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Axalta Labs Earn Accreditation
Global liquid and powder coatings manufacturer Axalta Coating Systems has been accredited by the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA), the company announced Monday (May 16).
A2LA awarded ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation to Axalta’s Houston Technical Services Laboratory. ISO/IEC 17025 is the main ISO standard used by testing and calibration laboratories. Labs must hold accreditation for this standard in order to be deemed technically competent.
Now, many global original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) seeking product approval will be able to accept data generated by the Houston lab, which will reduce the cycle time for obtaining global product approvals, the company says.
Testing and Evaluation
The third-party accreditation speaks to the Philadelphia-based company’s overall quality management systems, as well as its ability to perform specific activities defined by its A2LA Scope of Accreditation (A2LA Certificate # 4024.01), it adds.
These activities include mechanical testing of coatings to evaluate color, gloss, appearance and overall functionality before and after exposure to corrosive environments.
“Our Houston Technical Services Laboratory and its personnel have many years of experience with the coating evaluation methods included in our Scope of Accreditation, a key factor in the successful accreditation process with A2LA,” states Michael Cash, Axalta senior vice president and president of industrial coatings.
“This recognition serves as further evidence of Axalta’s determination not only to support our customers at the highest level, but also to perform as a world class coatings organization,” he adds.
From light OEM vehicles, commercial vehicles and refinish applications to electric motors, buildings and pipelines, Axalta says its coatings are designed to prevent corrosion, increase productivity and enable coated materials to last longer.
The company employs 12,800 people serving more than 120,000 customers in 130 countries.
A2LA Accreditations
Axalta also holds A2LA accreditation at its Coatings Technology Center in Wilmington, DE, as well as its laboratory in Mt. Clemens, MI, which is adjacent to its facility which produces coatings for OEMs in the transportation sector.
According to its website, A2LA is the largest U.S.-based, multi-discipline accreditation body with more than 35 years of experience providing internationally recognized accreditation services and quality training.
A2LA’s accreditation services cover testing and calibration laboratories, medical testing laboratories, inspection bodies, proficiency testing providers, reference material producers and product certification bodies.
Organizations are accredited to international standards and field-specific requirements developed with government and industry collaboration. A2LA also offers a wide variety of both public and private on-site training programs to complement the various accreditation programs.
