BETWEEN HEAVEN

AND EARTHFascinating bridges – no other construction inspires

greater creativity

MINUTE PARTICLES WITH MINUTE PARTICLES WITH

MAGICAL PROPERTIES MAGICAL PROPERTIES

Miracles of medical Miracles of medical

technology – tiny electrodes technology – tiny electrodes

stimulate the acoustic nervestimulate the acoustic nerve

DISPLAYS OF STRENGTH DISPLAYS OF STRENGTH

Discovery from India – a new Discovery from India – a new

process hardens plastic fibers process hardens plastic fibers

contactC U S T O M E R M A G A Z I N E O F T Ü V R H E I N L A N DC U S T O M E R M A G A Z I N E O F T Ü V R H E I N L A N D I S S U E 2 . 1 0I S S U E 2 . 1 0

Contents

Trends & Innovation04 18 20Markets & ExpertiseTechnology & Safety

Focus: Connections

Gas without Borders 04

How the Nabucco pipeline will create

new transport routes for natural gas

Bound for New Shores 06

How bridges help connect people

around the world

Life at Full Volume 11

Why the hearing implants from

Cochlear Limited are so valuable to

patients

Eco Star Goes Up in Flames 16

Why it’s important to be careful when

storing wood pellets

Harder than Steel 18

The Indian company CPE manufactures

especially strong and flexible plastics

Patent Help 30

How TÜV Rheinland strengthens the

innovative ability of businesses

Return on Investment for Everyone 20

How TÜV Rheinland is advising companies

about CSR strategies

China for Auto Experts 23

A discussion about the new import

regulations for vehicles and spare parts

bound for China

02 contact 2.10

Spotlight

Facts and Figures 14

Allergy-Free Behind the Wheel

Lowering Risks

Help for Haiti

Data from Dublin

Allegation Refuted

Mindful

Editorial Editorial

24Confucius says: “If you have an apple and I have an apple and we exchange

these apples then you and I will still each have one apple. But if you have an

idea and I have an idea and we exchange these ideas, then each of us will

have two ideas.” Ideas connect people, businesses and economies across the

continents. Globalization is the pre-condition to allow us to share our ideas

around the world. Challenges, be they local or global, can be met more easily

because we are connected to each other. TÜV Rheinland employees are part

of this network and our company is a positive example of globalization. In

every corner of the world, we work with all of our experts’ know-how to find

solutions for you, our customers. I believe that responsible guides are essen-

tial in a world that is constantly progressing and changing. Every day, TÜV

Rheinland experts all over the globe assume a guiding role, using their experi-

ence and know-how to ensure safety and reliability in many areas of daily life.

We promote lasting commitment in a world that is spinning faster all the time.

Building a bridge has long been a socially and economically significant way to

demonstrate a connection. Yet the world’s architectural masterpieces could

hardly have withstood the centuries without the expert knowledge of compa-

nies like TÜV Rheinland. The testing organization’s work on the Stari Most, or

“old bridge”, in the Bosnian city of Mostar is one of the examples (p. 6). TÜV

Rheinland also recently forged an informative link between the international

automotive industry and the Chinese supervisory authorities (p. 23), thereby

helping the companies ensure their ongoing access to what is probably the

most important market worldwide. What happens when manufac turers fail to

connect with consumers is impressively illustrated by the TÜV Rheinland

“swimming aid” test (p. 24). And sometimes a connection can also be price-

less: discover how cutting edge technology certified by TÜV Rheinland is help-

ing people with hearing impairments to regain their active role in the commu-

nity (p. 11). We hope that you, too, will maintain a strong connection with TÜV

Rheinland.

I wish you enjoyable reading!

MAKING CONNECTIONS

People & Environment

That Sinking Feeling 24

Why Rainer Weiskirchen went shopping

for swimming aids on the Mediterranean

coast

A Container Crash with the Mouse 28

What happens when the air is sucked out

of a tank container

Impressum 32

03contact 2.10

Cover picture:

Knows all the weak points

in any bridge’s construc-

tion: Michael Georg Müller

from TÜV Rheinland.Friedrich HeckerPresident and CEO of TÜV Rheinland AG

contact 2.1004

Technology & Safety Nabucco Pipeline04

INFORMATION

Michael Küppermichael.kuepper@de.tuv.com+49 221 806-4756

GAS WITHOUT BORDERS

The Nabucco pipeline connects central Europe with the world’s largest

gas reserves in the Caspian Sea and the Middle East. With this project,

the EU wants to create new transport routes for natural gas and in-

crease independence from Russian gas. The 3,300 kilometer long pipe-

line has a diameter of 1.42 meters (56 inches) and reaches from Tur-

key’s eastern border to Austria. 7.9 billion euros have been invested in

the project, and construction is to begin in 2011. Gas is to start flowing

through the new pipeline in 2014. TÜV Rheinland has been commis-

sioned to test material specifications and audit pipe and valve manu-

facturers. Thanks to its global network, the testing services provider

was able to audit 70 manufacturers around the world in six weeks.

contact 2.10 05

TH

E R

OUTE

THE PIPELINE SURFACES IN BAUM-

GARTEN, AUSTRIA. WHEN IT IS

COMPLETED, UP TO 31 BILLION

CUBIC METERS OF GAS WILL FLOW

THROUGH EUROPE’S MOST IMPOR-

TANT GAS DISTRIBUTOR ANNUALLY.

GERMANY’S GAS SUPPLY WILL ALSO

BE SECURED BY THIS PIPELINE.

ASIA – EUROPE

BaumgartenVienna Budapest

Bucharest

IstanbulSofia

Ankara

Erzurum

BOUND

FOR NEW

SHORES

You can build them, burn them or cross them be-

fore you come to them. The French liked to dance

on their one in Avignon, while the American duo

Simon and Garfunkel sought a safe passage over

troubled waters with theirs. No other construc-

tion is as deeply symbolic as the bridge.

With their help, our ancestors discovered new lands.

The Romans used them to secure their empire and to

quickly deliver supplies to their armies and provinces. In

each case, bridges brought distant harbors – and the

people who lived there – closer together. Knowledge

was transferred and cities conducted trade or imposed

tolls to become rich and powerful. However, bridges

didn’t just have a unifying effect: during many wars, peo-

ple deliberately destroyed them to harm their enemies or

to gain an advantage.

All of these attributes are symbolized by the Stari Most.

For more than 450 years, the old stone bridge in the Bos-

nian city of Mostar was part of everyday life and was said to

link the different nationalities that lived there. On 9 November

1993, the Stari Most was destroyed by the Croatian artillery. In

an international collaboration spanning several years, a copy of

the ruined original was rebuilt stone by stone. Now the bridge has

not only been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site but also

serves as a symbol of reconciliation.

0606

Schleswig-Holstein’s landmark: 963

meters long and 21 meters wide, the

Fehmarn Sound Bridge spans the Baltic

Sea to connect the German island of

Fehmarn with the mainland.

07

Bridge Building Technology & Safety

HIG

HES

T B

RID

GE

SI DU RIVER BRIDGE,

CROSSING A VALLEY

NEAR YESANGUAN-

ZHEN, CHINA

472 METERS

WID

ES

T B

RID

GE

SYDNEY HAR-

BOUR BRIDGE,

AUSTRALIA

50 METERS

LO

NG

EST

BRID

GE

BANG NA EXPRESSWAY

IN BANGKOK, THAILAND

54 KILOMETERS

contact 2.10

Currently the “widest

long-span bridge in the

world” according to the

Guinness Book of

Records.

contact 2.10

TA

LLE

ST

PY

LO

NTA

LLE

ST

PY

LO

N

VIADUC DE MILLAU,VIADUC DE MILLAU,

SOUTHERN FRANCESOUTHERN FRANCE

343343 METERSMETERS

The tallest pylon of the The tallest pylon of the

Viaduc de Millau Viaduc de Millau

reaches higher than reaches higher than

the Eiffel Tower.the Eiffel Tower.

