Inside Beijer Electronics' product certification

In this interview, Harald Schröppel, Product Manager at Beijer Electronics, shares insights into the company's comprehensive certification process for their products. With long market and product experience, Beijer Electronics understands the stringent standards required for industrial, marine, and rugged environments use, ensuring the safety, reliability, and compliance of their products.

Can you tell us about the certification process for Beijer Electronics' products?

“Sure! First, we identify the certification needs for the target market, like DNV marine certification for the engine room, bridge, etc., each with different requirements. Then, we define the certifications and standards in the requirement specs. We focus on the key points needed to meet the certifications and begin development with those in mind. Next, we choose conforming components, suppliers, or materials and pretest them before applying for certificates. Finally, after successful testing, we receive the certificates.”

How do Beijer Electronics' products meet the regulatory standards set by industrial, marine, and rugged certification bodies?

“Our extensive market and product experience help us understand what’s needed to meet various standards. By defining these requirements early on, we ensure compliance. We also run validation steps during development, like component tests and simulations, to minimize the risk of failure.”

How do the certifications ensure the safety and reliability of products in industrial, marine, and rugged environments?

“Certification bodies often rely on relevant UL, EU, IEC product or application safety standards. Our products undergo UL safety testing procedures. In addition, we test our rugged products to be safe in some minor classified explosive areas.”

Harald Schröppel, Product Manager at Beijer Electronics,

What measures are taken to minimize the environmental impact of your products during their lifecycle?

“We prioritize sustainability by designing products with long lifecycles and easy transitions to new lines, extending machine life. We use recycled materials when possible and avoid conflict minerals. We strictly follow ROHS, Reach, and Green Passport guidelines, reducing health risks during production.”

Can you discuss any recent technological advancements that have been incorporated into your certified products?

“Yes, we're planning to introduce new Multitouch PCAP variants for our X3 products. Secure boot, along with TPM or FTPM technologies, will protect against attacks. Using integrated SOC helps us find the right controller and improves our solution offerings.”

How do you ensure that your products comply with international regulations and standards?

“We target key markets in the Americas, APAC, and EMEA, leveraging our team's expertise across regions. We collaborate with local partners when needed, and by following international standards like IEC, we secure certificates for new markets after product release.”

What are the biggest challenges in maintaining the certifications, and how do you overcome them?

“EOL or component allocation means we review or recertify when switching to a second source. We stock components to reduce the risk of losing certification during transitions and also support regular factory and company audits.”

What are the emerging trends in industrial, marine, and rugged technology, and how is Beijer Electronics preparing for them?

“Digitalization, cybersecurity, AI, and sustainability are key trends. We have a clear roadmap, guided by our long-term strategy, to shape our product portfolio and solutions, helping customers benefit from these emerging trends.”

How does customer feedback influence the development and certification of new products?

“Customer feedback is one of the most important inputs to adjust our requirement specs for future products. We interact with customers and stakeholders on product discoveries to get feedback during the development process.”

What quality assurance processes are in place to maintain the standards of certified products?

“We undergo external certification audits, and every single HMI is rigorously tested for temperature, voltage, and boot burn-in. We also audit all our suppliers, while our internal Change Control Board monitors product and component changes to ensure our certifications stay current or are renewed if needed.”

In short

Beijer Electronics delivers certified products for industrial, marine, and rugged use, ensuring reliability through compliance with international standards. We offer enhanced security, rigorous testing, and a focus on sustainability with recycled materials and long-lasting products. Beijer also introduces features like Multitouch PCAP for X3 products and integrates advanced technologies to stay ahead of digitalization, cybersecurity, and AI trends. By listening to customers and collaborating with partners, we meet diverse market needs with innovative solutions, prioritizing customer satisfaction and smooth transitions to new product lines.