Technischer Überwachungsverein
TÜVs (German pronunciation: [ˈtʏf]; short for German: Technischer Überwachungs-Verein, English: Technical Inspection Association) are German organizations that work to validate the safety of products of all kinds to protect humans and the environment against hazards. As independent consultants, they examine plants, motor vehicles, energy installations, devices and products (e.g. consumer goods) which require monitoring. The many subsidiaries of the TÜVs can also act as project developers for energy and traffic concepts, as problem solvers in environmental protection, and as certification bodies. Many of the TÜV organizations also provide certification for various international standards, such as ISO9001:2008 (quality management system) and ISO/TS16949 (automotive quality management system).
The TÜVs as a group became part of the German landscape about 130 years ago, as part of the public and workplace safety initiatives of the time. In 1870 there were 43 TÜVs in total. They were geographically based, as they are today, hence the names, SÜD, NORD, Rheinland, etc. The TÜVs were originally formed to inspect steam boiler installations across the country. Interestingly, a major part of their business is still based on the inspection and certification of boiler and pressure equipment (see the Pressure Equipment Directive for more). As the years passed and technology progressed, the 43 TÜVs merged and now there are 4 TÜVs remaining in Germany (TÜV SÜD, TÜV NORD, TÜV Rheinland, and TÜV Saarland / SGS TÜV plus one in Austria (TÜV Austria). The largest is the SÜD group with 15,000 employees and 800 locations worldwide. The only commercial certification body in the world larger than the TÜVs combined is Société Générale de Surveillance (SGS), with more than 64,000 employees and headquarter in Switzerland.
No German-registered road vehicle may be operated on public roads without a certificate from the TÜVs or one of their competitors. However for the last two years independent inspectors have also been entitled to grant this certification. In most cases the certificate has to be renewed every two years. A pass in the mandatory roadworthiness and smog test is indicated by tamper-proof decals on the license plate. The TÜV have become so closely associated with this safety inspection ('Hauptuntersuchung') over the decades that the very word 'TÜV' is often used as a synonym for it.
The TÜV [1] and DEKRA [2] are also responsible for administering the theoretical and practical driver's license tests. These two associations also issue driver's licenses once the application has been submitted at the city/county government level by the local Strassenverkehrsbehörde aka Führerscheinstelle (road traffic authority or driving licence post) and both tests have been passed. Most vehicle modifications also need to be approved, from installing tires of a different size to materials used in nuts and bolts. The German safety guidelines are among the strictest in the world, and getting a road permit for custom-built vehicles is said to border on the impossible.
The TÜVs as a group also constitute one of the world's largest overall product certification organizations.
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[edit] TÜV NORD Group
TÜV NORD Group is well-positioned for the future: Successful as a technology service provider Our international presence With over 10,000 employees in more than 70 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas, TÜV NORD Group is actively committed to its national and international customers. Its broad consulting, service and inspection portfolio encompasses both specific individual tests and inspections and also management of complex safety solutions. TÜV NORD Group is organised into Mobility, Industrial Services, International, Natural Resources and Training and Human Resources divisions – competence centres are in permanent contact with customers for analysing, consulting and also developing and implementing customised solutions. TÜV NORD Group customers benefit from the broad, well-founded expertise of qualified and approved consultants and inspectors. Through their understanding of the customer's situation and needs and the technical area concerned, these experts form the backbone of the Group's success.
A goal of one billion TÜV NORD Group is consistently progressing as a market leader, and the target for 2011 is to exceed the 1 billion euros mark.Dr. Guido Rettig, Chairman of the Board of TÜV NORD AG: "All of the company's core activities are experiencing growth."
The roots The success story of TÜV NORD Group has its roots in the traditional boiler inspection associations founded by the industry, which in 1869 voluntarily undertook to begin monitoring and ensuring the operational safety of boilers. Gradually, the government gave the DÜV, later known as the TÜV (Technical Inspection Association) additional safety-related tasks, such as the regular inspection of automobiles, still a watchword for road safety in Germany today.
High Level of Expertise The work performed by TÜV NORD Group, although essential, is often carried out "behind the scenes". For example, many power plant operators in Germany and throughout the world rely on the Group's expert knowledge and integrity to ensure vital plant safety and economic efficiency. Moreover, together with the Ethics Council of German Industry, TÜV NORD CERT is a pioneer in the certification of ethical management systems. And in a short space of time, TÜV NORD Aviation has become a centre of excellence for safety and security and is already a major player within the industry. In the field of food and animal feed safety, TÜV NORD Group has built up extensive knowledge and evaluates production processes and supplier chains at the global level, based on extensive accreditations.
Value-based company culture Over all its diversified areas of activity, TÜV NORD Group’s corporate philosophy remains based on its original values of independence, objectivity, neutrality and integrity. Firmly anchored in its guiding corporate principles, these standards are practised both internally and externally every single day. Our unique philosophy of combining technological expertise, personal integrity and value-based corporate culture means customers trust TÜV NORD and its ability to support and guide them safely towards the future.
About TÜV NORD Group “Making our world safer”. With over 10,000 employees, TÜV NORD Group is one of the largest technical service providers in Germany. It also operates in over 70 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. The Group owes its leading market position to its competence and a broad range of advisory, service, and testing services in the Mobility, Industrial Services, International, Natural Resources and Training and Human Resources fields.
[edit] TÜV INDIA
TUV India Private Limited was established in 1989 as part of the German RWTÜV group's Indian operations. Being one of the first Certification Bodies to start operations in India, TUV India has been closely associated with the quality revolution in India,. Starting with some of the earliest ISO 9001 audits by any certification body in India, TUV India, along with its parent group and CII, also organized some of the first Lead Assessor programs for capacity building in India.
