INTERTEK, a global leader in testing, inspection and certification services has announced the industry’s first electrical safety certification of a large wind turbine gearbox in North America, for GE Drivetrain Technologies, a unit of GE Transportation based in Erie, Pennsylvania, US.

With the widely recognised ETL Listed Mark, this first-of-its-kind certification will provide GE with a means for ensuring that their equipment will be accepted by safety inspectors throughout North America.

Confusion on the regulatory requirements for product safety compliance for wind turbines has often lead to state, local and provincial inspectors delaying completion of wind turbine projects until owners or manufacturers can provide evidence that their product complies with applicable product safety standards.

The gearbox certification is part of Intertek’s effort to qualify safety critical wind turbine components and sub-systems, and eventually the wind turbine as a whole. By providing certification for the major electrical and mechanical components such as the gearbox, Intertek reduces compliance challenges from inspectors.

“The lack of a US national standard for wind turbines has slowed the growth of wind power in key states,” says Ann Ruggles, global business manager for Intertek’s wind power services. “In response, Intertek has stepped up with certification options that result in a quicker approval process. This ensures the greatest revenue potential for manufacturers, provides additional confidence to installers and inspectors, and delivers clean renewable energy solutions to the market.”

GE Drivetrain Technologies is the first company to have a wind turbine gearbox complete product safety certification. “The ETL Listing of our wind turbine gearbox is another sign of our commitment to our customers by ensuring that they meet their regulatory obligations,” according to Prescott Logan, business leader, GE Drivetrain Technologies.

“By delivering listed and labelled gearboxes, we reduce the risk of Code-based challenges and potentially reduce the amount of time and effort for them to gain approval from the relevant safety authorities for any North American installation. Intertek effectively guided us through the process and demonstrated their wind turbine compliance engineering expertise.”

As an Osha-recognised NRTL (Nationally Recognised Testing Laboratory) in the US and a Testing Organisation (TO) and Certification Organisation (CO) accredited by the Standards Council of Canada (SCC), Intertek has evaluated over 1,000 large wind turbines in North America. Intertek is accredited to evaluate and certify products to a wide variety of national product safety standards. Products proven to comply with those standards are then eligible to bear the ETL Listed Mark, the fastest-growing safety certification mark in North America.

Intertek acquires CML 

Meanwhile, Intertek, the leading international provider of quality and safety services to a wide range of industries, has acquired CML Biotech Limited (“Commercial Microbiology”). The acquisition is comprised of Commercial Microbiology based in Aberdeen, UK; and its subsidiary Commercial Microbiology based in Houston, US.

CML provides technical consultancy and laboratory services related to the measurement and management of bacteria in the oil and gas industry. Located in Aberdeen and Houston with around 50 staff, CML is widely regarded as the leading provider of such technical services to oil and gas clients globally. Services range from routine monitoring of microbial activity to expert consultancy in the area of microbial management and preventative strategies.

The acquisition further advances Intertek’s strategic growth in expert support services to the global upstream oil and gas sector. CML will operate in Intertek’s Upstream Oil and Gas group within its Analytical Services division.

Dr Andrew Swift, vice president of Intertek’s Analytical Services Division, comments: “CML has an excellent reputation across the industry. Acquiring CML further expands Intertek’s support globally to the upstream oil and gas sector. CML adds to our capability to provide enhanced value to our customers through the integration of expert consultancy and high-end analytical services.”

John McCulloch, managing director and Dr Stephen Maxwell, technical director of CML comment jointly: “Joining Intertek gives CML an exciting opportunity to provide our expert services to a wider network of new international clients and to accelerate the roll-out of CML’s ‘Bug Tracker’ management system for microbial monitoring and prevention.”

Intertek is a leading provider of quality and safety solutions serving a wide range of industries around the world. From auditing and inspection, to testing, quality assurance and certification, Intertek people are dedicated to adding value to customers’ products and processes, supporting their success in the global marketplace.

Intertek has the expertise, resources and global reach to support its customers through its network of more than 1,000 laboratories and offices and over 24,000 people in more than 100 countries around the world.

Intertek’s upstream oil and gas services comprise a wide range of routine and specialist laboratory testing services combined with high-end consultancy to support oil and gas development and production infrastructure.

A growing international network of Intertek upstream laboratories and offices serve clients globally providing analytical support services; advanced PVT, Core and SCAL services; fully integrated production chemistry and inhibition management services; and wide ranging metering, measurement, calibration and allocation services.