MO

ST

EX

PE

NS

IVE

BRID

GE

SCHEFFEL BRIDGE IN

SINGEN, GERMANY

1,5 QUADRILLION MARKS

The Stari Most, or “old

bridge”, was considered an

architectural masterpiece in

the sixteenth century. Today,

the city of Mostar’s landmark

in Bosnia-Herzegovina is

list ed as a UNESCO World

Heritage Site.

The Scheffel Bridge was constructed in The Scheffel Bridge was constructed in

1923 during a period of inflation. Accord-1923 during a period of inflation. Accord-

ing to the inscription, it cost ing to the inscription, it cost

1,520,940,901,926,024 marks to build. 1,520,940,901,926,024 marks to build.

Bridges – architectural masterpieces

In earlier times, a felled tree was usually all it took

to cross a stream. However, as freight and passen-

ger traffic increased, as well as when machines, cars

and trains were later invented, bridges had to meet a

whole new range of requirements. To cope with the

growing burden, wooden and stone building materials

were replaced by iron, steel and concrete.

Over the millennia, architects have also developed increas-

ingly sophisticated techniques. Engineers generally distinguish

between three construction types: beam, arched and suspension

bridges. Movable bridges that can be raised, shifted to one side or

turned as required, such as the railway swing bridge in Bremerha-

ven, are a further specialty. The bridge off the Nordschleuse lock

connects the German city’s railway line to the Columbus train sta-

tion and can be turned around in seven minutes to let vessels like

car carriers or repair ships pass through to the local dockyards.

Bridge supervision

Modern bridges have an average lifespan of about 100 years.

However, they have to be examined and monitored regularly to

ensure that they really do reach this age. This task is performed by

around 30 experts from TÜV Rheinland who specialize in the su-

pervision and routine inspection of bridges. They also develop re-

storation concepts and oversee the production of individual steel

components – for instance for the New Greenville Bridge, which

spans the Mississippi River between the U.S. state of the same

name and its neighbor Arkansas.

Michael Georg Müller is one of around 20 bridge inspectors at TÜV

Rheinland. “Each bridge has to be tested at legally regulated inter-

vals for structural integrity and traffic safety, as well as for durabi-

lity,” explains the trained construction engineer. The main inspec-

tion generally takes place every six years. From minor abutments

on the road surface to the underside of the bridge, Müller examines

every structural component with a fine-tooth comb. In addition to

his professional expertise, he also needs a good dose of courage:

TYPES OF BRIDGES

09contact 2.10

For as long as mankind has existed, people have been on the lookout for constructions to help them

create new transport routes over rivers and low-lying areas – and to forge ties between nations. Thanks

to today’s materials and state-of-the-art mechanisms, it is becoming increasingly simple to bridge a gap.

ATTRACTIVE AND PRACTICAL

Beam bridge: easy to build

and therefore widely

used. Characterized by

a visible separation

between the beams

and their supports.

Kapell Bridge, Lucerne,

Switzerland

Arched bridge: consists of

one or more arches and

was formerly made of

stone or concrete.

Now gen erally built

using steel or rein-

forced concrete.

Ponte Vecchio,

Florence, Italy

Suspension bridge: primarily

used to cross broad, navi-

gable bodies of water

spanning more than

800 meters.

Golden Gate Bridge,

San Francisco, USA

Movable bridge: examples in-

clude draw, swing or flap

bridges. The dis-

advantage: only one

route can be used at

a time.

Tower Bridge, London,

Great Britain

Bridge Building Technology & Safety

if necessary, the keen skin diver inspects un-

derwater pylons or abseils off bridges wearing

a safety harness. He then documents his fin-

dings using a software program that adds up

the flaws he has detected to determine a total

score for each bridge. The results are forward-

ed directly to the owners or operators, who

then have to rectify the faults according to a

set of precise regulations. “I really enjoy my

job. It’s a great combination of outdoor and

office work,” says Müller, who inspects

around 200 bridges per year. He first develop-

ed a fascination for the unifying constructions

during the course of his career and now ap-

preciates the chance to examine very old or

especially beautiful ones, such as the swing

bridge in the German harbor of Krefeld. Sever-

al of Müller’s colleagues are responsible for

monitoring bridges. They attach special sen-

sor devices at significant points to provide a

round-the-clock recording of selected data

about each bridge’s condition and load. This

information is then transmitted to their com-

puters via a phone line. If specific limits are

exceeded, the computer program immediate-

ly raises an alarm. The experts also assess all

the data to provide the operators with valuable

information about the condition and safety of

each bridge. This helps ensure that people can

still head for new harbors in the future – even

if they have to cross over troubled waters to

do so.

contact 2.10

QUESTION

The city with the world’s great-

est number of bridges is… no,

not Venice but Hamburg! With

2,485 in total, the

German harbor

town boasts

more brid-

ges than

Amster-

dam and

Venice

combined.

DID YOU KNOW?

Panoramic outlook: TÜV Rhein-

land expert Michael Georg

Müller enjoys the view of the

headland and the Baltic Sea from

the Fehmarn Sound Bridge.

INFORMATION

Michael Georg Müllermichael.georg.mueller@de.tuv.com+49 511 589999-84

BIG

GES

T S

PA

N L

EN

GT

H

AKASHI-KAIKYO

BRIDGE IN KOBE-

NARUTO, JAPAN

1990 METERS

To create the pylons of the

Akashi-Kaiky Bridge,

engin eers lowered two

gigantic steel cylinders onto

the ocean bed. Each one

has a diameter of

80 meters, has

been filled with

ready-mix con-

crete and weighs

370,000 tons.

10

LIFE AT FULL VOLUME

Around the world, more than 150,000 people with hearing im-

pairments have been fitted with cochlear implants. Two wear-

ers explain how the high-tech devices have changed their

lives.

At first glance, Lisa Nitz is a perfectly normal teenager. The 16-year-old

goes to high school and likes spending her spare time with her

friends. Her hobbies are swimming, playing beach volley-

ball and listening to music. That wouldn’t exactly be

unusual if it wasn’t for one small detail: Lisa has

been almost totally deaf since birth. She is

able to fully experience the world around

her thanks to a cochlea implant – an ap-

pliance embedded in her inner ear, or

cochlea.

Different to a hearing aid

Cochlea implants are suitable

for people with profound hear-

ing impairments. “In many of

these cases, the hair cells in

the cochlea are defective,

meaning that sound waves‘

energy cannot be translated

to nerve impulses for the

brain to recognise sound.“

No sounds are then detected,

which is why conventional

hearing aids are no help: they

merely amplify sound waves

and need a certain level of resi-

dual hearing to work properly. The

cochlea implant (CI) is based on an

entirely different principle: it partially

replaces the damaged hair cells and

directly stimulates the acoustic nerve to

help the patient recognize noises and voices

more clearly.

