TÜV SÜD Journal 2/2014 (english version) by TÜV SÜD

TÜV SÜD

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# 02 2014

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K AN EYE ON RIS

Editorial

DEAR READERS, This is a risky edition of TÜV SÜD Journal. In our cover story, we explore the risks found in our society and the way that people deal with all sorts of dangers in their lives — a subject that fits TÜV SÜD to a T. After all, the mission of companies like TÜV SÜD is to minimize risks around the world and make them more manageable. As part of this work, the more than 20,000 experts whom we employ around the world regularly inspect technical facilities to ensure their safety; test electric products, textiles and foods in our global network of labs; and teach safety officers at other companies how to deal with risks. Our engineers also closely inspect several million cars each year during vehicle roadworthiness tests, check rail infrastructures in accordance with international standards and closely examine the statics of buildings. The list of safety-related services could go on and on. Our goal is to minimize the dangers posed by a high-risk world. Each More on the topic in the magazine included day, our customers put their faith in the new TÜV SÜD Annual Report at www.tuv-sud.com/ once again in our expertise and our annual-report (available as an app, too)! neutral point of view. A big responsibility that we have to take again and again. Our customers understand that our decisions are not based on gut feelings. Rather, we use objective, verifiable facts and measurements – coupled with the broad experience of our employees – to arrive at our conclusions. The result? Risks remain manageable. Put your trust in us!

trust

Best regards,

Dr-Ing Axel Stepken Chairman of the Board of Management of TÜV SÜD AG

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The QR code leads to the new Annual Report of TÜV SÜD and to our app for mobile devices.

Table of contents

#06

COVER STORY At work, at play or in the elevator: life is full of risks. While scientists try to measure these risks, we like to ignore them in our everyday lives. Just where does this warm feeling of security come from?

To the

On the

To the

What’s on people’s minds around the world? We take a closer look at technical and social trends.

A look at the world of tomorrow: These innovations could soon be indispensable parts of our daily lives.

Get to the bottom of it! Our »add value« pages make complex issues understandable.

#16 Everything sunny? Summer – the season for sunscreen. Some of these creams’ ingredients are believed to pose a threat to users’ health. Here’s why sunscreens still offer more protection than risk.

#22 More to drink Seawater is desalinated in many regions of the world. Up to now, this process has been an expensive and energy-intensive undertaking. But times are changing thanks to new approaches.

#28 Goal? Did the ball cross the line or not? At the Soccer World Cup in Brazil, GoalControl will make the right call every time. But just what makes this new soccer technology tick?

#18 Nature: the role model Huge transport planes tip the scales at about 300 tons. In an effort to shed this weight and improve energy efficiency, engineers are using new materials.

#24 Solar storm on earth Nuclear fusion has the potential to produce vast amounts of clean energy just like the sun. But the road leading to the development of efficient power plants remains long.

#30 Consumer adviser: e-bikes Electric bicycles make riding easy because a motor takes care of the heavy legwork. Here are five tips you should consider before buying one of these bikes.

#4 TÜV SÜD in focus #14 5 minutes with TÜV SÜD

#21 On location #31 Dates/imprint

#32 5 minutes with TÜV SÜD #34 The final say

TEST

move

Point

TÜV SÜD Journal 3

TÜV SÜD im in focus Bild

Baywatch

in ITALIAN

From Genoa to the toe of the boot, from Venice to Bari and all around Sicily and Sardinia – Italy has more than 7,600 kilometers of coastline. For many people – natives as well as tourists – life by the sea is what vacations and recreation are all about. For others, the sea is the office they go to each day – as it is for members of the Italian coast guard. The Guardia Costiera makes sure that the sea remains safe, forms the maritime police force, performs search and rescue missions and acts as a maritime environmental protection officer. Its aim: to be an efficient and modern service provider on and by the sea. For this reason, TÜV SÜD was called on to audit and then certify the General Command of the Guardia Costiera in Rome and all 54 harbor captain offices in accordance with the quality management standard ISO 9001 at the end of 2013. »We provided the Guardia Costiera with assurance that their personnel training, their implementation of approval and registration regulations for ships and their sea traffic control system complied with inter national standards,« says Stefano Bolletta of TÜV SÜD Italy. In the end, the work served one clear purpose: It ensured that life by the sea remains what vacations and recreation are all about. More information: www.tuv.it

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TÜV TÜVSÜD SÜDinim focus Bild

TÜV SÜD Journal 5

Titelstory Cover story

WATCH OUT, DANGER! It can be anything from a banana peel on the floor to a mosquito in the air or an object on the road: We are surrounded by risks at every turn. But just what leads us to think a risk is threatening or not? And can risks be measured? Text: Thomas Weber

It is a question that even causes math whizzes to scratch their heads: How do you calculate the probability of slipping on a banana peel and breaking your leg?

6 TĂ&#x153;V SĂ&#x153;D Journal

Titelstory Cover story

e has been examining the patient for decades now. During this time, he has come to one conclusion, even if it seems something of a paradoxical one: »Modern society is suffering as a result of its victories, not defeats,« Ulrich Beck says. With innovative products, our world produces not only more prosperity than before, but also more risks, the Munich-based sociologist says. At the beginning of the Industrial Age, the question of who faced such risks was primarily a matter of social class. Today, risks are faced by everyone. »Need is hierarchal. Smog is democratic,« Beck pointedly argues. He notes that typical concerns of the »risk society« include environmental worries, terrorism, financial crises and the search for security.

