Construction of a new building as part of a £3million investment in new advanced testing facilities in Hemel Hempstead is set to start about now.
Standards checker BSI employs up to 70 people at its testing site in Maylands Avenue and is investing to bring facilities up to scratch.
Demolition of older buildings on the 54-year-old site started earlier this year and major refurbishment of existing buildings started about eight weeks ago.
The famous BSI Kitemark marked its 110th anniversary on June 12. BSI says its investment demonstrates BSI’s ongoing commitment to its Product Certification division, which includes the BSI Kitemark, and to investing for the long term in Hemel Hempstead.
Changes to standards and innovation in product design mean laboratories have developed to include new tests and schemes enabling manufacturers to bring product to market as quickly as possible.
The first product to be tested in Hemel Hempstead in 1959 was motorcycle helmets. Now BSI tests all kinds of products, including vehicle damage repairs and window installation.
In future this could also include managing data and customer complaints.
Kitemark House, Hemel Hempstead’s testing facility is regularly visited by delegations from countries such as China and the UAE and is recognized as a world centre of excellence.
BSI aims to double the business over the next few years while strengthening product certification.
This in turn they say will lead to greater job security and more opportunities in future.