TIC service provider announces rebranding

For more than two decades, QS has provided independent, accredited services in the testing, inspection and certification (TIC) of plastic films, pipes, structures, renewable energy and biobased products. The firm joined the Normec Group in August 2021 and is now announcing a rebranding, which will be ratified at InfraTech 2023.

Three Normec Group business units will share a booth at InfraTech 2023: Normec Rei-Lux, Normec Certification and Normec QS. With years of (international) experience in the TIC industry, the company's entry is of great value to Normec. CEO Joep Bruins comments: "QS offers a scope of activities not previously offered by Normec Group. This puts us in an even better position to unburden our customers across the board. QS is thus a wonderful addition to the existing services within our Life Safety & Environment division."

Quality and customer friendliness

"For our customers and employees, from the moment we joined the Normec Group, it has proven to be an excellent opportunity to continue our solid long-term growth," said Iljo Fluit, general manager of Normec QS. "This is evidenced by the many positive reactions we have received from the beginning. Moreover, we share the same core values when it comes to customer approach, namely based on quality and customer friendliness. We therefore see many opportunities to serve our joint customers even better. In achieving our growth ambitions, this has also seen a marked increase in the number of new international customers at Normec QS in recent times." Fluit continues: "We see Normec Group as a player to which the TIC services of QS are both complementary and related, without overlapping. The focus of Normec QS remains unchanged in this. We distinguish ourselves in quality control in the construction of new plastic piping systems and foil constructions, but for some years now we have also been able to carry out research on existing piping systems, among other things to determine the expected residual life. In addition to the personal certification of plastic welders and the inspection of liquid-tight facilities, certification of renewable energy and sustainable products is an important growth market for Normec QS."

NDT survey

"When constructing new plastic piping systems, we test and inspect the welded joints. Both before, during and after the welding process," adds technical director Jorn Bronsvoort. "Our guidance starts as early as training and certifying the welders for welding work in the field. Then we provide on-site quality control and welding parameter control. Before the start of welding of each pipe of a specific diameter, we take a sample of a representative weld, which we destructively examine in our laboratory. To increase quality and in some cases reduce the number of destructive tests, it is also possible to perform NDT examination. With ultrasonic examination, our inspectors assess on site whether the inside of PE welds is satisfactory. This is done by ToFD examination (Time-of Flight Diffraction) on mirror welds and by PAUT examination (Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing) on electro welds. At InfraTech 2023 we will give demos of this NDT research."

Unique methodology

Another specialty of Normec QS is determining the residual life of piping systems. "We have developed a practical and effective research method to test the degree of aging and determine the expected residual life under the same conditions of use. In many cases, this demonstrably extends the service life by many more decades and allows replacement investments to be postponed. The method is based on a scientific foundation by TNO," Bronsvoort concludes. Want to know more about this unique methodology? Visit Normec QS at booth 4.101.