VDE directly participates in the development of German national standards and is one of the most experienced certification bodies in Europe with a high reputation in the world. It completes a total of 18000 certification projects annually for nearly 2200 German companies and 2700 clients from other countries. Up to now, nearly 200000 electrical products from nearly 50 countries worldwide have obtained the VDE logo.

Introduction to VDE Certification

The VDE Testing and Certification Institute, located in Offenbach, Germany, is a research institute affiliated with the Verband Deutscher Elektrotechniker (VDE), the German Institute of Electrical Engineers, founded in 1920. As a neutral and independent organization, VDE laboratories inspect and certify electrical products in accordance with German VDE national standards, European EN standards, or IEC International Electrotechnical Commission standards based on applications. In many countries, the VDE certification mark is even more famous than the domestic certification mark, especially recognized and valued by importers and exporters.

In China, the diversification of export directions for electrical products has led importers from Europe, Australia, Southeast Asia, and other regions to demand safety certifications and CE marks such as GS (Germany), BEAB (UK), IMQ (Italy), etc. However, most complete machine manufacturers break down these requirements into smaller parts during the certification process, requiring their respective electrical safety component suppliers to ensure obtaining a high-level safety certification mark. This is also the external reason why more and more component manufacturers hope to obtain the VDE mark.

VDE applicable testing fields

Electric heating and electrical appliances

- Data processing and medical equipment

-- Lighting fixtures and electronic products

- Cable and insulation materials

Installation equipment and control devices

Electronic components

EMC testing

VDE certification process

Submitting the formal application form and structural parameter table is an important document for applying for VDE,

2 Application Confirmation - After receiving the formal application form and structural parameter table, VDE will confirm the application in writing within 2-4 weeks and send invoices, factory inspection questionnaires, and other materials.

3. Sample submission - When the VDE application is confirmed, the specific sample submission requirements and the relevant standards on which the testing is based will be informed. After the sample is completed, it must be self tested according to standard requirements or submitted to relevant domestic laboratories for prediction. After the prediction is qualified, the samples can be safely and accurately sent to VDE for testing through express delivery.

1) Once all test items are passed, the applicant will be notified immediately.

2) The inspection results may also have defects. For some minor defects, the certification body communicates with VDE, and as long as they are slightly corrected, there is no need to resend samples, and VDE can issue the certificate.

3) When significant defects appear in the test results, the certification body will discuss the reasons for the failure with the applicant. If necessary, please ask VDE to send back the failed samples for reference and analysis. After the sample is modified and improved, go through the re inspection procedures and send the sample again until it is qualified. If the samples are resent within six months, the cost of retesting will be much discounted.

4 Factory Inspection - Factory review before issuing certificates and regular or irregular supervision and review after obtaining certificates. Before the factory inspection, the certification body appoints experts to assist the manufacturing plant in conducting a self inspection of production facilities, experimental equipment, metrology, and the entire quality system in accordance with VDE requirements. If the inspector requests rectification during the review, assist the manufacturer in discussing and implementing rectification measures as soon as possible until the re inspection is qualified.

5 Certification - On the premise of successful factory inspection, if the sample test is qualified, VDE will promptly notify the applicant of the results, and the VDE certificate will be issued soon.

Materials required to apply for VDE certification

1. Product Description

2. Explanation of Model Differences

3. Circuit diagram

4. German manual

5. Parts and Material List

6. CB Test Report

7. Other required materials

VDE certification factory review

VDE generally conducts factory audits twice a year. The content of factory inspection mainly reviews the consistency of products and samples, but also includes reviewing quality management documents such as inspection procedures, records, and measurements.

Matters inconsistent with VDE certification

1. Poor cleanliness and hygiene

2. Poor safety conditions

3. Environmental protection does not meet standards

4. Unsafe chemicals

5. No safety manager

6. No first aid training or fire drills

7. Failure to provide and use PPE

8. No MSDS

9. Overtime and overtime

10. Salary below the minimum wage standard

11. Illegal employment of child labor

12. Illegal use of underage workers

13. Collecting deposits, confiscating ID cards, or restricting personal freedom

14. Body searches, corporal punishment, and violations of workers' rights

15. Delayed payment of wages

16. No statutory welfare benefits

17. The "three in one" factory building lacks safety devices for its machinery and equipment

18. The dormitory is crowded and the living conditions are poor.

19. Not inspected by the local health department and issued a certificate

20. Insufficient restroom and bathing facilities

21. Limited channels

22. No gender segregation

23. Insufficient ventilation equipment

24. Unreasonable quantity and distribution of fire extinguishers and hydrants

25. Unsafe factors

VDE Certification Application Rules

1. First Consultation - The applicant provides the company with a brief introduction to the company and an explanation of the current status of the VDE product to be certified, such as product model, name, parts list, drawings, working principle diagrams, technical parameter tables, usage instructions, and other materials.