But is a society that gets its kicks from bungee jumping and lives by the motto of »no risk, no fun« really looking for safety? Or are we rather members of a »thrill-seeking soci ety« in which everyone is determined to get his or her own rush out of life, as Gerhard Schulze, a sociologist based in the Bavarian city of Bamberg, suggests? To Beck’s way of thinking, the first aspect does not contradict the second. It is possible to look for adventure and safety at the same time, he says. Mountain bikers who are determined to fly straight down hills will go shopping for bicycles with strong brakes, equipment that will give them a feeling of safety. »When everything turns into a threat, somehow nothing seems to be dangerous anymore,« Beck says. »An inflation of perceived risks causes them to be suppressed.« Measuring risks

»Perceived risks« – sounds pretty subjective, almost unscientific, in fact. Can’t risk be measured, using such aids as mathematics? After all, no one can accuse mathematics of

having a subjective side. It is a cool, calculat ing customer. It has no feelings or hang-ups. It is neither a pessimist who sees risks lurk ing everywhere nor an optimist who spots opportunities at every turn. Even its language is exquisitely neutral. It only speaks in terms of the probabilities that something will actually occur, no matter whether you might want to see something in a positive or negative light. But mathematics will not let itself be pinned down. In a dice game, it would never wager a single cent on the number six, even if other numbers had been rolled in the previous five times. It would cite the law of big figures and only venture to make one statement: If a die were rolled enough times, the probability that all numbers would be rolled with the same frequency approaches 100 percent. It cannot and would not predict that a particular number would be rolled. In these terms, the abilities of stochastics, as this branch of probability mathematics is called, do not extend beyond the original meaning of its name – it limits itself to the »art of assumption.« Even the most complex mathematical models only churn out probabilities of occurrence. And they are even willing to put up with simplifications. The reason here is quite clear: Modeling every single variable would lead to unmanageable complexity in many areas. What is the probability of slip-

TÜV SÜD Journal 7

Cover story

ping on a banana peel during a single day and breaking your leg? One way of coming up with a solution would be to plunge into hospital records to count the total number of such cases that have occurred in recent years. Then, you could divide them by the number of people living in the area where these accidents happened and by the number of days being evaluated. But wouldn’t you also have to take trends in banana sales into consideration? And what about the weather? When it rains, there will definitely be fewer people out and about who would throw a banana peel onto the ground. But, presumably, there would also be fewer people who could step on it. And when it is wet, the chance of slipping is probably higher ... Assessing risks

So many factors have to be taken into consideration. But does it pay off? Who gives a

»When all ropes break (German idiom meaning ›if all else fails‹), I’ll hang myself.« – the Austrian playwright Johann Nestroy making fun of the individual assessment of risk.

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thought at all to slipping? As we size up the risks we face in our lives every day, do ba nana peels ever enter the picture at all? Our nose for risk has its very own honing system. In these terms, the U.S. risk researcher Dr Peter M. Sandman talks about the voluntary nature, the naturalness, the controllability and the emotionality of risks. Smoking, for instance, is a »voluntary risk.« Smokers would really play it down. By contrast, passive smoking is an »involuntary risk« and would be seen as posing an extreme risk. A similar process is used for food: Because most preservatives are artificial, peo ple tend to think that they must pose a health risk. At the same time, the chances of being sickened by spoiled foods that contain no preservatives are significantly played down. Likewise, the perception of traffic risks hardly reflects reality at all. Many people become nail-biters when they fly. But they may give

little thought to the car trip to the airport, even though, objectively speaking, driving is more dangerous. The reason that people confuse the two threats is that they control the car themselves, but not the plane. Flying is even viewed as being more dangerous than motorcycle riding, the riskiest form of transportation. But, because positive feelings are linked to it, the perception of the risk associated with motorcycles is more positive as well. It is not just individuals who make really subjective judgments about risks. Society does, too. Let’s imagine that the media, your partner or your neighbors are opposed to having a cellular tower built near your res idence. You, too, would tend to oppose it and incorrectly estimate the risk it poses in the process. Why? Your own proximity to the tower is not what matters. In reality, the farther the tower is away from the receiving

Cover story

Spot dangers, reduce liability What to do when a fire breaks out at a company? Who is responsible when the server crashes? How can you protect your company from product, environmental, image and financial risks? And how should things proceed if the company owner dies? Companies can systematically address these and other risks – regardless of business area, type of risk or the size of the operation – with the help of a modern risk-management system (RMS). In some industries, including aviation and medical technology, the use of such systems is required by law. To enable companies to perform successfully over the long term, TÜV SÜD assists them with the implementation and certification of RMS.

cell phone, the stronger the radiation being transmitted. Sandman’s conclusion: »The risk that kills us is not necessarily the risk we worry about.« Who warns us of threats?

The philosopher Hermann Lübbe formu lates his words in a less fatalistic, but no less dramatic way: »Humans are orientation orphans.« Even though people live in a society where they have access to unprecedented amounts of scientifically based, decision-relevant information, they have only a limited capacity to use it. The result: The modern human being has to rely on the knowledge of experts, on highly educated advisers. »The

knowledge of experts compensates for the disappearing judgment range of common sense – just as glasses compensate for the reduced field of vision of the near-sighted,« the professor emeritus says. In many cases, the government steps in to organize this expert knowledge for citizens. Lawmakers will hold hearings with experts about the widest range of risks and then create standards that serve as riskassessment guidelines. Certification marks show at one glance that standards are being met. Perhaps the most widely known example of this is the inspection sticker that is placed on vehicles after they have passed the vehicle roadworthiness test.