Lisa can confirm the benefits: “I started out wearing

hearing aids on both sides but there were a lot of things I

couldn’t hear and I had to really concentrate all the time.” When she was

five, she received a cochlea implant. “That was a completely new expe-

11

Better Hearing Technology & Safety

contact 2.10

Sounds complicated: an external

processor transmits digitalized

sound waves to an internal receiver,

which then converts them into electrical

impulses that stimulate the acoustic nerve.

speech processor has to be individually ad-

apted to suit the patient over a number of

sessions. The wearers then have to under-

go a long period of hearing training.

Karin Raasch knows all about that. After

several episodes of sudden hearing loss,

the 53-year-old party service owner was left

with only around ten percent of the hearing

in her left ear. She has been wearing a CI

on that side since 2007. “If you’ve no longer

registered certain frequencies for more

than 20 years, you get quite a shock when

they suddenly reappear. At the beginning, I

couldn’t tell what a lot of the sounds were.

The brain has to learn to hear again from

scratch.” Lisa had very little trouble with the

adaptation and hearing training. Now she

can even listen to music on her iPod: “I

have a special set of headphones that I can

connect directly to the speech processor.

Now I can play Nelly Furtado over and over

again.”

Mastering everyday situations

Both CI wearers haven’t let their hearing

impairment get them down and have mas-

tered their daily lives with ease. Karin

Raasch meets a lot of people through her

work and is thrilled that dealing with custo-

mers is now much less difficult. At the

contact 2.10

INDUSTRY NEWS

The Australian company Cochlear

is the world market leader for

heari ng solutions such as cochlear

implants. “By making the most of

ongoing developments and new

technologies, we aim to offer our

customers the best possible hea-

ring performance both today and

for the rest of their lives,” explains

Johan Brinch, Vice President Regu-

latory Affairs at Cochlear Limited.

TÜV Rheinland already started

working with the company in the

early 1990s. “The technology is ab-

solutely fascinating,” says Udo

Joseph, Head of Active Medical

Products at TÜV Rheinland. “We’ve

just certified Cochlear Limited’s la-

test-generation CI, the Nucleus 5

System.”

COCHLEAR LIMITED

rience for me. Suddenly, I could even hear

the birds chirping – a sound that would have

been unimaginable with a hear ing aid.”

How it works

Lisa can now detect such high frequencies

thanks to the external speech processor

behind her ear. An integrated microphone

picks up the sound waves in her environ-

ment and the processor converts them into

digital signals before sending them to the

transmitter coil – a small disc that Lisa can

easily affix to her scalp using an integrated

magnet. The implant itself is secured bene-

ath the skin and consists of a corresponding-

ly magnetized receiver coil and an electrode

array that is embedded in the cochlea. The

implant converts the digital signals from the

speech processor into electrical impulses

so that the electrodes can stimulate the

acoustic nerve.

Learning to hear

It may sound complicated but for the

pa t ients , it’s the beginning of a whole new

life. Lisa is full of confidence: “I really don’t

care if people stare at the thing behind my

ear. What matters most is that I can hear

well!” However, that doesn’t happen over-

night. Once an implant has been fitted, the

12

An integrated magnet holds

the transmitter coil in place.

The device can easily be

remov ed for activities

such as swimming.

INFORMATION

Udo Josephudo.joseph@de.tuv.com+49 221 806-1689

www.cochlear.com

13contact 2.10

same time, she is fully aware that even with

the best technology in her ear, things will

never be quite the same as they were be-

fore her first episode of hearing loss. “Eve-

rybody sounds a bit like Mickey Mouse to

me now,” she says. “But I can still distin-

guish between the different voices around

me. You get used to it and it’s become com-

pletely normal to me now.” She certainly

has no regrets about the surgery. “In the

next few months, I’m also getting an imp-

lant inserted on the other side.”

By contrast, Lisa has decided to stick to one

CI for now. She gets along just fine that

way. “If somebody calls me from behind or

I’ve turned my head in a different direction,

I sometimes don’t hear what’s being said

and have to ask again. The teachers at

school always wear a type of microphone

around their necks. If I attach my speech

processor to a receiver, I can hear absolu-

tely everything they say.” And what does

she do when she goes swimming? “I take

the processor off completely. I also do that

when I’m fighting with my mother. Then

she can scream as loudly as she likes and I

still have my peace and quiet.”

BACKGROUND

Human beings are surrounded by a

huge variety of noises during their

daily lives. These noises enter the

auditory canal as sound waves, strik-

ing the eardrum and making it vibrate.

Inside the middle ear, auditory ossi-

cles known as the malleus, the incus

and the stapes ensure that the sound

waves are transmitted to the cochlea.

This causes the fluid in the cochlea to

vibrate and sets the inner hair cells,

which are specially attuned to certain

frequencies, in motion. The hair cells

transform these movements into elec-

trical impulses before sending them

on to the acoustic nerve. The brain

then registers a sound.

A miracle of medical technology

In a cochlea implant, an array of

electro des take over the role of the

damag ed hair cells. Each electrode is

responsible for a specific range of

frequencies. The speech processor

does the preliminary work by dividing

the entire frequency spectrum that the

human ear can normally detect into a

series of frequency bands and convey-

ing these signals to the implant.

There, they are transformed into elec-

trical impulses that can be used by the

electrodes to stimulate the acous tic

nerve. Doctors can individually adapt

the single frequencies to suit each

patient, resulting in a significantly

better sense of hearing.

THE HUMAN EAR

Sound processor

Transmitter and

receiver coils

Electrode array

Karin Raasch is thrilled that she

can deal with customers confident-

ly again. The 53-year-old has been

wearing a Cochlear implant in her

left ear since 2007 and will

soon get a second one fitted on

the other side.

Better Hearing Technology & Safety

Factsand fi gures

All companies licensed in the aerospace industry must

have their existing quality management system certified

according to the new Norm EN 9100:2009 by July 1,

2012. TÜV Rheinland already informed the industry of the

major changes at the 2010 International Aerospace Exhi-

bition and Conferences at Berlin’s Schönefeld airport.

“Above all, the areas of risk analysis and customer orien-

tation will become much more stringent,” says Otto Kru-

se, expert for aerospace certification at TÜV Rheinland.

LOWERING RISKS

contact 2.10

Information: Otto Kruse, otto.kruse@de.tuv.com

Everyone knows the symptoms: runny nose, itchy skin – aound 20

percent of Germans have allergies. But most people don’t realize that

bouts of sneezing when driving can be dangerous. “During a sneezing

fit, you can cover 30 meters in blind flight,” warns Dr. Karl Sander from

TÜV Rheinland. When pollen levels are high,

allergens find their way into the car through

the ventilation system or actually form in the

car’s interior, for example from processed

harmful substances. Ford is doing something

about this: they are the only automaker in the

world that gets their entire passenger car

fleet in Europe tested by TÜV Rheinland – over 100 materials and the

interior air filter are tested. The approach has been successful: the sig-

net “Allergy tested interior” is in every model. This makes driving

more pleasant and safer for those who suffer from allergies.

ALLERGY-FREE BEHIND THE WHEEL

Information: Dr. Karl Sander, karl.sander@de.tuv.com

Donations for earthquake victims: in May 2010 TÜV Rheinland employees and

the executive board transferred 30,000 euros to the non-profit association

“Help – Helping others help themselves” to aid in the rebuilding of Haiti. “The

initiative came from the employees. They asked me if we could all join forces

to help in light of this terrible catastrophe,” says Aiko Bode, responsible for

CSR at TÜV Rheinland. Company management also enthusiastically joined in

and doubled every euro donated by the employees. The most effective long-

term help for Haiti is for the Haitians themselves to take over the rebuilding of

their country. This is exactly how TÜV Rheinland’s donation supports the Hai-

tians, because it will finance construction of a workshop that will manufacture

metal parts for the rebuilding of houses and at the same time train at least six

tradespeople.

