Underwriters Laboratories Partners with Taiwan on Digitized Manufacturing

Underwriters Laboratories, the worldwide organization which certifies, validates, tests, inspects, audits, advises and trains companies, has just announced an agreement to collaborate with Taiwan on digitize manufacturing processes. A memorandum of understanding (MOU) was inked which will see the organization collaborate with the Ministry of Economic Affairs of Taiwan.

UL will join Taiwan Industrial Development Board (IDB) organizations – including the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) and the Plastic Industry Development Center (PIDC) – in an effort to guide manufacturers through the processes involved in digitized manufactured products and materials.

The MOU means UL and IDB will work together on a range of activities from 3D printing-related plastic materials validation, technology development, product and component testing, equipment measurement, and calibration. The agreement also covers research to cover the development of standards and specialized training of the manufacturing labor force.

“As manufacturing industries continue to progress toward more customized production, UL is leading the facilitation of safe production through the development of compliance guidelines, training and quality assurance initiatives, allowing manufacturers to achieve product certification in a more timely manner,” said Simin Zhou, Vice President of Digital Manufacturing Technologies for UL.

Working in conjunction with ITRI, the UL 3D printing training curriculum will be introduced to educate the Taiwanese workforce on additive manufacturing-related design, production, management, and safety.

This training and research will assist those local companies as they seek international certifications for their 3D printing equipment. It’s expected that the effort will help to reduce the costs and time frames involved in product validation. PIDC and UL will also collaborate on the development and validation of plastic materials in the areas of plastic specimen fabrication, performance testing, and automotive aftermarket parts.

“UL’s 3D printing and detection technology will be introduced to Taiwan, helping to enhance the capabilities of Taiwan’s 3D printing industry and generate business opportunities worldwide for all involved,” says Wu Ming-ji, Director-General of the Industrial Development Bureau. “The MOU will also pave the way for the joint development of 3D printed plastic materials and the development of safer products that meet European and American verification regulations, thereby enabling rapid entry into those markets.”

UL’s presence in Taiwan is expanding due to the research and development opportunities in the nation’s manufacturing industry. Through UL Taiwan, the group has previously collaborated with IDB. This agreement came as IDB approached UL to establish a more formal relationship between the two institutions for a digitized manufacturing process strategy.

“We welcome the opportunity to formally partner with ITRI and PIDC on safety and certification in digitized manufacturing,” says Ralph Tang, the General Manager of UL Taiwan. “This will enable UL to connect and work one-on-one with digitized manufacturers in Taiwan, advancing innovation and product quality.”

What do you think of this agreement between Taiwanese manufacturing concerns and UL? Let us know in the Taiwan Safety for Digitized Manufacturing forum thread on 3DPB.com.