The University of Strathclyde’s Advanced Forming Research Centre (AFRC), part of the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS), has attained ISO 17025 for its mechanical testing laboratory, adding another internationally recognised accreditation to its name. This certification is widely acknowledged as a benchmark of excellence for testing and calibration laboratories, focusing heavily on technical competence.

This achievement is said to underscore the centre’s commitment to continuous improvement and meeting the high-quality standards expected by businesses in the UK and internationally. It helps the centre overcome manufacturing challenges and become more competitive.

The centre has reportedly become the first in the UK to be accredited for elevated compression testing up to 1,100°C, as per the National Physical Laboratory’s good practice guide. It has also achieved accreditation for its standards in room-temperature compression testing, room-temperature tensile testing, and elevated-temperature tensile testing up to 1,000°C.

The latest certification adds to the AFRC’s existing ISO 17025 for residual stress analysis, as well as ISO 9001 and ISO 4500118001 for creating and maintaining a quality management system and health and safety standards, respectively.

With numerous years of industry experience, the AFRC’s mechanical testing team demonstrated its technical competency throughout the rigorous benchmarking process. Underpinned by the centre’s research, mechanical testing services are available to businesses of all sizes seeking assistance in checking parts used across a range of sectors from automotive to aerospace.

Michael King, material science and engineering theme lead at the AFRC, shared, “Achieving ISO 17025 accreditation is a testament to our team’s technical proficiency and unwavering standards. It not only recognises our world-class research capabilities but also instils confidence among prospective and future customers. Our mechanical testing expertise is integral to many of the AFRC’s projects. By integrating mechanical testing into our cutting-edge research, we can provide actionable insights that benefit manufacturers of all sizes across various industries.”