HELP FOR HAITI

Information: Aiko Bode, aiko.bode@de.tuv.com

14

Michael Olberding from TÜV Rheinland is happy

about a “piece of Ireland” in his office. Since the

end of 2009, a dedicated line commissioned by

the Irish National Roads Authority has connected

the Cologne traffic specialist’s computer to the

Free-Flow Toll System on the M50 in Dublin. Driv-

ers on the ring around the Irish metropolis have been paying toll since 2008 without

having to pass through a toll booth. Either a chip on the windshield automatically

communicates with the toll bridge or automatic license number recognition identifies

the vehicle, and the bill comes later. TÜV Rheinland has been showing its expertise

in free-flow systems in Ireland since 2006, just like it did during introduction of the

commercial vehicle toll in Germany and Austria. In Dublin the experts contributed

their know-how to the system’s installation and operation. Now, thanks to the tech-

nologies connecting Cologne and Dublin, the experienced TÜV Rheinland team con-

tinues its work by helping with monitoring and system optimization.

DATA FROM DUBLIN

contact 2.10 15

“The cars decelerate safely, even from

high speeds.” Boris Lenz of TÜV Rheinland

came to this conclusion in his report for

Toyota Germany. Background: in the USA,

the Japanese automaker was accused of

being responsible for deadly accidents resulting from blocked gas pedals. But during

brake tests, the TÜV Rheinland expert determined that, “The minimum legal require-

ments in terms of deceleration and braking distance are fulfilled.” With this, the af-

fected models iQ, Aygo, Yaris, Auris, Verso, Avensis and RAV4 meet braking require-

ments even when the gas pedal is blocked at high speeds. But this should no longer

occur in the future, as Toyota modified the gas pedal mechanism in the more than

200,000 recalled cars.

The trade group REWE is contribut-

ing to more sustainability in the

shopping basket with its new Pro

Planet label. The symbol will be on

all products of the store’s own brand

that “make a measureable contribu-

tion to sustainable handling of natu-

ral resources by their manufacture,

processing or use.” For a product to

carry the label, it must be proven to

be environmentally and socially

compatible. The TÜV Rheinland ex-

perts tested and validated the pro-

cesses and methodology of label

allocation before the mark was

award ed. Initially Pro Planet will be

found on selected foods like straw-

berries grown in a water-friendly

fash ion. But also non-food products

like special textiles or paper grades

will carry the trade group’s mark of

quality in the future.

MINDFUL

Information: Boris Lenz, boris.lenz@de.tuv.comInformation: Bernhard Priesemuth, bernhard.priesemuth@de.tuv.com

Information: Michael Olberding, michael.olberding@de.tuv.com

ALLEGATION REFUTED

ECO STAR EMITTING

TROUBLEThe small, compressed wood pellets are the new star on the European heat

market. The bad news is that carbon monoxide – an odorless and deadly

gas – can form when they are stored.

16 contact 2.10

Logs instead of natural gas

and heating oil: around

120,000 heaters in Germany

are already heated with the

pellets made of compressed

sawdust. Estimates put their

number at one million for

2020.

PELLET CERTIFICATION

TÜV Rheinland has developed a

DINplus certification for wood

pellets. With this mark, compa-

nies around the world can docu-

ment that they operate according

to the highest quality standards, consistently

manufacture top-quality pellets and voluntarily

undergo regular production inspections that in-

clude product testing. To prove this, TÜV Rhein-

land carefully analyses features such as the

heating value, ash development and chemical

composition of the compressed wooden logs.

MARK PROVIDES CERTAINTY

INFORMATION

Andrea Riethandrea.rieth@de.tuv.com+49 221 806-1715

DIN CERTCO GmbHPeter Suxdorfsuxdorf@dincertco.de+49 30 7562-1448

17contact 2.10

The little logs seem completely harmless.

They are generally made from waste wood

that is generated in carpenter shops and

during the production of paper. The com-

pressed wood pieces are an ideal, sustaina-

ble source for heat as they are CO2-neutral,

currently almost one-third cheaper than

heating oil and practically infinitely available

as biomass. But the popular pellets pose

hidden dangers which emerge mainly when

they are not properly stored: they emit car-

bon monoxide (CO) through natural gas

emissions. In higher concentrations this

odorless and colorless gas leads to dizzi-

ness, light-headedness or headache. In the

worst case, carbon monoxide poisoning

leading to unconsciousness resulting in

death can occur.

Fatal accidents

TÜV Rheinland already extensively warned

about this danger, even if there are still a lot

of unanswered questions surrounding the

eco logs. There is still no conclusive answer

as to why these gas emissions processes

happen at all. Andrea Rieth, expert at TÜV

Rheinland, says, “Experts surmise the

cause is autoxidation of the natural fats and

fatty acids in the wood with the atmosphe-

ric oxygen. This would lead to the CO con-

centration decreasing with the duration of

storage, meaning that it would be particu-

larly high when filling the storage space

with the pellets.” A possible implication

would be to not enter the filled storage

area. “The danger should not be underesti-

mated,” warns the expert. There have al-

ready been cases of poisoning resulting in

death in commercial storage facilities.

“In addition to that, the exact release rates

are as yet unknown. We cannot safely rule

out that high concentrations of CO form in

a storage space at a later time.” And there

are differences between the types of wood

bits. First studies show that pellets made of

pine wood have a higher potential of form-

ing carbon monoxide that those made of fir

wood.

A question of employer liability

As long as it remains unclear under what

conditions and at what rates carbon monox-

ide is formed, TÜV Rheinland supports

higher safety measures. This also applies to

storage of the pellets in commercial facili-

BACKGROUND

• Consult a specialist from the be-

ginning when planning a wooden

log heating system.

• Keep wooden logs stored outside

of the home in a space with a pre-

installed ventilation system.

• By storing goods in sacks and us-

ing canvas sacks, risks compared

to storage in enclosed spaces is

reduced. But always consider the

danger of carbon monoxide.

FOR PRIVATE USERS: HOW TO SAFELY STORE WOODEN LOGS

• The rule of thumb is to always air out

storage space before entering it. Al-

ways have a second person present

who can get help in case of emergency.

• Devices measuring carbon monox-

ide levels can be purchased in special

stores for around 100 euro. They reli-

ably measure the CO concentration in a

log storage area.

ties, where the employer has responsibility

for the safety of his employees and is ulti-

mately legally liable. The experts from TÜV

Rheinland also offer private homeowners

advice on the technical and legal risks asso-

ciated with their pellet heating systems and

the corresponding storage space.

To date there is no danger sym-

bol for wood logs. It’s a diffe-

rent story with carbon monox-

ide: the colorless and odorless

gas is a strong poison that can

lead to death. It is also highly

flammable.

y reli-

ion in a

Wood Pellets Technology & Safety

• Important: the pellets are very mois-

ture-sensitive. When they come in

contact with water, they expand and

can increase their volume threefold.

So they must be stored in a dry

place.