2. Establish an agency relationship - The principal (applicant) signs an agency agreement with the agent, further clarifying the responsibilities, powers, and obligations of both parties in written contract form to ensure close cooperation during the application process, enabling the application work to proceed smoothly and achieve the expected goals. At the same time, the power of attorney is a legal basis that our company must submit to VDE to prove that we have been entrusted by the applicant.

3. The formal application form and structural parameter table are important documents for applying for VDE. The applicant can provide relevant information and entrust our company to translate and fill them out. After the applicant signs, they will be sent back to VDE.

4. Application Confirmation - After receiving the formal application form and structural parameter table, VDE will provide written confirmation of the application within 2-4 weeks and send invoices, factory inspection questionnaires, and other materials.

5. Sample submission - When the VDE application is confirmed, the specific sample submission requirements and the relevant standards on which the testing is based will be informed. Our company can assist VDE applicants in obtaining relevant standards, clarifying all relevant testing items, testing methods, etc. After the sample is completed, it must be self tested according to standard requirements or submitted to relevant domestic laboratories for prediction. After the prediction is qualified, the samples can be safely and accurately sent to VDE for testing through express delivery.

1) Once all test items are passed, the applicant will be notified promptly.

2) The inspection results may also have defects. Some minor defects can be corrected with VDE without the need for resubmission, and VDE can issue the certificate.

3) When significant defects are detected in the test results, our company will discuss the reasons for the failure with the applicant. If necessary, please ask VDE to send back the failed samples for reference and analysis. After the sample is modified and improved, our company will handle the re inspection procedures and send the sample again until it is qualified. If the samples are resent within six months, the cost of retesting will be much discounted.

6 Factory Inspection - Factory review before certification and periodic supervision and review after certification. Before the factory inspection, Shanghai Dexin will assist the manufacturing plant in conducting a self inspection of production facilities, experimental equipment, metrology, and the entire quality system in accordance with VDE requirements. If the inspector requests rectification during the review, assist the manufacturer in discussing and implementing rectification measures as soon as possible until the re inspection is qualified.

7 Certification - On the premise of passing the factory inspection smoothly, if the sample test is qualified, VDE will promptly notify Shanghai Dexin of the results, and the VDE certificate will be issued soon.

Shortcut to obtaining VDE logo for electrical components

Generally speaking, there are two ways to conduct type approval experiments for VDE certification: the first way is for enterprises to directly consult with VDE and complete the application process, and mail a considerable number of test samples to Germany according to the requirements of VDE testing engineers. Testing will be carried out item by item according to German VDE standards, and all testing fees will be paid at the German engineer's work price based on the total time spent on VDE testing workload. The second method is for the enterprise to first apply for "CB testing" from a CB laboratory that has a good cooperative relationship with VDE in China, and then convert the CB testing report into a VDE certified type test report. We know that CB test certificate is a certificate issued by the Certification Body Committee (CCB) of the International Electrotechnical Commission for the Safety of Electrical Products (IECEE), which is recognized by the IECEE-CCN certification body within a country (in China, CCEE is the issuing unit of CB test certificate). It is used together with the attached test report to notify certification bodies in other countries that a sample of a certain electrical product has been tested according to the unified IEC standard and passed the test. More than 30 countries in the world have joined the CB system, and VDE is also a member laboratory of CB. Therefore, the CB test reports issued by us can basically be directly accepted, so the testing of major projects can be completed domestically. However, if there are national differences between individual experimental projects such as DIN standards and IEC standards in Germany, VDE engineers will notify the agent and send individual samples to supplement the differences in experimental projects. After that, the test results can be comprehensively confirmed.

Comparing the two methods, it is not difficult to see that the first method of applying for VDE is because it is an overseas test, and it is difficult for the enterprise to understand the entire experiment. In addition, the possibility of passing VDE testing at once is generally small, so it requires repeated communication and sending samples overseas, making it difficult to control the project duration. In addition, the unit labor cost of VDE German technicians is still much higher than that of domestic technicians, so the total cost may be relatively high. The second approach seems to be divided into two stages: domestic testing and foreign supplementation. In fact, it utilizes the advantage of local testing stations in China being relatively familiar with the product's technical condition, as well as the ability to communicate and improve in a timely manner when problems are discovered, and other favorable conditions such as the price difference between domestic and foreign labor. Through the operation of some practical projects, it has been proven that using CB test reports to apply for VDE certification is a time-saving and economical shortcut.