»The risk

that kills us is not necessarily the risk we worry about.« – Dr Peter M. Sandman

TÜV SÜD Journal 9

Cover story

The assessment dilemma

But other risks cannot be as easily identified as the ones for vehicle safety. Particularly when new technologies are involved, things like genetic engineering or nanotechnology, it is more difficult to assess the risks associated with them. The reason? There are simply not enough scientific data available about their potential impact. In such cases, lawmakers find themselves faced by a dilemma. If they do not regulate a potentially dangerous technology, they will put people's health at risk under certain circumstances. But if they overly restrict the use of the technology, they may stand in the way of social progress. In times of doubt, the precautionary principle is applied. The principle works like this: When concerns arise about a risk, all steps that help lessen and eliminate the risk must

What are the chances of being bitten by a mosquito? It’s hard to say. After all, each person’s risk is different. The composition of a person’s own physical scents is one of the decisive factors.

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be taken. In other cases, lawmakers will listen to experts and then set parameters. They will mark what is regarded as an acceptable risk according to the knowlege of today. The more difficult it becomes to measure compliance with such boundaries by using tests, scientific data and mathematical mod els, the greater the role played by intuition. At least, this is the view of Professor Gerd Gigerenzer, the Director of the Harding Center for Risk Literacy at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development in Berlin.

»Intuition is the natural intelligence of the subconscious. Among experienced people in particular, it tends to be better than long periods of analysis,« the psychologist says. He then tells a story about a colleague in Chicago and the tests she conducted with golfers: She gave several experienced and inexperienced golfers three seconds to make a shot. The beginners made the worse shots because they did not have time to think. By contrast, the pros shot better under time pressure. »Their gut feeling boosted their performance.«

»Intuition

is the natural intelligence of the unconscious. Among experienced people in particular, it is usually better than long periods of analysis.« — Professor Gerd Gigerenzer

Cover story

A turkey’s gut feeling

Gigerenzer argues that experience is the key to intuitive risk assessment. If a person’s gut feeling has not been practiced enough, he or she will more easily come under the spell of the turkey illusion: A person comes up to a turkey on the first day of its life. The animal thinks its life is about to end just as it is getting started. But the man offers feed to the turkey. He comes back the next day and feeds it again. The cycle repeats itself day after day. On day 100, the turkey has developed such a sense of security that it believes that it will never be slaughtered and it will spend the rest of its days munching on tasty feed. But there is one thing the animal does not sus pect: The next day is Thanksgiving – and, just like every year, turkey is the main dish.

Product tests are designed to keep risks from material flaws and processing errors as low as possible. They are usually conducted in accordance with certain standards. But intuition can help identify dangers as well.

More information: www.tuv-sud.com/minimizing-risk

Three books, one topic: recommended reading on risk assessment The Risk Society and Beyond Ulrich Beck popularized the term »risk society« in 1986. In this book, he serves as the publisher of a work that reviews the latest results of sociological research in this area. Sage, 242 pages

Responding to Community Outrage In this book, risk researcher Peter M. Sandman provides companies with tips about strategic risk communications. Available for free at www.psandman. com, 155 pages

Risk Savvy In this book, psychologist Gerd Gigerenzer discusses the way to make the best decisions in light of risks and the role that intuition and statistical knowledge play in the process. Viking Adult, 296 pages

TÜV SÜD Journal 11

Points of view

Points Gerhard Klein, Director of the Center of Competence Due Diligence at TÜV SÜD

»Our risk assessments frequently cause new products to be rethought.«

very important decision we make is tied to certain risks. Such decisions become a problem when, above all, we have little information about the impact of these decisions and have to make many theoretical assumptions in the process. »By their very nature, every technical device and every plant have a number of risks associated with them. For this reason, companies like TÜV SÜD work in their capacity as independent and neutral specialists to bring uncertainties about potential risks down to their lowest possible level with the help of risk assessment. The aim is to facilitate informed and, thus, well-founded decisions. One point must be stressed in this regard: No one possesses every scrap of information about every possible risk — in part, because people are not predictable. As a result, the expert knowledge of our specialists, who can estimate the likelihood that certain scenarios will or will not occur, plays a major role. When such evaluations are made, standards and regulations must be buttressed by the know-how of experts. Our analyses identify potential risks: What is the probability that a risk will become a reality? And just how great is the danger created by it? Under certain circumstances, the job of evaluating such potential risks is a responsibility that must be assumed by society as a whole: Which risks are we willing to accept? What would it cost to minimize them? Let’s take a technical innovation as an example: Occasionally, it is acceptable to take on an additional manageable risk in light of the benefits it provides — if the probability of it occurring is minuscule and the potential impact small. On the other hand, our risk assessments frequently cause new products to be rethought.«

DE LIBER ATION Balancing security and risks 12 TÜV SÜD Journal

Points of view

ven though the German Ordinance on Industrial Safety and Health is just a few years old, work is already under way to amend it. The purpose of the changes planned by the German government is to make legal conditions more simple and transparent.

»But the current draft of the Ordinance on Industrial Safety and Health also includes a massive attack on our safety culture: Independent interim inspections of elevators would be eliminated, and no independent inspections at all would be conducted at plants that have flammable, highly flammable or extremely flammable liquids. The potential threat posed by such facilities can be seen in such disasters as the catastrophic explosion and fire that oc curred at the Buncefield oil storage terminal north of London in 2005. A faulty fuel gauge triggered the explosion that caused several billions of euros in damage. The principle of inspections conducted by third parties whose business authorization and inspection services are subject to government oversight is firmly established in Germany. This, in turn, has produced an unparalleled level of safety, environmental protection and security for capital goods. It is a level that has been achieved both for mobility and for the inspection of plants and testing of products. A slow departure from this system could have fatal consequences for Germany’s safe ty culture. In any case, there is really no credible reason for the planned elimination of independent inspections foreseen in the amendment to the German Ordinance on Industrial Safety and Health. Not to mention the fact that several countries have recently drawn on the German model to introduce their own system of independent inspections.«

of View Dr Klaus Brüggemann, Member of the Board of VdTÜV e.V.