HARDER

THAN STEEL

“It can withstand a lot,” communicate the

proud looks. Ten Indians are happily bounc-

ing on a two square-meter steel grating that

is showing no signs of noticing the load. It

is made of a new glass fiber-reinforced plas-

tic (GFRP) that has compelling characteris-

tics: the material is lighter and more resilient

than stainless steel. It is also considerably

more resistant to corrosion from aggressive

substances and so ideal for the chemical

industry. Glass fiber-reinforced plastic has

been used for nearly 60 years in the aero-

space industry, automotive engineering,

electric and medical technology, wind ener-

gy plants as well as in the areas of sport and

leisure. CPE has further developed the

manufacturing process, enhancing the ad-

vantages of the material (see background).

Due to the convincing test results, TÜV

Rheinland now awarded a TÜV Rheinland

Certificate for the innovation.

Strong in export and innovative

Roland Schräder, TÜV Rheinland expert for

plastics engineering, and Professor R.P.

Shimpi, the globally recognized scientist at

the Department of Aerospace Engineering

at the Indian Institute of Technology Bom-

Stronger, lighter, cheaper: a new type of glass fiber-rein-

forced plastic keeps even the most aggressive lyes and acids

at bay. Developed in Mumbai by CPE, TÜV Rheinland certi-

fied the new material and its Indian manufacturer.

18 contact 2.10

Trends & Innovation India18

INFORMATION

Roland Schräderroland.schraeder@de.tuv.com+49 261 8085-636

www.cpel.com

19contact 2.10

BACKGROUND

CPE’s innovation: The company

uses vinyl ester resin plastic, as

this is particularly resistant to

chemicals. The Indian company

also developed a new process that

makes especially large containers

even more resistant to aggressive

lyes and acids.

The interior wall of the container

is covered with an additional pro-

tective coating. The liner is made

up of three to four-millimeter thick

thermoplastics panels made of

polyvinylideneflouride (PVDF),

polypropylene (PP) or polyvinyl

chloride (PVC) that are welded

together with hot air.

CPE connects the liner to the

GFRP with a special cloth, thus

achieving unprecedented material

SUPERIOR: NEW PROCESS BY INDIAN SPECIALISTS

characteristics. This puts the In-

dian specialists in the company

of just a handful of businesses

throughout the world that can

manufacture containers for

chemical liquids with a diameter

up to seven meters and a height

up to 20 meters. The capacity of

one five by 15 meter tank is up

to 300 cubic meters or 300 tons

at an empty weight of just 20

tons. A same-sized stainless

steel tank weighs more than

twice as much and is consider-

ably more expensive to produce.

In addition, the new composite

material is up to ten times more

elastic than steel. This makes the

GFRP steel grating used in chem-

ical production superior to that

made of steel.

Tests the new material for its fatigue limits and pressure properties: Roland

Schräder from TÜV Rheinland (center).

bay, together put the innovative material to

the test over a number of days. The glass

fiber mats are placed in a casting mold,

where they are saturated in a liquid plastic

resin, normally epoxy resin, in a number of

layers and cured. In the lab, the new glass

fiber-reinforced plastic proved its endurance

strength, chemical stability as well as pres-

sure and bending properties.

For Ashwin Rajpurohit, Managing Director of

CPE, getting the certificate was “a mile-

stone in our company history”. The busi-

ness, now under second-generation man-

agement, organizes all processes according

to state-of-the-art standards, and the pro-

ducts meet the most stringent international

quality norms. So it’s no wonder that custom

products from CPE can be found all around

the world. The company is one of the largest

exporters in India and has received nume-

rous awards from the government. In the

port of what was formerly called Bombay,

there is a logistics center for fast delivery to

customers around the globe. The main pro-

duction facility in Mumbai and the produc-

tion plant in Vadodara, 500 kilometers away,

have both been certified by TÜV Rheinland

as recognized plastics specialist centers.

RETURN ON INVEST-

MENT FOR EVERYONE

20 contact 2.10

Team spirit: the staff at KNAUER

GmbH have every reason to be

happy thanks to the company‘s

employee-friendly policies.

20 Markets & Expertise Corporate Social Responsibility

21contact 2.10

Actually, it is the classic medium-sized busi-

ness values that are today merged under the

word sustainability. Successful business

people have always known that the only

things that make business sense in the long

term are those that also bring added value

to the company and the environment. Cor-

porate Social Responsibility (CSR), the bal-

ance between the ecological, social and

economic dimensions of business, is famil-

iar to medium-sized businesses. “Today we

look at all corporate areas through CSR glas-

ses,” says Alexandra Knauer. For the award-

winning managing director of Dr. Ing. Her-

bert KNAUER GmbH, CSR means both a

path with a goal, as well as an on-going pro-

cess.

The family business has been manufactur-

ing scientific laboratory measuring instru-

ments for nearly 50 years and exports over

70 percent of them throughout the world.

“As an internationally-operating specialist in

a competitive market, we want to take res-

ponsibility for our employees, the environ-

ment and our stakeholders in all areas. This

will keep us competitive and innovative,”

says Alexandra Knauer. In May she was

named “Businesswoman of the Year” for

her CSR engagement and awarded the 25th

Prix Veuve Clicquot.

Sustainable and near the

core of business

“Just like KNAUER, most of our ten project

partners already pursue CSR approaches,”

says Dr. Carmen Giese. “But often the sys-

tematic integration into the company’s

value-added chain was missing, as was a

direct focus on the company’s core areas of

expertise,” said the project leader of the

Center of CSR, Sustainability and Compli-

ance at TÜV Rheinland in Berlin. It was time

for the testing services provider, who itself

has implemented a systematic CSR strate-

gy, to bring this successful management

instrument to medium-sized businesses.

Currently TÜV Rheinland is developing an

internet-based guide (Guide Sustainable

Business) from its experience with the pilot

project. The aim is to support companies in

their alignment to sustainability, compliance

and CSR based on eight fields of activity.

From 2008 to 2010 Dr. Giese and her team

helped the Berlin companies and their em-

ployees to define and implement sustain-

able processes on all levels. “Because only

when everyone takes on responsibility is

there an economic impact,” says Alexandra

Knauer. Renovations to the company build-

ing lead to a 50 percent savings in heating

energy. When selecting suppliers, the com-

Sustainable company management pays off, also for medium-sized busi-

nesses. It builds bonds with employees, creates growth and preserves

resources. It makes particular sense as it benefits the big picture. In a pilot

project, TÜV Rheinland helped companies in Berlin to develop their CSR

strategy.

Childcare in case of emergency:

KNAUER GmbH takes its employ -

ees’ needs very seriously and

offers practical assistance.

pany looks at the origin, manufacturing

processes and environmental compatibility

of the materials. New printers that use

duplex printing reduce energy and paper

consumption. An ecological balance sheet

is currently being prepared.

The employer’s reputation is of great im-

portance. “Employer branding is becoming

the decisive competitive factor in light of

demographic developments,” says Alexan-

dra Knauer. She does everything so that her

employees feel comfortable and identify

themselves with the company. A big garden,

emergency child care, employer-financed

pension plan, events, profit-sharing and

other services like the financial security day

strengthen employees’ bond to the compa-

ny. “When my employees are happy, then

they perform for the company. And this con-

stantly creates new prospects for the futu-

re. CSR strengthens our power of innovati-

on and our market position in the long term.

And our customers, suppliers and the pu-

blic feel that,” sums up Alexandra Knauer.

A piece of wisdom that medium-sized busi-

nesses have always taken to heart – and

that they can now realize more systemati-

cally.

