NORTHBROOK, IL, Dec. 3, 2009 -- Underwriters Laboratories (UL), a global leader in drinking water quality and safety, has entered into a strategic alliance with Pace Analytical (Pace), a nationally recognized leader in environmental measurements, analytical testing and professional services to offer manufacturers of drinking water treatment units (DWTU) reduced time to market for third-party certification to ANSI/NSF standards.
Pace Analytical will provide exclusive performance claims and material testing on DWTU products submitted for certification to the UL Classified Water Quality Mark. Through this alliance, UL and Pace will bring to the DWTU market faster turnaround times, a higher level of technical and analytical expertise and more competitively priced services.
Jeff Smith, General Manager of UL's Global Water and Food Safety Business, announced the alliance by saying, "This strategic alliance with Pace allows UL to provide more competitive certification services to the DWTU industry while at the same time maintaining the high level of standards the market expects from UL. Pace has already established itself as a highly regarded and credible provider of analytical services in this market so we feel this is a win-win for all parties."
Steve Vanderboom, CEO of Pace Analytical stated, "We are excited to share our experience with UL and help both companies enhance their respective capabilities in the drinking water product market. This alliance with Underwriters Laboratories is an example of Pace Analytical's continued commitment to working with the best companies in their marketplace and helping to provide the highest quality product at a competitive price. With the strength of the UL brand and Pace's product and material testing capabilities and lab capacity, we believe we can build a strong platform for industry excellence, compliance and safety."
Key Benefits of the UL/Pace Strategic Alliance
Manufacturers of DWTU products that take advantage of this alliance will benefit from the combined strengths of UL and Pace. Specifically, this program will provide:
• Certification to the highly regarded UL Classified Water Quality Mark
• Faster turn-around-times for certification of DWTU products by leveraging Pace's extensive analytical capabilities and capacity
• Dedication to the highest level of customer service in the industry
For more information on the UL-Pace strategic alliance, visit http://www.ul.com/global/eng/pages/offerings/industries/waterandfood/water/prodcert/units/faq/
About Underwriters Laboratories
Underwriters Laboratories (UL) is an independent product safety certification organization that has been testing products and writing Standards for Safety for over a century. UL evaluates more than 19,000 types of products, components, materials and systems annually with 20 billion UL Marks appearing on 72,000 manufacturers' products each year. UL's worldwide family of companies and network of service providers includes 64 laboratory, testing and certification facilities serving customers in 98 countries. For more information on UL's water programs and services, visit www.ul.com/water.
UL's drinking water and plumbing product certification program is fully accredited in the United States and Canada and is recognized by the U.S. EPA as well as all states and cities in the United States that have adopted their own water product certification requirements. Serving manufacturers around the world, UL tests and certifies drinking water treatment chemical additives, system components (fixture fittings, valves and gaskets, tanks and coatings), treatment units (chillers, coolers, and water softeners), and plastic piping system components and related materials. UL is also is an approved certifier of water products that meet the criteria of the EPA's WaterSenseSM program, which identifies and promotes the use of water-efficient products.
About Pace Analytical Services Inc.
Pace Analytical Services Inc. is a privately held, full-service sampling and analytical testing firm -- providing environmental testing, field sampling services, method development and validation, onsite laboratory operations and management services, equipment sales and services, and product and material testing.
Pace Analytical's Product Testing Division is a nationally recognized laboratory that offers product evaluation, material characterization and water testing capabilities. Pace Analytical's staff has over 70 years of combined experience in providing these services. The Product Testing Division carries an A2LA ISO 17025 certification for both protocol work and all associated analytical work.
Pace Analytical operates a nationwide network of laboratories and service centers -- providing project support for thousands of industry, consulting, engineering, manufacturing and government professionals. Pace corporate offices are located in Minneapolis, MN. Today, Pace Analytical is the second largest environmental testing company in the nation with 15 laboratories, 10 service centers and more than 950 employees in the United States and Puerto Rico.
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