»The successful technical-monitoring model must be definitely retained!«

Analyses and inspections conducted by independent organizations help assess risks as realistically as possible. The system of neutral technical monitoring creates a high level of safety.

TÜV SÜD Journal 13

5 minutes

More services for the building sector in South East Asia

Hydrogen drive systems: more filling stations worldwide

Smoother trade with Israel

TÜV SÜD is expanding its range of real-estate services and has acquired AL Technologies, a company based in Singapore. The company provides product and construction-engineering testing to go along with inspection and certification services related to all aspects of buildings. Among other things, AL Technologies has one of the largest and best-equipped testing labs for con struction materials in Singapore.

In 2013, eleven new hydrogen filling stations were opened around the world. There are now 186 of them in operation, according to the sixth annual study conducted by H2stations.org, a website managed by Ludwig-Bölkow-Systemtechnik (LBST) and TÜV SÜD. A total of 72 filling stations are lo cated in Europe, 67 in North America, one in South America and 46 in Asia.

TÜV SÜD and the Standards Institution of Israel will work together in the future. As part of this collaboration, the two groups have agreed to mutually recognize testing and certifications in several product groups. The most important aim of the partnership: providing Israeli companies with better access to international markets and non-Israeli companies with better access to Israel.

jane.lim@tuv-sud-psb.sg

uwe.albrecht@lbst.de

jens.butenandt@tuev-sued.de

Testing fish and seafood with uniform standards

One critical condition for food safety is controls that extend across national borders. Knowing this, TÜV SÜD began this year to offer high-quality and globally standardized testing for fish and seafood. The company monitors the food from the time that it is caught or harvested on a farm to its transport and placement in supermarkets. As a result of their integrated controls, the experts ensure that the products pose no risk to consumers. »To do this job, we need a global network of experts and labs,« says Murat Akcay, Global Vice President Food, Health and Beauty at TÜV SÜD. »And we are continuously expanding this network – in part by acquiring other companies.« One particularly important point: »We use the same testing pro cesses at all locations to ensure safe food. As a result, we can guarantee a comparable, continuous level of safety,« Akcay says. In turn, this minimizes the risks faced by manufacturers, retailers and consumers. TÜV SÜD’s next step will be to expand its globally uniform testing to the packaging used in the food industry. murat.akcay@tuev-sued.de

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Reliable tests without destruction

Nondestructive testing of components and materials used in such areas as industrial plants and power stations is one of the most important services offered by TÜV SÜD. Because increasingly complex components – created in part by the use of new materials – must be subjected to nondestructive testing, TÜV SÜD has now created highly developed ultrasound The new testing system was tomography to perform special testing jobs. Using the findings, false-positive developed in a results are easier to identify. »Some components that were rejected on the among TÜV SÜD, the Fraunhofer basis of conventional tests turn out to be perfectly fine in retrospect,« says Institute for Nondestructive Hans Christian Schröder of TÜV SÜD. Testing and the company In this manner, material components like nickel can distort the tests. Thanks I-Deal Technologies. to the new TÜV SÜD testing system, findings that would normally have resulted in a facility shutdown can be explained. In addition, the remaining lifespan of a component can be reliably determined.

PARTNERSHIP

joerg.schenkel@tuev-sued.de

5 minutes

The safe way to jump They are now found in many gardens and are used in particular when the weather turns warm: trampolines. But many families overlook the risks posed by this sporting equipment. U.S. studies estimate that, each year, trampoline accidents result in up to 80,000 injuries that require hospital visits. To minimize the risks associated with trampoline use, TÜV SÜD advises people to follow basic usage guidelines and manufacturers‘ maintenance recommendations. The equipment should be used by only one person at a time, and children should play on it only under adult supervision. Poles and the fabric should be checked regularly. If damage is found, the part should be replaced. One important note: When shopping, consumers should also look for the GS seal for »Geprüfte Sicherheit« (tested safety). For backyard trampolines, TÜV SÜD has developed a special inspection program based on the standard prEN 71-14 and joint testing guidelines of German GS testing centers. thomas.oberst@tuev-sued.de

minutes

with TÜV SÜD Higher efficiency photovoltaics

IT security for companies

Since the NSA scandal at the very latest, everyone knows that IT systems and the data stored there are not always secure. Generally speaking, though, it is not intelligence services that try to obtain company data. Usually, industrial espionage or attacks launched by hackers who misuse data for their own purposes are the source of the problem. Small and mid-sized enterprises frequently do not realize just how vulnerable their IT systems are. The datasecurity experts of TÜV SÜD track down leaks and seal them. »Every company deals with data that probably should be protected,« says Rainer Seidlitz, the Managing Director of TÜV SÜD Sec-IT GmbH. »For this reason, they need to have a comprehensive IT security concept.« To identify risks and data leaks, TÜV SÜD can carry out a penetration test, which will simulate attacks launched externally or internally. rainer.seidlitz@tuev-sued.de

TÜV SÜD has expanded its range of photovoltaic services by adding smart-module certification. Drawing on its extensive experience, the company has developed two new standards and successfully carried out the first certification of smart PV modules. These systems combine a standard module with a »smart« power inverter – a change that has a positive impact on efficiency. The testing program for the new certification is based on the requirements of standards IEC 61215/61646, 61730 and 62109.