22 contact 2.10

BACKGROUND

In 2010, TÜV Rheinland published

its own comprehensive Sustain-

ability Report for the first time. The

Report provides a systematic over-

view of the Group’s international

social commitments and achieve-

ments, as well as the impact its

business activities have on the

environment and the company’s

economic development. In addition

to an interview with the Executive

Board about the organization’s mis-

sion, readers will also find details

about TÜV Rheinland’s public im-

age, its appeal as an employer

and its low staff fluctuation rate,

as well as the ecological footprint

of each employee in Germany and

the extensive internal compliance

program.

The Sustainability Report was

compiled according to the speci-

fications of the Global Reporting

Initiative (GRI), a set of globally

established guidelines for corpo-

rate sustainability reporting. The

GRI awarded it the highest rating

of “A”.

A separate guideline gives an over-

view of the numerous GRI indica-

tors and shows where to find the

corresponding facts in the Report.

The initial Report provides full

coverage of all the company loca-

tions in Germany. From 2010, TÜV

Rheinland plans to compile and as-

sess its sustainability-related data

on a global scale.

Maintaining consistently high

standards of quality and safety

worldwide, independently of the

PIONEER OF THE TESTING SERVICES INDUSTRY

respective market, is part of TÜV

Rheinland’s core business. The ma-

jority of its services are geared to-

wards sustainability and this also

entails a high level of social respon-

sibility. Since 2006, the Group has

supported the United Nations Global

Compact, an international network of

companies and interest groups that

is committed to endorsing human

rights, basic labor laws and environ-

mental protection, as well as fighting

corruption. To promote and aid this

campaign, the company presented

the International TÜV Rheinland

Global Compact Award for the first

time in 2008. The prize is awarded

to prominent figures whose work

helps further the goals of the United

Nations Global Compact.

www.tuv.com/sustainability

INFORMATION

Dr. Carmen Giesecarmen.giese@de.tuv.com+49 30 43663-251www.tuv.com/de/corporate_social

_responsibility_1.html

Promoting transparent business

practices: the TÜV Rheinland CSR

Report.

汽汽会

行CHINA‘S ROADMAP

FOR AUTO IMPORTS

23contact 2.10

New import rules: The Chinese dele-

gation was available to the German

automotive industry to answer

questions on the new regulations.

The desire for individual mobility in China

continues to grow. The German Association

of the Automotive Industry (VDA) estimates

that passenger car sales in China will in-

crease by 16 percent to just under ten mil-

lion units in 2010. This also benefits German

automakers, who have tripled their sales

there to 1.55 million cars in the last four

years. Every fifth new car comes from a

German brand. But before the cars can be

exported to the Far East, manufacturers and

suppliers have to deal with Chinese authori-

zation regulations. This applies to whole

cars as well as a wide range of spare parts.

Only when the binding certification stipula-

tions, called China Compulsory Certification

(CCC), are met may the products be import-

ed and offered on the market. The body of

rules stipulates regular visits to production

facilities. “Currently our experts examine

the quality standards at 250 exporters to

China throughout the world – depending on

the product, one to two times a year,” says

Gunnar Pflug, head of the TÜV Rheinland

Technology Center for Traffic Safety.

The updated CCC regulations come into ef-

fect in July 2011 for passenger cars and at

the beginning of 2012 for commercial vehic-

les. So the crème de la crème of the Euro-

pean automotive industry came together in

mid-May with leading representatives of the

responsible Chinese institutions. At the first

CCC Summit Markets & Expertise

BACKGROUND

There are also special import regula-

tions for various products in Brazil.

For example, from July 2011 all im-

ported household appliances require a

state-approved certificate. TÜV Rhein-

land experts now informed manu-

facturers in the telecommunications

and IT industries in six Japanese and

Chinese cities about the special autho-

rization requirements in Brazil. China

has been Brazil’s largest trade partner

since 2008.

ACCESS TO SUGARLOAF MOUNTAIN

Information Summit of this kind at TÜV

Rheinland in Cologne the delegation from

China detailed its expectations. By conduct-

ing a direct dialogue with one another, open

questions were answered and contradic-

tions were cleared up. “It is very important

to China that imports run smoothly, which is

another reason for this workshop premie-

re,” says Pflug. To date, the Europeans only

had written documentation at their disposal.

The new CCC regulations also apply to Chi-

nese manufacturers that want to sell cars

and spare parts in their country.

INFORMATION

Gunnar Pfluggunnar.pflug@de.tuv.com+49 221 806-3108

Experts in CCC requirements: Representatives of the Chinese delegation at TÜV Rheinland.

THAT SINKING

FEELINGBright colors, a broad grin and big, adorable eyes: while

inflatable animals and plastic boats might look harm-

less, they’re often anything but. To make sure water

toys don’t pose any hidden dangers, it’s best to rely on

test marks like the GS Mark from TÜV Rheinland.

24 contact 2.10

24 People & Environment Infl atable Swimming Aids

TEST RESULTS

What TÜV Rheinland inspected:

Test objects:

- 88 children’s air mattresses and inflatable swimming

articles

- purchased at beaches in Italy, France and the Nether-

lands

Results:

- high levels of phthalate plasticizers in 29 of the

88 swimming devices

- almost half of the products shouldn’t have been on

sale in the EU because they don’t comply with the

required safety standards

- many cases of low quality materials and poor work-

manship

- swimming seats for children under three proved

especially dangerous

25contact 2.10 25

Rainer Weiskirchen’s mission did seem

rather unusual. In the space of five days, the

TÜV Rheinland employee drove 3,500 kilo-

meters along the Italian coast and around

the lakes of Northern Italy, from the Adriatic

to the Ligurian Sea – and all for a trunk full

of children’s air mattresses and water toys.

He bought them in the typical stores that

line the popular beach promenades and

went through a similar process in France

and the Netherlands. Laboratory specialists

in Germany were awaiting the 88 plastic

objects to investigate just how dangerous

a fun day at the beach can be.

Shocking results

All the swimming devices were sub-

jected to a range of chemical and

mechanical tests. The analysis

for harmful substances yielded

alarming results: almost one

third of the pro ducts

contained high

levels of

Children are magically drawn to the sea

and to water in general. Responsible

parents always keep a close eye

on them while they’re

paddling and playing

with swimming

toys.

phthalates – dangerous

plasticizers that are be-

lieved to cause reproductive

problems and other side effects.

“They definitely have no business be-

ing in children’s toys anymore,” explains

Weiskirchen. “Technology has come so far

that manufacturers can now produce the

plastic animals without using these kinds

of softening agents at all.”

He mainly noticed that many of the water

toys and swimming aids from the beach

boutiques had an extremely distinctive

smell – a sure sign that dangerous solvents

had been used during their production. The

mechanical tests revealed equally poor

results. Plastic parts that can become de-

tached are considered dangerous because

small children might swallow them.

But the experts were most shocked by the

swimming aids for children under three.

Baby seats are commonly used to help

very young children become accustomed

to water, but every single test subject re-

USEFUL TIPS

Take care when buying water toys:

- Sight and touch test: be wary of

products with sharp-edged seams

and poorly processed valves

- Smell test: a strong odor can indi-

cate harmful solvents

- Labels: the manufacturer and im-

porter should always be named

- Beware of small parts: young chil-

dren might swallow them

- Check all instruction manuals, age

specifications and warning symbols:

they should be easy to understand

and provide sufficient detail

- Baby swimming aids: no toy-like

designs are acceptable; swimming

aids should be labeled with the

EN 13138-3 mark

- The GS Mark shows

that a water toy has

been tested for

safety by an ap-

proved organiza-

tion

- Advice: to be on the safe side, it’s

best to seek advice when buying

toys. It’s also a good idea to ask

whether the store or supermarket

carries out internal quality checks

26

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- - T TThehe G GGGS S S MaMaM rkrkk ssshohoohowswss kkk

thththhatatat a aa w wwatataa erer t toyoy h hasasaas

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prprp ovovedede oorgrgananiziza-a-

titionon

26

Cute but dangerous: when

purchasing water toys,

consumers should

always rely on expert

advice – and the test

mark from TÜV Rhein-

land.

contact 2.10

contact 2.10 27

Aufblasbare Badeartikel Mensch & Umfeld

ceived the verdict “product unacceptable”.

