recycling .

• 2. Competence

We have been a quality and safety testing partner to businesses for the past 125 years. You have the support of authoritative experts with specialised national and international knowledge in the sector.

TÜV Rheinland Product Safety GmbH has been an authorised testing body since the start of the ENEC Agreement.

• 3. Customer closeness

We are not far away from you. You will be looked after by the competent branch office in Germany, e.g. Cologne, Berlin, Zwickau or Stuttgart.

• 4. Customer service

To us, customer service means not only quality and speedy processing of your orders, but also consistent flexibility and unbureaucratic collaboration as regards procedure, without however forgoing any standards. The transparency of information for our business partners is for us a matter of course. In our company you will find the right contact person for any questions you may have. Your requirements - our performance. What can we do for you?