TRaC gains full accreditation for IEC/EN60601 medical device testing

TRaC is now able to offer testing of medical equipment in accordance with the IEC/EN60601 standard. TRaC is fully accredited by UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) to test equipment in accordance with the international standard.

IEC/EN60601 is a family of standards that govern safety of electrical medical equipment, and is identical with the International IEC standard 60601; approval under the standard is a fundamental requirement before a manufacturer can market any electrical device for patient diagnostics, monitoring or care, in any market world-wide. The standard sets minimum requirements not only for basic electrical safety, but also for EMC (electromagnetic compatibility) and mechanical safety, as well as a range of other parameters, according to the particular technology employed in any particular item of medical equipment.

Developers of medical electrical systems now have a single point of contact for all their safety and EMC testing needs; TRaC is able to offer a cost-effective route to product certification, with good lead-times, in this specialised sector where the necessary expertise has often been difficult to locate.

TRaC already holds accreditation to carry out safety testing of all medical diagnostic products that fall within the scope of the European In Vitro Diagnostic (IVD) Medical Devices Directive: In Vitro Devices are items of diagnostic equipment that carry out medical tests on samples obtained from the human body, but that do not have direct contact with the body. Now, with this latest development, TRaC is able to extend its test services offering to products designed to operate with direct patient contact.

Having accreditation under the very latest versions of the relevant standards equips TRaC not only to conduct tests of new equipment designs, but to update approvals on previously-tested products: TRaC can also

Seismic Vibration Qualification - Friday 10th September 2010

Confidence in product reliability and functionality during and after an earthquake event is critical for many aspects of the Nuclear and Telecommunications Industries, particularly with respect to safety related equipment.

This seminar provides an overview of the Seismic Qualification process, including its objectives, commonly adopted standards and key technical issues to be aware of.  The seminar will include a demonstration of a full seismic qualification test programme on the Earthquake Shaking Table at Bristol University.

In conjunction with the University of Bristol, TRaC carries out a broad range of seismic qualification programmes each year.  This seminar will be of interest to engineers from across the mechanical, electrical, telecommunications, energy and related engineering fields and will be particularly useful to those tendering for, or embarking on projects that require seismic qualification.

The seminar will be lead by Colin Taylor, Professor of Earthquake Engineering, University of Bristol, with independent industry and academic experts giving presentations on the fundamental aspects of the Seismic Qualification Process.

The seminar will take place at The Earthquake Engineering Centre, Queens Building, University on Friday 10th September 2010 from 8.45am to 16.45pm.

The registration fee (including lunch and refreshments) is £150 (excl. VAT) per delegate.

Please click here to download the Seismic Qualification Seminar Programme »

Places on the seminar are strictly limited to enable the interests of the individual delegates to be satisfied, so early registration is recommended. To register your interest, please contact the ICE SW Conference Co-ordinator Charlotte Snooks:

Tel: 01752 896749

email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

web: www.ice-southwest.org.uk

TRaC in the US gets MET approval

Mark Heaven, CEO of TRaC, has just returned from a seminar held by US safety mark partner MET Labs. The seminar not only covered US and EU mandatory EMC and Safety but also included presentations by DfR Solutions on Reliability Prediction for Electronic Hardware, Core Source Technologies presented Thermal Management Principles at the System Level and Verizon spoke of the company's progress at becoming greener.

Mark presented papers on the EU ATEX directive and it's synergy with the US Hazloc and the IECEX approvals programmes reviewing the routes to compliance and technical requirements whilst highlighting how time to market can be minimised by engaging with TRaC and MET early on in the programme and ensuring a qualification document and test plan is drawn up to suite all intended markets and avoid duplication. The cost reduction that ATEX factory inspection by MET fully supported by TRaC in the USA was particularly well received.

Mark was also able to announce the recent collaboration with BSI in offering an approvals programme for equipment designed to operate in explosive atmosphere, BSI is a well known and trusted brand in the US certification market. TRaC are now providing the ATEX test services for BSI's ATEX Notified Body.

A second paper was given on global wireless approvals highlighting the convergence of worldwide regimes in some areas and the divergence in others. The presentation focused on the way in which TRaC's wealth of regulatory knowledge and worldwide contacts can deal with what most would find a complicated approval process, delivering global market access for TRaC and MET clients.

For more information of TRaC's seminar programmes contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

HALT / HASS Seminar - Tuesday 5^th Oct 2010

To guide you in your product development, TRaC are hosting a Technology Insight Briefing that will both explain the concept, and provide a practical demonstration of HALT (Highly Accelerated Life Test) and HASS (Highly Accelerated Stress Screening).

Mr. Bob Page of Reliability Plus, an industry expert in this field, will lead the presentation being held at the TRaC Environmental & Analysis facility in Warwick on Tuesday 5^th Oct 2010 from 9am to 4pm. This seminar will be particularly useful to Engineers who are managing new product development programmes.