“Swimming seats for small children should

be labeled as such,” explains Weiskirchen.

However, that wasn’t the case for many

of the objects designed to look like boats,

mushrooms, bumblebees and other nov-

elty shapes. And construction errors can

be extremely dangerous. For instance, if

the center of gravity is too high, the child

can topple into the water. Or if the seat is

too tight, it may get stuck there in an emer-

gency – an alarming scenario. To make sure

that can never happen in the first place,

parents should always look for the EN

13138-3 mark. Products labeled with this

European norm for swimming aids have

been confirmed to offer increased protec-

tion against capsizing, as well as a clearly

defined sizing system based on age and

height, among other safety features. In ad-

dition, all toy packaging should include the

name of the manufacturer or importer. The

CE mark indicates that a product complies

with the regulations and norms that are

valid throughout the EU. The GS Mark for

BACKGROUND

No Compulsory Testing Policy

Demands for compulsory toy test-

ing throughout the EU have so far

fallen on deaf ears. According to

the latest EU Toy Safety Directive

from 2009, manufacturers and re-

tailers are still only required to ap-

ply the “CE” mark, which is not

monitored by an independent test-

ing authority. Instead, they simply

have to document the production

process and verify the safety of

their own products. By contrast,

test symbols such as the GS Mark

are not only awarded by indepen-

dent organizations like TÜV Rhein-

land, but also guarantee compli-

ance with specific safety standards

– all for the sake of our children’s

well-being.

tested safety also shows that the product

has been assessed by an independent in-

spection authority.

Avoid beach boutiques

As a general rule, consumers should buy

before leaving home because well-known

specialty shops and department stores

always have control mechanisms and qual-

ity standards in place. Rainer Weiskirchen

strongly advises against heading for the

nearest beach boutique to stock up on

inflatable elephants or crocodiles at the

holiday destination. “After all, the major

department stores take their internal quality

checks very seriously and can usually pro-

vide their customers with detailed advice.”

That helps ensure that the bright yellow

duck and the friendly dolphin really do re-

main as harmless as they look.

INFORMATION

Rainer Weiskirchenrainer.weiskirchen@de.tuv.com+49 911 655-4230

All-round protection: no

beach holiday is complete

without an inflatable swim

ring. Parents can help keep

their children safe by buy-

ing swimming aids before

they leave home.

Infl atable Swimming Aids People & Environment

A CONTAINER CRASH

WITH THE MOUSEDaredevil experiment on German television: An enormous tank con-

tainer crumples in front of running cameras during the Saturday

evening quiz show “Ask the mouse”. It’s no accident, as TÜV Rhein-

land experts had precisely computed this spectacle and made sure

that safety was maintained in the studio throughout the show.

28 contact 2.10

“Isitsha-bulashi kanye na-igundane. That’s

Zulu.” For decades, refrains like this have

been the hallmark introduction to ARD’s

educational program with a touch of humor.

As soon as that puffing mouse with brown

fur and bouncing whiskers flickers across

Germany’s television screens, you know

that complex subject matters are about to

be explained in a way that everyone can

understand. “The mouse” has achieved

cult status across all generations in Germa-

ny. “Why is the sky blue?” – “How does

cheese get holes?” It is the seemingly in-

nocuous questions posed by children that

cause adults to break out into a sweat that

the mouse answers with ease and a twink-

le in its eyes. Like in the Saturday evening

quiz show “Ask the Mouse”, hosted by

Dr. Eckart von Hirschhausen, where teams

of celebrities face those tricky children’s

questions.

Simply buckled: Host von Hirschhausen

is astonished by the enormous power of

air pressure, which can squash a sturdy

tank container like a beverage can.

29contact 2.10

Why don’t you suck the air out!

Next to comic Wigald Boning, Lena, winner

of the “Eurovision Song Contest” also pon-

dered matters on the mouse celebrity panel

in May. A straightforward yet spectacular

question: “What happens to a tank contai-

ner once the air is sucked out of it?”. The

host pulled a huge food tank container with

a capacity of 22,000 liters into the studio.

“A sensational experiment, never before

seen in this form on German television,”

announced von Hirschhausen to the au-

dience. Not without its dangers, however.

In order to ensure the safety of the camera

crew, audience, celebrities and von Hirsch-

hausen himself, the program managers hi-

red the experts from TÜV Rheinland. “Initi-

ally we agreed on appropriate safety

measures and determined the parameters

absolutely necessary for the experiment,”

says Martin Meier, expert for facility safety

management, tanks and environmental pro-

tection, explaining the media challenge. “It

was an unusual experiment for us. When

we test the pressure resistance of industri-

al facilities, we usually measure the maxi-

mum pressure these tank containers are

able to withstand – rarely how they react to

a vacuum.” A trial run brought clarity, also

in terms of what safety measures were

necessary. The TÜV Rheinland experts re-

commended that the container frame be

reinforced for the live test in the studio, as

BACKGROUND

An extremely powerful pump with

the strength of 26 vacuum cleaners

sucks air out of the tank. Shortly

thereafter, the container collapses

like a tin can. The scientific expla-

nation: the atmospheric pressure

on one square meter is roughly

the equivalent of two elephants,

or around ten tons. With a surface

area of 50 square meters, this adds

up to 100 elephants resting on the

tank. But why doesn’t it collapse

sooner? As long as the tank is

filled with air it remains stable, as

THIS IS HOW IT WORKS

there is sufficient

counter pressure

from the inside.

As soon as the

air pressure

inside the tank

drops by suck-

ing out the air, a

vacuum is created,

leading to the collapse

of even the strongest of

steel.

it had buckled considerably in the test run.

“We also removed all parts on the contai-

ner that could have been jarred loose and

gone flying through studio when the contai-

ner buckled,” Meier reports.

Pump switched on, ears plugged!

The start of the experiment meant one

thing for the audience: plug ears, open

mouth – to equalize the pressure. The huge

pump was operated from a safe distance of

ten meters. Creaking noises droned through

the studio as the container’s metal skin

yield ed. There was an additional emergen-

cy off-switch behind the stage. Martin

Meier could have stopped the experiment

at any stage – which, needless to say,

wasn’t necessary, as the test experts had

exactly calculated this spectacular experi-

ment. Not a hint of astonishment crossed

Meier’s face, as a surprised gasp ran

through the studio: the container had col-

lapsed like a tin can.

Ask the Mouse People & Environment

PATENT HELPPATENT HELP

contact 2.10

Developing new products and tech-

nologies requires a lot of time and

money. For many companies it is

not clear if this investment will be

worth it down the road. There is,

however, a way of identifying tech-

nology and market trends at an ear-

ly stage – by analyzing patent data.

30

engine, and Carl Benz, the inventor of gaso-

line-powered cars.

The successors of these pioneers also

prov ed their inventive genius. Germany is

one of the world leaders in innovation. Ger-

man inventors applied for 17,500 global pa-

tents in 2008, securing third place behind

the tinkerers in the USA (38,000) and Japan

(20,000).

