Testing and certification group, TRaC, has recently opened a new facility in Wimborne, Dorset. The new site sees TRaC’s EMC and environmental test services for the region consolidated under one roof.
The new laboratories bring together all aspects of EMC testing for the aerospace and defence industries, and at the same time, expands and improves commercial EMC and safety testing facilities in the region. TRaC has installed three chambers (screened rooms) dedicated to EMC testing for a range of military and aerospace standards. A further two chambers will carry out mainly commercial testing, whilst a sixth chamber is specially equipped to carry out transient testing.
Other test capabilities on the site include lighting, high intensity radiated fields (HIRF) up to 5,000V/m, and environmental stress testing including shock and vibration, temperature, humidity and salt spray, acoustic noise and hydraulic fatigue testing. An electromagnetic ‘shaker’ table can also apply stresses to loads of up to two tonnes.
The TRaC South facility is accredited by UKAS to ISO 17025, and as a CAA recognised test laboratory, test reports are recognised and accepted by the global civil aviation industry. TRaC is a Notified Body under many CE marking directives in addition to the international recognition of equivalents around the world.
Chief executive of TRaC Global, Mark Heaven, commented, “The compliance industry is forever changing along with new electronic threats. Therefore, TRaC cannot afford to stand still and we need to evolve. As a result we took the decision years ago to future-proof TRaC’s services moving forward. Driven by the needs of our customers this new facility brings EMC and environmental testing under one roof for the first time.”
On opening the new facility in February, defence minister, Peter Luff, said, “I am delighted to be able to open this new facility which represents a significant investment and show of confidence in the whole region by TRaC.
“TRaC’s decision to invest in the south west means that high skilled jobs remain in the UK.”