New testing center for energy-storage units TÜV SÜD is expanding its global lab network in the area of energy storage: with a new battery testing center in Suwon, a major city located about 50 kilometers south of the South Korean capital of Seoul. This spring, TÜV SÜD opened the first independent lab in South Korea for mid-sized and large rechargeable batteries – and this is the sixth battery testing lab operated by the group around the world. In taking this step, the company is responding to the growing demand and need for battery solutions for hybrid vehicles, electrically powered cars and bicycles and for storage systems for renewable energies. By investing in the Asian country, TÜV SÜD will be even closer to its customers: Korean companies produce roughly one-third of all batteries in the world. The new lab has 500 square meters of space and is outfitted with the latest performance-testing technology. Up to 500 kilowatt batteries can be tested there.

klaus.nuernberger@tuev-sued.de chang-mo.byun@tuv-sud.kr

TÜV SÜD Journal 15

To Aufthe dietest Probe

To t h e test

E IN #16 SAF N THE SU ICS IN #18 BION N AVIATIO

EVERYTHING

SUNNY?

Sunscreen helps prevent sunburn and skin cancer. But some of the ingredients used in these creams are believed to pose a threat to users’ health. Christian Surber, a skin pharmacology professor, explains why the creams still offer more protection than risks.

Professor Christian Surber The scientist teaches derma tology and phar macy at the uni versities of Basel and Zurich as well as at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology. As part of his re search, Surber focuses on developing prod ucts that repair and strengthen the skin’s barrier and protection functions as well as minimize exposure to the sun’s rays. In this research, he works intensely on developing new sunscreen products and gives talks at international conventions on the subjects of sun safety and skin-cancer prevention. He also corrects misconceptions that people have about sun safety.

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Professor Surber, how do sunscreens work? Sunscreens contain UV filters. These sub stances absorb, reflect or disperse the sun’s rays. In doing so, they protect the skin from damaging UV radiation. Because one filter ing substance cannot reliably block out the entire UV spectrum, a product generally contains a combination of several such filters. What sorts of UV filters are used? In layman’s terms, we tend to draw a distinc tion between chemical and mineral filters. From a scientific point of view, though, this is not exactly correct because both types rely on chemical bonds. It is better to speak of organic and inorganic filters. Organic UV filters always contain carbon atoms. These filters are usually included in emulsions, that is, lotions or creams. By contrast, inorganic UV filters contain no carbon atoms. Rather, they have zinc or titanium. They form a pro tective layer that generally leaves behind a

visible white film on your skin once they are applied. And what about creams labeled »organic«? Sunscreens that contain inorganic filters are frequently combined with plant-based in gredients and are sold as organic products. Some of them also contain antioxidants like vitamin E or C that are supposed to lessen the impact of UV exposure. But the UV protection is not primarily delivered by the plant-based ingredients. Rather, it is zinc oxide or titanium dioxide that gets the job done. They are no different from regular sunscreens in this regard. Do organic sunscreens avoid the use of highly criticized preservatives? No, because these ingredients keep the prod uct from becoming contaminated by bacte ria or fungi produced by our skin. Preserva tives keep sunscreens usable. Products that are labeled »no added preservatives« contain

AufTo die the Probe test

MORE ON THE TOPIC

IN OUR MAGAZINE APP

Text: Sascha Otto

hy won’t the thing take off? I copied its design model exactly!« Leonardo da Vinci could not believe his eyes. For months on end, the artist studied the flying techniques employed by birds, drew up sketches and plans, wrote them all down in 1505 in his »Codex on Bird Flight« and then this: Not one single version of the flying machines he built left the ground. But Leonardo was certain that the design itself had nothing to do with the failure. Rather, he believed that humans simply did not have the muscle power needed for flight. He was not completely right. Nonetheless, the Italian is considered to be the founder of bionics, the science that seeks to transfer the knowledge of biology to the world of technology. Otto Lilienthal gave it a shot as well. Inspired by the animal kingdom, he launched a series of his own trials nearly 400 years after Leonardo. He analyzed the flying patterns of storks. He then designed gliders based on 18 TÜV SÜD Journal

them. Between 1891 and 1896, these gliders actually sailed through the air. Today, 120 years later, humans fly several thousand meters up in the air. And, if necessary, they can break the sound barrier. They are no longer concerned with the ques tion of »How can I fly?« Instead, they have turned their attention to the issue of »How can I fly more efficiently and environmentally consciously?« But researchers have not taken their eyes off nature in the effort to create ground breaking innovations. A skeleton as a source of inspiration

Like Leonardo da Vinci and Otto Lilienthal, aircraft manu facturers gain inspiration from birds. Or to put it more pre cisely: from their skeletons. In a study titled »Concept Plane,« Airbus uses a particularly light and stable support structure: This plane would no longer use a steel truss system in which the exterior is wrapped in a blanket of metal and the in

To the test

NATURE terior in a coat of synthetic material. Instead, it would consist of a frame that appears to be randomly shaped and consists of hollow and, thus, very light »bones.« »These structures would be used only in those places where forces that must be countered occur,« says Airbus spokesman Flo rian Seidel.