With a presence in over 30 locations across India and employing more than 400 full-time personnel, TUV India is never very far from its customers. It is easily recognized by all stakeholders as one of the most competent, ethical & professional service providers in South Asia today. Being one of the market leaders, TUV India offers a comprehensive & diverse range of technical services to its large clientele of several thousand customers that includes leading corporate houses, public sector organizations, medium and small scale enterprises.
TUV India Pvt. Ltd. provides diverse services in Management Systems - Quality, Environment, Safety, Food, Information Technology, and Social accountability, Training in allied areas like Lead Auditor, Internal Auditor & Awareness Courses, Third Party Inspection, CDM & other Carbon and Energy services, Laboratory Testing (Analytical) services, PED/ASME certification, Product Certification (CE, GS marking ), Automotive Homologation, Six Sigma, CMMI etc.
[edit] TÜV SÜD Group
TÜV SÜD is an international service corporation focusing on consulting, testing, certification and training. At over 600 locations, primarily in Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, TÜV SÜD Group employs approximately 16,000 staff. In 2010, sales revenues totalled EUR 1.55 billion, roughly 30 per cent of which were generated abroad. TÜV SÜD Group is headquartered in Munich, Germany.
[edit] TÜV Rheinland Group
TÜV Rheinland Group is a provider of technical services worldwide. Founded in 1872 and headquartered in Cologne, Germany, the Group employs more than 14,000 people in over 490 locations in 61 countries and generated annual revenues of over €1.4 billion in 2011. Roughly 40 per cent of which were generated abroad
[edit] Proposed merger
A merger with TÜV SÜD (based in Munich) was proposed in 2008,[3][4] but was shelved as it was believed it would have been vetoed by the German competition watchdog, the Bundeskartellamt, who considered that the merger was anti-competitive (regional monopolies in industrial inspection in Germany ended at the end of 2007) although it would also have achieved synergies in the international market. The merger may be attempted once again, after both companies have had a chance to divest some holdings.
[edit] TÜV Hessen
As a subsidiary of TÜV SÜD the TÜV Hessen is partly owned(45%) by the German federal state of Hessia. With a turnover of approximately €100 million and about 1.000 employees, it is much smaller than TÜV Rheinland Group and TÜV SÜD but as a competence center for Expediting[5] and electro-magnetic verification highly specialized.
[edit] SGS TÜV
The "SGS-TÜV GmbH - ein Unternehmen der SGS-Gruppe und des TÜV Saarland e.V." has emanated from a joint venture of the SGS-Group Germany and the TÜV Saarland e.V.. Under the patronage of the common subsidiary SGS-TÜV GmbH the competences had been consolidated in 1998. The headquarters are in Sulzbach, Germany.
[edit] TÜV Product Service
TÜV Product Service is a division of TÜV SÜD based in Munich. There are many major locations for service delivery for the Product Service group and one of them is TÜV Product Service UK, based in Fareham, Hampshire, and BABT, based in Walton on Thames, Surrey are part of the Industry Division of the TÜV SÜD Group based in Munich, Germany, which employs over 15,000 people in 800 locations, and is one of the leading technical service companies in the world.
TÜV Product Service provides testing, certification, qualification, training and consultancy services to a range of industries covering the Aerospace, Defence, Medical & Health, Radio & Telecoms, Rail, Trade, Electronics & Consumer sectors.
BABT is one of the best known Telecommunications certification bodies, having been established over 25 years ago, following the privatisation of British Telecom, to assess telecom devices and monitor the accuracy of telephone bills on behalf of OFTEL (now renamed OFCOM).
The services offered in the UK include mechanical, environmental simulation, electromagnetic compatibility and safety testing, which can be performed at its two UK facilities, or in situ at clients’ premises. They hold many appointments and accreditations to assess and certify products’ compliance with regulations and thereby facilitate their access to numerous markets throughout the world. They can also issue a wide range of internationally-recognised certification marks that will demonstrate products’ and services’ quality and reliability to customers.
[edit] TÜV SÜD America
[TÜV SÜD America Inc]., a subsidiary of TÜV SÜD AG, is a business-to-business engineering services firm providing international safety testing and certification services. Founded in 1987, TÜV SÜD America has grown to more than 1,000 experts in over a dozen locations throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Operating under the brand names of Product Service, Management Service, Industry Service, Automotive and PetroChem, TÜV SÜD America has partnered with thousands of companies throughout the NAFTA region, assuring product and management systems excellence, and acceptance in the global marketplace.
[edit] See also
- ATEX
- IEC 61508 – Functional Safety
- CE marking
- Underwriters Laboratories (UL)
[edit] References
- ^ Driver's License old Bundesländer
- ^ Driver's License new Bundesländer
- ^ http://212.227.180.3/[dead link] Gemeinsame Pressekonferenz vom 13.02.2008 mit Video
- ^ TÜV Rheinland und TÜV SÜD wollen gemeinsam den internationalen Markt erobern. Auch nach dem geplanten Zusammenschluss der beiden Prüfinstitute soll der Standort Köln erhalten bleiben
- ^ Expediting saves time and money (German)
- [1]
- TÜV SÜD Product Service | UKAS Accredited Test Laboratory
- TÜV SÜD GROUP – BART Home
- TÜV NORD Gruppe – TÜV NORD Gruppe
- TÜV SÜD Global Head Office (SUD)
- TÜV SÜD Iberia - Spain
- TÜV Hessen
- TÜV SÜD America Inc.
- http://www.tuvcanada.com/
- TÜV Thüringen
- TÜV Naviga Turkey
- http://www.tuvturk.com.tr/
- TÜV Austria
- TÜV Austria Turk
- TÜV Rheinland
- SGS-TÜV GmbH
