Kiwa NV
 | |
| Private, LLC | |
| Industry | Environment, health and safety |
| Founded | 1948 |
| Headquarters | Netherlands, EU |
Area served | 50+ countries (as of January 2016) |
Key people | Dr. Paul G.M. Hesselink (CEO) |
| Products | Testing, Inspection, Certification (TIC) |
| Services | Certification |
| Revenue | € 172 mln (2013) |
| € 8,5 mln (2013) | |
Number of employees | 1480 (2013) |
| Slogan | Partner for Progress |
| Website | www.kiwa.nl |
Kiwa NV is a European institution for Testing, Inspection and Certification (TIC), headquartered in Rijswijk, Netherlands. Kiwa is active worldwide in some 50 countries. Established in 1848 as the Judging Institute for Water Supply Articles,[1] it was known throughout the 20th century as simply Kiwa and participated in the safety analysis of many European and international new technologies as well as the drafting of safety standards for numerous devices and components. Kiwa provides safety-related certification, testing, inspection, auditing, advising and training services to a wide range of clients, including manufacturers, policymakers, regulators, service companies and consumers.[2]
History
Kiwa was founded in 1948 by the Water board (Netherlands) with the aim of monitoring the quality of drinking water across the Netherlands. Demands were made that articles in drinking water processing and management, such as water pipes , fittings and valves, had to be met. Kiwa argued and performed various tests on such items. Products that meet the requirements are still marked with the Kiwa label. Kiwa's stringent testing methodologies expanded the organization to become active in more European markets and eventually internationally in independent quality assessment and quality certificates for products and services in various industries and sectors.
Certifications
The issuing of quality declarations in the form of certificates forms the basis of the organization's activities. Kiwa is defined as an independent party or a company/institution that meets the requirements of a product, service, system or person. The requirements are established in consultation with all stakeholders including producers, consumers, certification bodies and a so-called Committee of Experts in a particular field. Once certified products and services are provided with a trademarked label as visual identification. Kiwa provides certification labels both in-house as well as licensed. These include transport and logistics, management systems (eg ISO 9000 and ISO 14001 ), agro, feed & food (including HACCP), health care, safety and corporate social responsibility.[3]
Testing & Inspections
Kiwa has a network of testing laboratories in Europe and the Far East for testing a several categories of products. Through them it offers testing and inspection services in the areas of roofing and outer walls, gas and gas installations, infrastructure, calibration, polymers, drinking water installations, sports floors, and solar panels. Most of its clients are from manufacturing and the process industries, public and private utilities, government agencies and international institutions. Kiwa is globally active in over forty countries with offices in many European states as well as in Taiwan, Peru and China.[4]
Business Structure and Development
Kiwa is organized into the so-called Service Lines 'Assurance'. One line is for certification and related activities and the other for 'Information' and other activities. A service line is made up of a number of units, each with its own focus. The business units are in themselves an independent unit. Kiwa grew both organically as well as through strategic acquisitions. The first large acquisition took place in 2005 with Gastec Apeldoorn, the former GIVEG. Subsequently, it carried out several other acquisitions in the Netherlands and elsewhere in the world in various market segments. As of 2014 it has offices in 13 countries and agents in 15.[5]
TIC business units in the Netherlands
- Kiwa BDA in Gorinchem: study and certification of components for facades and roofs.
- BMC Kiwa in Rijswijk: study and certification of concrete and other mortars.
- Kiwa BPSI in Gorinchem: inspection body in the field of fire protection systems.
- Kiwa ISA Sport in Arnhem: research and certification of sports surfaces.
- Kiwa NCP in Gouda: certification of companies in the field of fire safety and security.
- Kiwa SCM in Gouda: Certification of safety systems for vehicles.
- Telefication in Zevenaar: study and certification of electronics.
Related activities in the Netherlands
In line with the TIC activities Kiwa provides training, consultancy and research services, data services and issuing licenses:
- Kiwa Training in Rijswijk offers practical courses, training and workshops in the field of installation and distribution technology, quality, safety, knowledge and standard care.
- Kiwa Technology in Apeldoorn is an independent international knowledge enterprise in the field of energy, especially gas, and water. Kiwa Technology primarily focuses on consultancy in the purchase, sale and distribution of gas. The company is also researching new applications of renewable energy does.
- Kiwa Carity in Utrecht is an independent center of expertise and knowledge institute that researches, advises and provides training. The core activity of Kiwa Carity is to process data into useful information, for example, management decisions, primarily for the healthcare sector.
- Kiwa Register in Rijswijk (South Holland) issue licenses on behalf of, among others, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment . It is about security documents for land, water and air. Kiwa Register issued licenses for inland fisheries, merchant marine, bus, taxi (including the driver's) and aviation.
- KOAC NPC supplies from offices in Apeldoorn , Groningen , Nieuwegein and Vught advice do (laboratory) tests and road measurements, provides quality guidance and makes knowledge transfer in the field of mobility infrastructure.
Company Logo
Kiwa presents itself as "Partner for Progress'. This slogan is part of the company logo. A second key element of the Kiwa logo is a stylized image of a beaver. This animal symbolizes the different markets in which Kiwa is active. The beaver is connected to water, construction and a natural, healthy environment. Furthermore, the beaver is considered efficient, technically proficient, friendly and persistent as an animal.
Independence and supervision
As a TIC institution Kiwa is expected to operate in strict independence. The company remains impartial by not engaging in the production, trading or other activities that could compromise its impartiality. There is no external influence on decisions or opinions of Kiwa in the fields of its certification, testing, inspection, technology or research. Kiwa is supervised by various parties that monitor compliance with the rules governing certification bodies, including the Accreditation Council. In turn these accreditation bodies are audited by external organizations and qualified by other authorities.