The »Sky Whale« is a study by the Spanish designer Oscar Vinals. The whales of the sea posed as the role model for this particularly safe type of plane. The very first flying machines were based on the animal kingdom as well.

and Bombardier’s CSeries. Generally, carbon-fiber-reinforced polymers are used. They are lighter than alu minum, but more stable than steel. They also have the potential to lower fuel consumption while providing additional safety. Self-healing materials

Soon, composite materials may be able to do much more: In several proj The cavity design has one other role ects being funded by the European model: bamboo. The combination Union, companies and research insti of a hollow main stem and regular tutions from a number of countries joints – or nodes – makes bamboo are working to develop »self-healing« extremely stable as well as very Carbon-fiber-reinforced polymers are lighter than alu- materials. Just as living creatures are light. Structures based on the de minum, but more stable than steel. able to heal small wounds on their sign of plants are employed in such own, airplane components should areas as the mounts that are used to be capable of repairing small tears as anchor the overhead storage bins and interior wall to the well as damage caused by impacts and heat. Nano-filling fuselage. materials could make it all possible. In addition to the construction concept, airplane design Professor Wolfgang Binder of the Martin Luther Uni ers and manufacturers have high hopes for new materials. versity in Halle-Wittenberg is taking part in one EU project The latest trend: Components are being produced directly by with a working group. He explains self-healing nano-filling 3-D printers and not by steel or aluminum plants. Compos materials this way: »The principle is based on something like ite materials, that is, materials made of several different com a two-component adhesive. The components are packed in ponents, already play a major role in the structure of such capsules. If the material is damaged, the capsules burst at airplanes as the Airbus A350, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner the site of damage. The two different components are then Hollowness in place of mass

TÜV SÜD Journal 19

To the test

»A surface structure with fine denticles like those on

shark skin

makes planes more aerodynamic.« — Professor Albert Baars

released, form a network and repair the damage.« But there is one difference to living creatures: The damage can be re paired to a site just once. Afterward, the capsules are empty. For this reason, Binder is also conducting research on an alternative, »polymers whose molecule chains would flow back together after a material has been torn.« Under labo ratory conditions at room temperature, building materials have already performed this task. »For airplane components, though, this reaction must also occur at subzero tempera tures if the damage is to be repaired during a flight.« From the bottom of the sea to dizzy heights

Birds, plants, mammals – and even fish: Nature delivers ideas, through all types and species. Why not use the skin structure of a shark as a model for innovative airplane sur faces? After all, shark skin is considered to be especially low friction and has very little drag. »This is created by the very fine, tiny denticles on the surface of the shark’s scales,« says Professor Albert Baars of the Department of Bionics at the Bremen University of Applied Sciences. »The positive effect produced by these denticles can be seen not only in the water, but also in the air.« Using a coating that copies the structure of shark skin, the aerodynamic properties of airplanes could be improved. Improved aerodynamics, cavity construction techniques and light materials: The Spanish plane designer Oscar Vinals thinks that all of these technical advances should be used for more than just improving energy efficiency. 20 TÜV SÜD Journal

Airplanes of the future could have a skeleton-like structure wrapped in a transparent outer coating, according to an Airbus study.

Lightweight with a focus on safety

The plane of the future that he has drawn up is certain ly lighter and more earth- To reduce the weight and improve energy effifriendly than today’s mod ciency of airplanes, composite materials like carbon-fiber-reinforced polymers are increasingly els. It could conserve even being used. TÜV SÜD has developed a new more fuel if it were slimmer process for conducting nondestructive tests of and longer. But there is a such composite materials. It is called Testing reason for its plumpness: In Automated Robotized Ultrasonic System, or Vinals’ design, the parts of T.AU.R.U.S. It facilitates the testing, in partithe wings that contain the cular, of mid-sized and small components that fuel tanks can be jettisoned. have complex geometries. Bytest, a TÜV SÜD As a result, the plane will not subsidiary that specializes in material testing, explode during an emergen uses the new process on the Boeing Dream cy landing – and can still be liner, among other places. To conduct time- and landed in a controlled man money-saving tests, it combines ultrasound dener with its shortened wings. vices and mechanical testing equipment with Because the underside of the special software. fuselage is based on the pow erful belly of a whale, Vinals calls his plane the »Sky Whale.« Increased safety has role models, too – thanks to Mother Nature.

More information on the topic of aviation components: www.tuv-sud.com/industry/aerospace

On location

People:

The connecting people project

he has some big plans: from dams, motorway tunnels and subway lines to water and sewage systems for entire re gions. Ana Cristina Akinaga Hatori is a geotechnical engi neer. For 18 years now, she has been working at the Bureau de Projetos e Consultoria in Brazil. The TÜV SÜD subsidiary based in São Paulo works in the infrastructure and construction industry. It advises public- and private-sector customers as well as manages and monitors major projects being carried out across South America. »The biggest challenge I have ever faced is the Agua Negra Proj ect,« Akinaga Hatori says. Situated at an altitude of 4,780 meters, the Paso de Agua Negra winds its way through the Coquimbo region in Chile and the Argentine province San Juan. The mountain pass snakes its way through the Andes, sometimes as a paved road and other times as a gravel passageway. It is only open between December and March, that is, during the South American summer. At other times of the year, the road is made impassable by snow and storms. Even the Paso de la Cumbre, a passage between Chile and Argentina that is roughly 1,000 meters below Paso de Agua Negra, is closed for four months every year because of poor weather conditions.

»A tunnel that could be used year-round – the Agua Negra Project – would solve this infrastructure problem,« Akinaga Hatori says. With her colleagues’ help, she prepared a feasibility study for the tunnel‘s two tubes. The 14-kilometer-long tunnel is to be opened in four to five years. Bids for the construction work have already been requested. »The whole journey, however, has been full of complica tions up to this point – just like the old pass. All necessary approval processes had to be carried out in two countries, and a third country is handling the financing.« Brazil‘s government-run development bank is funding the project because the tunnel will be a part of the »bioceanic corridor,« an approximately 2,500-kilometer-long land route that will connect the Pacific and the Atlantic. »The purpose of this corridor will be to not only fuel trade between South America and Asia, but also promote cultural exchanges.«

More on the topic: www.bureauprojetos.com.br

This mountain pass made up in part by a gravel road links Chile and Argentina. Ana Cristina Akinaga Hatori is working on a tunnel that will replace it.