HALT is rapidly emerging as a recognised means to dramatically cut development timescales through a process of accelerated aging. This is achieved by employing high levels of multi-axial vibration and rapid temperature cycling, either separately or in combination. Whilst the test does not mimic a particular reality, it very effectively employs environmental conditions commonly experienced in service, and so exposes design features and manufacturing defects which could lead to premature failure.

The registration fee (including lunch, refreshments, and set of seminar notes) is £110 (excl. VAT) per delegate. Attending delegates will also benefit from a 25% discount on HALT chamber hire for their company’s next HALT order at TRaC Warwick.

Places on the seminar are strictly limited to enable the interests of the individual delegates to be satisfied, so early registration is recommended. To register your interest, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or telephone 01926 478478.

We look forward to seeing you at TRaC Warwick on the 5^th Oct 2010.

TRaC to facilitate second Femto Forum plugfest

Following the Femto Forum's announcement earlier this week to hold a second plugfest, TRaC has today confirmed it will once again be facilitating the interoperability testing event and ongoing interoperability program.

The agreement comes after TRaC facilitated the world's first femtocell plugfest event earlier this year, which received widespread vendor support and was attended by more than 20 companies. TRaC and the Femto Forum are now making plans for the second plugfest and looking to build on their already successful partnership.

To be held towards the end of 2010, this second plugfest will focus on the Broadband Forum's Femtocell management standard, building on the work of the Forum's first plugfest on the Iuh interface.

Karim Sharf, chief operating officer at TRaC, commented: "Femtocells and their deployment is undoubtedly becoming a significant focus for many telecommunications operators.

"By holding a second plugfest we can really drive forward the development of femtocell technology, providing valuable feedback to standards organizations and ensuring consistent interoperability between vendors' equipment.

"TRaC and the Femto Forum both see interoperability as integral to the successful uptake of femtocells. In order to address this need, the Forum created an interoperability testing special interest group (IOT SIG) and asked Karim Sharf, the vice chair of the SIG, to act as editor for the interoperability test specifications document, being used as the basis for the plugfest program.

"Open and effective standards are central to the success of femtocells. They provide operators and users with a real choice of devices while also driving economies of scale to bring down the cost of the technology," said Simon Saunders, Chairman of the Femto Forum. "TRaC was instrumental in the success of our first plugfest and we look forward to continuing our partnership in the

TRaC celebrates top femtocell award

Karim Sharf, chief operating officer for TRaC Telecoms and Radio, has been awarded the Chairman's Awtard at the Femto Forum Femtocell Industry Awards 2010 in recognition of his work in driving forward the development of open and interoperable femtocell technology.

The Chairman's Award is presented to the individual that Simon Saunders, chair of the Femto Forum, feels has made the biggest contribution to the Forum and the wider femtocell industry. Simon commented: "Most of the Femto Forum’s work is driven by the efforts of individuals from within our member organisations and a huge number have contributed their time and skills to the Forum in the past year and all deserve my considerable thanks.

"However, one of our key goals we had in the last year was to make tangible progress towards our vision of an open, interoperable ecosystem for femtocells. To that end, in March we ran the first plugfest for UMTS femtocells, which was widely supported by over 20 vendors.  Karim Sharf was instrumental in supporting and coordinating that process and his level of contribution to the Forum's aims has been outstanding."

Karim Sharf is the vice chair of the interoperability testing special interest group (IOT SIG) and is editor for the interoperability test specifications document being used as the basis for the ongoing Femto Forum plugfest program, which TRaC facilitates.

TRaC has been a member of the Femto Forum since its inception three years ago and works closely with the Forum to ensure effective interoperability and the successful uptake of femtocells. Paul Russell, managing director of TRaC Telecoms and Radio, commented: "I'm delighted that Karim and TRaC are being recognized for the work we have been doing to drive forward the industry adoption of femtocells."

The Femto Forum Femtocell Industry Awards 2010 recognize outstanding achievement within, and contributions to,

TRaC reaffirms relationship with Motorola

TRaC has announced it is to continue its long-standing relationship with Motorola.

Motorola's NBBS remote device software device management platform is used by TRaC - whose testing services include telecommunications, DSL and radio - to test Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) that utilizes the Broadband Forum's TR-069 specification and ensure interoperability.

Alan Lefkof, corporate vice president and general manager of Motorola Mobile Devices and Home, commented: "We are pleased that TRaC continues to rely on our NBBS software platform to perform industry leading interoperability testing - TRaC's reputation, dedication and expertise in the testing and compliance industry are excellent."

"By continuing our work together we are able to carry on providing CPE vendors with a testing platform that can validate their compliance to the important TR-069 specification."

Motorola's NBBS Auto Configuration Server (ACS) was developed specifically to meet the TR-069 requirements that broadband service providers often insist CPE vendors adhere to.

