The value of sharing the stamp of approval
September 27, 2021
How do you ensure that an enclosure and its display can withstand the scorching heat of the Middle East? By testing the solution under different simulated solar and humidity conditions, the enclosure manufacturer not only delivered a product that perfectly fit the specific market requirements, but also enabled their local customer to promote the product further to potential buyers by sharing the validated test results in the SOSIFI Library.
A Finland-based manufacturer faced the challenging task when being considered as a supplier of enclosures for building projects in the Middle East – how to prove that the enclosures could withstand searing heat?
Before the end of 2020, the manufacturer turned to Solar Simulator in Turku, Finland, explaining the barrier of trade. In a dialogue, they decided to carry out a series of solar UV radiation tests to help with the necessary R&D support and provide credibility with certificates from testing.
The enclosure manufacturer was looking to determine the optimal position for locating the display on the enclosure. Additionally, they needed to prove how long-term exposure to solar radiation, heat and high humidity affected the solution. Without this information to provide both the right solution for the product and for the market, their chances to win the bid were slim.
Solar Simulator tested the enclosure from the end of 2020 until spring 2021, testing solar radiation exposure, continuous irradiation and UV intensity for 2,000 hours over 3 months. The tests primarily looked for any visual color or gloss changes as a result of the UV radiation, heat and moisture. Eurofins Expert Services Oy carried out all mechanical testing on the enclosure.
After the samples passed the solar UV radiation test in mid-March, the manufacturer was then approved to supply the specific enclosure to the Middle Eastern building project customer.
The customer then proactively went on to use the stamped and approved simulation test reports to enhance their own credibility in the local market. The company used the reports as part of their marketing and documentation to win additional projects, verifying that the solution worked well in the harsh heat conditions of the region. Furthermore, the customer actively communicated the value of these reports, which are easily accessible in Solar Simulator’s open SOSIFI Library, on to their target audiences and spread the positive message about the long-term solar UV radiation results.
What helped the Finnish manufacturer be selected as the supplier to this market was understanding the value of the approved testing stamp. The manufacturer shared the technical test results in an open and transparent manner, underlining its frontrunner spirit and forthright business culture. All too often, verified technical results sit in files on a back shelf in the R&D department, rather than being shared openly to offer greater value to others later on in the supply chain who can take advantage of the findings.
In this particular case, the manufacturer’s end customer appreciated the report and recognized its value. It allowed them to gain greater trust from the local customers they serve with the adapted enclosure made specifically for the Middle East heat.