TÜV TÜV SÜD SÜD Journal Journal 21 21

Titelstory On the move

On the Move

BLE #22 POTA WATER ION #24 FUS NITS POWER U

Text: Julia Feldhans

More TO DRINK

It could be major metropolitan areas like Singapore, desert regions like the United Arab Emirates or islands like Gran Canaria: Seawater is desalinated in many regions of the world as a way of producing potable water. Up to now, this process has been an expensive and energy-intensive undertaking. But times are changing thanks to new approaches.

22 TĂ&#x153;V SĂ&#x153;D Journal

On Titelstory the move

Reverse osmosis: a classic approach

esalination plants on the Canary Islands in the Atlantic or Heligoland in the North Sea are based on this relatively simple principle: Seawater is pressed through a semipermeable plastic membrane. At 0.5 nanometer to 5 nanometers in size, the membrane’s pores are so microscopically small that only water molecules can pass through them. Salt, bacteria, viruses, heavy metals and other undesired substances are left behind. In this way, the membrane acts as a filter. It takes high pressure to make this process work. To desalinate seawater, it must be between 60 bar and 80 bar. To generate this level, high-pressure pumps use about four kilowatt hours of electricity per cubic meter of water.

Plastic: condensation titan

o-called flash evaporation uses the waste heat generated by a power plant to warm pipes over which seawater flows. This process generates steam, and the steam condenses. This distilled water is captured and enriched with minerals to make it potable. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials have now developed a heat exchanger made of polymer composites. These composites are designed to replace rare and expensive titanium that has been used up to now because of its good thermal qualities. »By adding fine copper particles, we are producing lower-cost plastic pipes that have just as much thermal diffusivity,« says Arne Haberkorn of the institute. He adds that the surface finish of the new pipes facilitates condensation, a change that improves the efficiency of the desalination process.

Super absorbers: the diaper trick

hey are found in every disposable diaper: tiny plastic beads known as super absorbers that are capable of soaking up hun dred of times of their own weight. They distend in the process, creating a hydrogel. These qualities inspired Professor Manfred Wilhelm of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology to employ these reusable plastic particles in a new type of desalination process. »The hydrodgel distended by seawater is squeezed out in this process,« he says. »Our goal is to have only one gram of salt in each liter of water after three rounds of processing. This would be an amount that people could drink.« And a really low-cost technology, too.

More on the topic: www.tuv-sud.com/water

TÜV SÜD Journal 23

On the move

SOLAR

SToRM on earth

In nuclear fusion, the nuclei of two hydrogen isotopes are melded together to form one helium nucleus. This process generates energy that could be converted into electricity in a power plant. One way to trigger the fusion process is to bombard the nuclei with laser beams (photo on the right).

24 TĂ&#x153;V SĂ&#x153;D Journal

On the move

For years and years, physicists have been dreaming of using nuclear fusion to produce vast amounts of clean energy just like the sun. The first steps toward this goal have already been taken. But there is still much work to be done before an efficient power plant can go into operation. Text: Timour Chafik

aving armed his 192 lasers, the most powerful arsenal of them anywhere in the world, Omar A. Hurricane took aim at a small, gold-plated capsule in November 2013. A feeling of elation must have spread over him when he realized that he was about to take one step closer to the sun. Then, the physicist pulled the trigger at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, an institute in south ern San Francisco that includes a research reactor, the National Ignition Facility. The lasers take up most of the space in the facility, which is the size of three soccer fields. Fired at bursts of 20 picoseconds, the laser set off a nucleus reaction: The extreme heat

generated in the process triggered a type of shock wave of intense X-rays. The capsule, together with all the fuel packed into it, melted and imploded, reducing it to a fortieth of its original size. The density of the fuel mixture suddenly increased many times over. At the same time, the temperature shot above levels found in the sun’s interior. Then, nuclear fusion began. »Initially, we were skeptical,« Hurricane says today. »But then it slowly dawned on us: This was a good, a huge step for science.« A small flame of solar fire

The accomplishment that Hurricane pulled off is something that the sun has been do-

ing for billions of years: producing energy by fusing two atoms. Inside a hollow, 1-centimeter-long cylinder, the previously mentioned gold capsule, Hurricane forced the nuclei of two hydrogen isotopes, deuterium and tritium, to fuse and create one helium nucleus. The process unleashed energy. Put in layman’s terms, you could say that, for less than one billionth of a second, a tiny flame of solar fire burned on Earth. Or, at least, the type of energy that the sun produces. After all, the scientists in California were able to simulate the process that enables the sun to shine nearly 150 million kilometers from Earth. Others have also pulled off this

TÜV SÜD Journal 25 27

On the move

Safe concrete

The experiment Wendelstein 7-X was begun in 1997 in Greifswald, Germany, by the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics. The aim was to use the principle of the sun to create a source of energy. The construction of the experimental facility is scheduled to be completed in 2014. Following a step-by-step test of all technical systems, the first plasma is planned for 2015. TÜV SÜD has played a key role in this work. The company has conducted inspections and confirmed that the planned operation of the facility will create no radiation threat for people or the environment. »We have done core drilling on areas with radiation-protection relevance in the 1.8-meter-thick casing made of special concrete and conducted complex radiation-protection calculations as a way to verify the planning,« says Dr Michael Bittner, a specialist and group leader in radiation protection at TÜV SÜD. Analysis of the drilling samples, particularly regarding the water and boron content, found that the composition and structure of the concrete complied with requirements, Bittner says. Once completed, Wendelstein 7-X will be the world‘s largest stellarator-type fusion facility. The coils used in this unit to produce a magnetic field will employ a particularly complicated geometry.