Paul Russell, managing director of TRaC Telecoms and Radio, commented: "Motorola's NBBS platform was the perfect system choice to power our TR-069 testing service."

"As Motorola continues to enhance its NBBS platform and we are pleased to be able to provide the same high level of quality and commitment to our customers."

For further information about TRaC's comprehensive telecoms services - supported by a full regulatory solution covering Radio, EMC, Safety and Approvals for global market access - contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

TRaC completes testing programs with Realtek

Less than a year after moving its US test operation to its UK headquarters, TRaC has completed a comprehensive testing program for Realtek Semiconductor.

TRaC is accredited by the USA's two largest broadband service providers to carry out DSL testing. This latest set of testing demonstrates that a Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) containing Realtek's ADSL2+ chipset has successfully completed the TR-067 and TR-100 test program requirements for the multiple DSLAMs deployed in North America.

Jessy Chen, vice president from Realtek Semiconductor Corp, commented: "Passing these TRaC testing programs and receiving this accreditation has proved valuable for our business. By successfully completing these tests, our devices may be qualified by major telco carriers to further expand our broadband business in North America. We have worked with TRaC for a number of years and have always had a quick and efficient service from them."

TRaC opened its expanded flagship DSL test facility at its Hull, UK headquarters in November last year following a re-location from its Santa Clara operation. The laboratory is now the most advanced and comprehensive independent DSL testing facility anywhere in the world.

Paul Russell, managing director of TRaC Telecoms & Radio, commented: "Our testing programs are held in very high esteem in the telecommunications industry and we work hard to maintain that high level of commitment to our customers and will continue to offer influential industry accreditations."

Jessy added: "We are pleased with the service from TRaC and its commitment to maintaining the North American test suite, and we look forward to working with them on other worldwide telco networks and regions."

TRaC is accredited by a number of the USA's top broadband communications providers. It also assists telecoms operators and vendors worldwide with interoperability testing, test plan development

TRaC ready with equipment - test programme for LPPV

TRaC has announced that it has assembled a suite of services that is now ready to be accessed by any company developing electronic products for use in the Ministry of Defence’s Light Protected Patrol Vehicle (LPPV) programme.

TRaC is equipped to provide a range of testing services, notably in areas such as Safety and EMC (Electro-Magnetic Compatibility). The company already works closely with Millbrook Proving Ground, where vehicles are tested in respect of their mobility against a Battlefield Mission (BFM), and has established procedures to schedule programmes of testing in both arenas.

The LPPV programme, which aims to provide the Services with a new vehicle that will offer greatly increased protection to small, highly mobile teams, was defined in 2008 and is now at the stage of evaluation of initial vehicle offerings from multiple manufacturers. When it enters service, LPPV can be expected to carry an ever-increasing electronic-equipment payload in categories including communications, surveillance and electronic counter-measures. Only comprehensive testing to a demanding specification can provide the assurance that systems will operate – and inter-operate – with total reliability when called on to do so. TRaC has demonstrated over many years that it can apply the testing rigour needed to provide those assurances.

As with all classes of armoured vehicle, the platform selected for the LPPV programme will present a uniquely challenging operating environment for the equipment it carries, in mechanical, thermal, electrical and radiated-interference terms. As with all such programmes, LPPV specifies with some precision the test regime that equipment intended for installation in the platform must undergo, embodied in the System Requirement Document or SRD. TRaC has a well-established process for carrying out such tests, having long experience of working in previous programmes, and the Company is fully accredited to all the requisite security

TRaC Opens Largest Test Facility in North West of England

TRaC announces a major expansion of its operations in the North West of England. The company today opened a new 15,000 sq. ft. centre of excellence in Up Holland, Lancashire, making it the largest commercial facility in the North.

The test facility is the only one of its kind in the North West of England that places a comprehensive testing service within easy travelling range for customers in the region. TRaC is already the biggest British test and certification company and the new facility strengthens the company's presence in the North, complementing the existing Hull facility that is the largest in the North East.

TRaC has invested more than £1 million in the new Lancashire location which has been supported by the North West Regional Development Agency. The company is currently hiring for key positions and plans a second wave of recruitment later this year to support the anticipated growth of its existing business in the region.

TRaC provides a testing service that ensures and certifies that its clients' products comply with EMC (Electromagnetic Compatibility) regulations; wireless, radio and telecoms standards; and environmental and safety requirements. TRaC holds a comprehensive range of accreditations to issue product approvals to national and international standards: through a combination of its own facilities and worldwide partnerships, the company offers global reach.

In today's regulatory climate, few products achieve certification in a single visit to a test laboratory; in contrast, TRaC’s involvement with many of its clients' projects begins early in the design process. Support that begins with design analysis, and continues through pre-certification testing, ensures that projects stay on track at the final certification stage. Local, quick and easy