The integrated test laboratory at Wilo France's Laval site is certified by the American Hydraulic Institute's Pump Test Laboratory Approval Program.
An ongoing commitment to a high level of competence
Since the beginning of 2020, the new regulations of the Department of Energy (DOE) requires increased efficiency for commercial and industrial pumps marketed in the USA and Canada. A manufacturer's ability to demonstrate accurate pump performance is an important element of compliance.
The program Hydraulic Institute (HI) helps pump OEMs and other pump testing laboratories improve their current laboratory procedures and policies by working with an experienced third-party auditor to develop and maintain accurate, consistent and repeatable pump testing protocols. All companies meeting HI program standards are listed on the U.S. government website.
The program also helps participating organizations meet the requirements of the international standard for accreditation of testing laboratories (Iso 17025) concerning test measurement equipment.
To this end, these performance tests are certified by an independent laboratory applying industry standard HI 40.7. This reinforces the confidence of the American market in the achievement of the declared efficiency gains.
Last year, the Wilo site in Cedarburg, Wisconsin, was certified by the laboratory. This year, it's France's turn. And so.., Hydraulic Institute presents the Wilo France site in Laval as the latest company to receive certification for its pump test laboratory under the Pump Test Laboratory Approval Program.
"The Hydraulic Institute Pump Test Lab Approval certification of our Laval site laboratory validates our ongoing commitment to a high level of competence and demonstrates our operational efficiency, as well as the accuracy and reliability of the tests performed, which translates into the ability to produce consistent and valid results." said Solène Grimault, R&D Manager at Wilo France's Laval site.
The independent laboratory Intertek was responsible for carrying out the audit for the HI program. The hydraulics of the vertical multistage pumps in the Wilo-Helix range, corresponding to the certification abbreviations RSV (VS8), were audited to level 3. This means that the laboratory has full confidence in Wilo's measurements, which are and will be taken in its in-house laboratory over a full year.
"The audit was seen as confirmation of the good practices and procedures already in place in the laboratory. The expected level of quality already existed to a very large extent within the laboratory." says Stéphane Brousseau, Laboratory Manager at Wilo France's Laval site.