Underwriters Laboratories Expands Global Photovoltaic Footprint to China
NORTHBROOK, Ill., Feb. 18 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ --
In Response to Growing Demand, Photovoltaic Testing Leader, UL, Announces New
Facility in Suzhou, China
Underwriters Laboratories, a world leader in product safety testing and certification,
announced today the expansion of its global photovoltaic testing services to Suzhou, China,
where it will open a Photovoltaic Technology Center of Excellence. The new facility, set to
open on February 26, 2009, will be the largest photovoltaic testing laboratory in Greater China
and have the capability to test to both UL and International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)
Standards. This announcement marks yet another step in UL's ongoing commitment to the
development of safe renewable energy equipment.
The new 400-square-meter testing facility, the largest in Asia, will enable UL's customers to
get their products to market faster due to increased testing capacity. This facility, which will
initially house six state-of-the-art test chambers, will continue to expand in 2009, as more
capacity is needed. According to industry experts, the global PV market is expected to grow by
15 percent every year for the next five years, hitting $32 billion by 2012.
"Now, more than ever, manufacturers are looking for a trusted partner in the certification
industry to help bring their innovations to market faster and more efficiently," said Jeff Smidt,
General Manager of UL's Global Energy Business. "With the launch of our new facility, we will
better serve our customers by providing a full portfolio of testing and certification services
in China, as well as access to the global market."
The Renewable Energy Law passed by the Chinese government in March 2005 stipulates
that 10 percent of China's energy must come from renewable resources by 2020-a fact that
underlines the country's increased demand for first-rate PV testing services.
"China is the third largest manufacturer of photovoltaic products in the world and production
keeps increasing. It is the industry's manufacturing base, and that is why UL is growing its PV
testing capacity in this region," said Smidt.
The Photovoltaic Technology Center of Excellence in Suzhou, China is located in the New
Hi-Tech Industrial Park, 98 Hengshan Road, Suzhou New District. UL's first Center of
Excellence, which opened in July 2008, is located in San Jose, California. UL is currently
expanding that lab as the demand for PV certification services continues to increase. For more
information on these facilities or UL's PV services go to
About Underwriters Laboratories
Underwriters Laboratories (UL) is an independent product safety certification organization
that has been testing products and writing Standards for Safety for over a century. UL
evaluates more than 19,000 types of products, components, materials and systems annually
with 20 billion UL Marks appearing on 72,000 manufacturers' products each year. UL's
worldwide family of companies and network of service providers includes 64 laboratory,
testing and certification facilities serving customers in 98 countries. For more information, visit:
Media Contacts
Elizabeth Sherman
GolinHarris for UL
508.444.6453
esherman@golinharris.com
Yassie Dunn
Underwriters Laboratories
847.664.3056
Yassie.Dunn@us.ul.com
SOURCE: Underwriters Laboratories (UL)
CONTACT: Elizabeth Sherman of GolinHarris
+1-508-444-6453
esherman@golinharris.com
for Underwriters Laboratories; or
Yassie Dunn of Underwriters Laboratories
+1-847-664-3056
Yassie.Dunn@us.ul.com
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