Kiwa Stories - Articles

In the dynamic realm of medical device development, the journey from conceptualization to market availability is intricate and demands meticulous evaluation at various stages. This text explains the processes of pre-clinical and clinical evaluations, essential components in ensuring the safety, performance, and regulatory compliance of medical devices. 

The persistent digital threat in the Netherlands — and beyond — continues to soar and evolve. Nation-states employ cyberattacks to further their geopolitical aims, and cybercrime, serving as a lucrative business model, inflicts harm on individuals and entities. Organizations must become more digitally sound due to increasing cyber threats, making compliance with legislation and certification more critical than ever.

Vinçotte, member of the Kiwa group, was recently contracted by Belgoprocess for visual inspection and thickness measurements of bunkered storage tanks at their wastewater treatment plant. Vinçotte's robotics partner hibot supplied the Floatarm, an articulated arm robot for multifunctional NDT inspections as a solution.

The Medical Devices Regulation (MDR 2017/745/EU) is a significant step forward in aligning European Union legislation with technological advancements, advancements in medical science, and the evolution of legal frameworks. By understanding the MDR requirements, manufacturers can navigate the intricate landscape of compliance and contribute to safer and more effective medical devices in the European market. 

By adhering to ISO 13485, organizations can establish a comprehensive quality management system that not only ensures regulatory compliance but also enhances overall performance and safety. Let's explore the manifold benefits this standard brings to your organization in the context of the medical device industry.  

Kiwa Portugal has been a pioneer in organic farming in the country for nearly 30 years since 1993, specializing in Food, Feed, and Farm standards. Luís Hortêncio, newly appointed Head of Operations at Kiwa Portugal, talks us through Portuguese agriculture, promoting sustainable farming practices and technologies, as well as concerted efforts towards sustainable action.

When it comes to safety in industrial environments, every detail counts. Vinçotte recently collaborated with BENEO on a project to solve a complex challenge: the inspection of inaccessible (and thus not conventionally controllable) lifelines, highlighting Vinçotte's innovation and efficiency

Rob Keitch is a Technical Consultant with Kiwa Independent Pest Consultancy. Here Rob takes us through the considerations and preparations he regularly encounters during Inspections in the UK and beyond

Hydrogen (H2) plays an important role in the energy transition. Currently, hydrogen is mostly applied in industry, mobility and the built environment. In this infographic Kiwa's hydrogen experts zoom in on these three applications. Discover the role of hydrogen as an energy source, as an energy carrier, for vehicles and for decarbonizing the natural gas grid.

The recent revision of ISO 27001:2022 has led to changes and new opportunities for organizations involved in information security. We asked Marjolein Veenstra, Kiwa's scheme manager for ISO 27001, five questions, to go a little deeper into the implications and benefits of this revision.

The BASEC Group, a part of Kiwa, is an independent accredited certification body for the electrical cable industry worldwide. BASEC is delivering specialist cable testing to CERN to help them meet their stringent requirements for safety and performance in their unique particle physics infrastructure.

Buyers around the world rely on PVEL’s Product Qualification Program (PQP), a series of extended reliability tests, to help inform procurement decisions. Learn more about the PQP program, and how it helps mitigate risk for the solar industry.

As the World Rowing Championships are about to begin in a few days, and the rowers of the Kiwa fleet do their final preparations, we take a moment to reflect on the remarkable narratives that have unfolded within the Dutch National Rowing Federation. The event will be held from 3 – 10 September 2023 in Belgrade, Serbia.

Certified workers are important for safety and following rules in industries with pressure equipment and steel structures. At Kiwa, we specialize in personal certification for welders, welding operators, machine setters, and brazers. We offer certifications that follow global standards.

Every drop that flows from taps into homes, schools, and workplaces should meet the highest standards of quality to ensure the well-being of communities. At Kiwa, we take on the responsibility of upholding these standards. Many countries have their own standards or regulations in place to address the safety of materials used in drinking water systems. In the United Kingdom, adherence to the BS 6920 standard serves as the guiding framework. 

With the growing concern about the environmental and social impacts of fast fashion, and consumers demanding more transparency around the products they buy many companies are using organic fibers and switching to more sustainable practices, both from an environmental and social perspective. Kiwa BCS in Germany is now accredited to a set of standards developed by the Textile Exchange helping companies prove the content of their materials and the sustainability of their processes.