THIEME GmbH & Co. KG, leading producer of Polyurethane (PUR) molded and functional parts made of Polyurethane (PUR), has been granted a QMRX2 certification from the American Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) for its new EMC conductive lacquer. The PUR specialists, headquartered in Teningen (Breisgau) are hoping for clear competitive advantages from this certificate which is still rarely granted in Germany.
At Thieme, customers are safe and protected. With over 40 years of experience in the development and manufacture of PUR molded and functional parts and more than 4,000 customer projects, Thieme offers its customers extensive plastic expertise and all relevant certifications for the industry. Thieme has been meeting the quality and environmental standards in accordance with DIN EN ISO 9001:2008, ISO/TS 16949 Third Edition as well as DIN EN ISO 14001:2005. The UL certificate provides the newest confirmation of Thieme quality with the designation QMRX2, which attests to the perfect quality of the EMC conductor lacquers used in Thieme's lacquering systems. The UL certification has a significance in the USA comparable to the seals of quality of the Association of German Electricians and the German Inspectorate.
In the fully automated lacquering system, in which environmentally friendly, water-based paints in accordance with the European VOC guideline are used exclusively, the PUR parts are given their surface finish as well as − if the application requires − an additional finishing with copper conductive lacquer. "The electrically conductive lacquer absorbs electromagnetic disturbance rays so that the function of other devices in the surroundings are not affected", explains Yves Munsch, Director of Quality Assurance at Thieme. "Inversely, the coating also protects the electronic interior of the PUR-paneled device against possible disturbance effects from the outside." The UL certification now attests in black and white that the − naturally also water-based − copper conductive lacquer and the lacquering process used fulfill these requirements which are valid for the most important PUR ingredients used by Thieme, such as Baydur® FR 66, Baydur® FR 110-4, and Baydur® FR 110-6.
"In order to be granted the UL certificate, we first performed internal lacquer tests on corresponding PUR substrates", reports Munsch. "Then we sent lacquered PUR test plates to the Underwriters Laboratories in the USA, where the plates were once again subjected to extensive tests including adhesion, degree of shielding and material compatibility." After successful testing the Thieme lacquers as well as the lacquering processes were approved in May, 2010. The lacquering process is now checked every three months within the scope of an audit at Thieme in order to confirm the authorization.
With the UL certificate (more precise designation: QMRX2.E336770 which can be viewed at www.ul.com), Thieme is in possession of a seal of quality which is still rarely seen in Germany. "We have significant competitive advantages from this," the Thieme manager of QA is convinced. "Because customer requirements are constantly increasing and the UL certification will be increasingly demanded in the future."
www.thieme.eu
