The automotive sector is one of the most restrictive in terms of quality and safety. Every time a new model comes onto the market or any design or material modification is made, manufacturers have to pass exhaustive quality controls on the parts to verify safety, quality and resistance to aging.
Vehicle manufacturers (OEMs) are responsible for drafting standards for their suppliers (tier 1, tier 2, etc.) to apply in their quality verification processes. In some cases, these tests can be carried out internally by the supplier, but frequently the validation plans, design or material modifications or annual requalifications have to be done in external laboratories.
Each OEM has different criteria when it comes to approving external laboratories. Some OEMs require the external laboratory to be accredited according to ISO 17025, others decide to audit the laboratory or carry out round robin tests to evaluate that the values obtained are within acceptable ranges.
Daimler recently changed the criteria for type A laboratories to require accreditation according to ISO 17025 and focus the approval process on volatile compound emissions tests, in the case of interior plastic parts. AIMPLAS has been able to be one of the few laboratories in the world to enter the Daimler list after having passed the criteria required for odor according to VDA 270 and we are in continuous collaboration to extend the approval of the rest of the emissions test.
In addition, AIMPLAS has managed to get permission to transmit the reports through the MTI Hub platform.
At the Automotive Laboratory we are at your disposal to advise you on the validation of plastic automotive parts.