In general terms, a patent protects a tech-

nical innovation and grants the owner sole

rights to the use of his invention for a pe-

riod of time, giving industrious „Gyro Gear-

loose“ a quasi exclusive right to exploit his

idea in order to profit from it. The inventor

They move the world forward in small and

large steps, in good and sometimes bad

ways: inventors, those people that discover

new technological approaches through their

own creativity. Among the best known are

Nicolaus August Otto, inventor of the Otto

It inflates upon impact:

Today the airbag is stan-

dard equipment in every

passenger car. It took 40

years of development work

to get this far.

INFORMATION

Bruno Götzbruno.goetz@lga.de+ 49 911 655-4920The study can be ordered free of charge at www.patente.lga.de

Patent-based methods Trends & Innovation

31contact 2.10

has, after all, probably invested a substan-

tial amount of money in its development. In

return, he reveals his invention by register-

ing the patent, thus allowing further

develop ment by other researchers.

A look into the crystal ball

„It can often take decades to progress from

the initial idea that was registered for

patent to a product with market maturity,“

explains Bruno Götz of TÜV Rheinland. Fa-

mous examples are the neon light, which

took 82 years to develop, the credit card (25

years) or the zipper (32 years). When cer-

tain patents are applied for – publication is

a legal requirement – trends can be identi-

fied very early on, as long as one can inter-

pret them correctly.

TÜV Rheinland experts have developed a

new service, allowing companies a „look in-

to the crystal ball“. This is based on the

technology life cycle, which assumes that

in the majority of cases product develop-

ment follows a set path. Initially, euphoria

results from the discovery or invention of a

technology, followed by a sobering period

as problems arise in its realization. As soon

as these problems are solved, by, for ex-

ample, a technical innovation or because

general conditions have changed, progress

is unstoppable. The technology goes

through a phase of reorientation, followed

by rapid advancement and ever-increasing

dissemination until the product reaches ma-

turity and, after a while, is considered „old

hat“.

40 years for the airbag

A case in point is the airbag. Walter Linderer

applied for a patent for his „device to pro-

tect passengers in vehicles from injury

caused by collisions“ back in 1951. It was,

however, just the basic concept which was

a long way from technical realization. The

concept became very interesting in 1967,

when American President Lyndon B. John-

son decided to put pressure on car manu-

facturers to increase car safety in light of

the large number of fatal accidents on Ame-

rican roads. On the other side of the Atlan-

tic, Mercedes Benz was busy developing

the airbag as well. The pressurized air, de-

signed to inflate the bag in the event of a

collision, was replaced by a propulsion unit

that operated in a manner similar to an ex-

plosive device.

The first air bag in the Mercedes W126 mo-

del was sold exactly 2,636 times in 1980. It

would take a further decade and a half be-

fore it was installed in high-volume produc-

tion cars in Germany. It wasn‘t until 1995

that the airbag was standard equipment in

the VW Golf. The number of patents relat-

ing to airbag technology reached a high

point in 2000. „Today airbag technology is

fully mature. In order to significantly reduce

the risk of injury in an accident, new inno-

vative technologies are needed“, explains

Bruno Götz.

The right timing

By providing a tailor-made analysis for each

individual customer, TÜV Rheinland enables

companies to predict the stage a given

technology has reached and thereby deter-

mine if investing in it is worthwhile. TÜV

Rheinland experts Bruno Götz and Andreas

Rela

tive P

ati

en

t A

cti

vit

y

Discovery Euphoria Disillusionment Reorien-

tation

Growth Maturity Seniority

Walter Linderer applied for a patent for

the first airbag in Munich in 1951.

Thousands of other patents followed.

The technology life cycle: On the road to discovering a new technology, euphoria

is followed by sobering disillusionment. After a phase of reorientation when

problems are solved come growth and maturity until the technology ultimately

becomes old.

Trends & Innovation Patent-based methods

32 contact 2.10

SEMINAR INFORMATION

How can patents be used as sources

of information? Learn about this in

the “Patent researcher LGA” course

offered by the TÜV Rheinland LGA

Academy. Experts teaching the course

explain the language of patents as

well as the basics of patent laws, data

bases and documents. They help par-

ticipants navigate their way through

these complex areas. This training is

useful for anyone in patent research –

from employees in corporate de vel-

op ment departments to patent offi-

ces. The course comprises four

modules which can also be booked

individually. However, only partici-

pants who have successfully complet-

ed all four modules and the final test

are awarded a certificate.

Contact:

Matthias Förther,

Phone +49 911 655-4975

LEARN SUCCESSFUL PATENT RESEARCH

Fraas also evaluate the customer’s patent

activities to create a technology profile, as

the number of patents a company has ap-

plied for or holds is a statement about its

innovation potential and economic produc-

tivity – and, in certain cases, that of its

competitors. „With the aid of objective pa-

tent data, we can analyze the competition

in a specific field of technology more preci-

sely without having access to any internal

company information“, says Fraas. With

their analyses, the TÜV Rheinland patent

experts provide an important basis to help

companies make well-informed decisions

on all levels.

Editorial InformationPublisher: TÜV Rheinland Aktiengesellschaft, Kommunikation,

Am Grauen Stein, D-51105 Köln

Phone: +49 221 806-2121 Editor: Aud Feller

Fax: +49 221 806-1760 Text: S+L Partners GmbH, Köln

Internet: www.tuv.com Printing: Druckhaus Ley + Wiegandt, Wuppertal

Photo Credits: Ansgar Sollmann, pp. 1, 2, 6–7, 10; TÜV Rheinland, pp. 2, 15, 19; Dr. Ing. Herbert Knauer GmbH, pp.

2, 20–21iStockphoto.com / Alessandro Oliva, p. 3; Ralf Bille, p. 3; Nabucco Gas Pipeline International GmbH (NIC),

pp. 4–5; Eric Sakowski, p. 7; Adam.J.W.C., p. 7; Bilfinger Berger AG, p. 7; iStockphoto.com / thumb, p. 8; Philippe

GR – Fotolia.com, p. 8; Heinz Seehagel, p. 8; LianeM – Fotolia.com, pp. 8–9; Woysil, p. 9; Jon Larson / iStockphoto.

com, p. 9; Hendrik Schwartz – Fotolia.com; p. 9; oscity – Fotolia.com; Wikipedia, p. 10; FotoFrank – Fotolia.com, p.

10; Cochlear Ltd, pp. 11, 13, Guido Schiefer, pp. 12–13 ; Ford-Werke GmbH, S. 14; ILA 2010, p. 14; Claudia Dewald

/ iStockphoto.com, p. 14; REWE Markt GmbH, S. 15; Zeit4men – Fotolia.com, p. 16; Licht & Gestalt – Fotolia.com,

p. 17; WoGi – Fotolia.com, p. 17; abcmedia – Fotolia.com, p. 17; great_photos/Shutterstock, pp. 18–19; Hanne

Engwald, p. 23; flucas – Fotolia.com, p. 24–25; Joachim Wendler – Fotolia.com, p. 26; Klaus Eppele – Fotolia.com,

p. 26; Frédéric Prochasson – Fotolia.com, p. 26; tap trofsnag – Fotolia.com, p. 27; Prod. Numérik – Fotolia.com, p.

27; WDR, pp. 28–29; picture alliance/dpa, p. 30; artcop – Fotolia.com, S. 32

Ident-No. 106059