The facility in Greifswald will have 20 superconducting magnetic coils. Each will weigh six tons and have a diameter of 3.5 meters. They are arranged in a vacuum chamber that has a diameter of 16 meters. This is where the nuclear fusion will take place.

26 TÜV SÜD Journal

On the move

feat. But Hurricane and his team went a step farther. They were able to produce a fraction more energy than had previously been deposited into the fusion material held by the gold capsule. Getting more than you give – to some observers, this amounts to the »holy grail of nuclear fusion.« Hurricane is a little more reserved in his own scientific assessment of the research. »That’s going too far,« he says. »We did in deed get more fusion energy from the fuel than we originally put in it – but it was still much less than the total amount of laser energy that was fired at the capsule.«

will not voluntarily walk down the aisle together!« There are two ways to arrange the marriage of the stubborn nuclei: One involves confining hydrogen plasma by using a strong magnetic field. The addition of energy increases the temperature and density to a point at which fusion begins. The experimental nuclear fusion reactor Wendelstein 7-X in Greifswald, Germany, (see the box on the left) or the ITER reactor being constructed in Cadarache, a city in the south of France, are based on this principle. The second approach involves lasers, or inertial

one in Fukushima has a half-life of 24,000 years. Clean, safe, radiation-free A small sun right on Earth that could gener ate mass amounts of cheap energy and virtually no radioactive waste: Isn’t this the bright future of energy production – if you forget about the technical feasibility of the process for a moment? »We wouldn’t be experiment ing with it if it did not hold any promise,« says Dr Hans-Stephan Bosch, a scientist at the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics in Greifswald. The potential of tapping a vir-

Power from nuclear fusion? »We wouldn’t be experimenting with it if it did not hold any promise,« says Dr Hans-Stephan Bosch. The exact yield of the test: 17 kilojoules, the same amount found in two AA batteries that can be purchased from the corner store. This is – still – too little when you are talking about the future of energy production. The engine of the stars »Ultimately, nuclear fusion is nothing more than the engine of the stars,« says Professor Markus Roth, a plasma physicist at the Institute for Nuclear Physics at the Technical University of Darmstadt. Two atomic nu clei are fused in the process, he says. »Every star and every sun follow the same princi ple, and they are obviously very good at it.« But the job of developing a copy of a star on Earth is a highly complicated undertaking. »The atomic nuclei have to be brought close enough to each other before they can fuse,« Roth says. »The problem is: They both have positive charges and repel each other – they

confinement fusion. This is the approach taken by Omar Hurricane’s National Ignition Facility. No matter whether fusion is achieved through a magnetic or inertial process, one point still applies: To achieve fusion, temperatures of at least 100 million degrees Celsius are required. Furthermore, high external pressure must be applied. »The sun carries out this process very effi ciently. But it is not so easy to produce 100 million degrees on Earth,« Roth says. A tremendous amount of energy is required to start the reaction in the first place. But the payoff for this hard work would be enormous: It would take just one gram of the deuterium-tritium mix to run a 3,000 MW power plant for one hour. In addition, the hydrogen isotope tritium has a half-life of just 12.3 years. In contrast, the plutonium used in nuclear power plants like the

tually unlimited source energy is simply too tempting to ignore, Bosch says. And, Bosch adds, only hydrogen isotopes would be burned and the only waste product created would be helium, an inert gas. »Very little of it would be produced anyway. You wouldn’t even have enough to fill the balloons at the county fair.« Soberly realistic If only the path to the sun was not so long: Bosch says he believes that the first fu sion reactor will be able to produce energy in around 35 years. Others think the first reactor could go online in 10 years, assum ing fusion researchers string together a long series of successes. The person who has come closest to replicating the sun on Earth remains soberly realistic: »We have taken a step forward. But our experiments are a long way from finding a new source of energy,« says Omar A. Hurricane.

More on the topic of energy: www.tuv-sud.com/power-energy

TÜV SÜD Journal 27

To the point

To t h e p o int

GOAL #28 NEW LOGY TECHNO ICE #30 ADV S E-BIKE

GOAL? Did the ball cross the line or not? At the Soccer World Cup in Brazil, GoalControl will make the right call every time. This stateof-the-art technology will serve as a valuable assistant to referees. But just what makes GoalControl tick?

The eye in the sky Seven cameras will be trained on each goal. They will monitor the goal line from every angle and from various perspectives based on each stadium‘s individual layout. As a result, controversial calls like the one made during the championship game of the 1966 World Cup (England – Germany) will be a thing of the past.

The photo shows a GoalControl computer simulation in the Mineirão Stadium of Belo Horizonte, a city in southeastern Brazil.

28 TÜV SÜD Journal

To the point

Image flood The cameras are special high-speed models. They take up to 500 images per second. Together, they generate a data package of about 4.5 gigabytes. This is the equivalent of a 90-minute film on DVD.

On the safe side A goal is scored only if the ball completely crosses the goal line. GoalControl can make this call if only two of its seven cameras are each able to see 25 percent of the ball. As far as probabilities go, this will always be the case.

Tested technology GoalControl was successfully tested at the 2012 FIFA Club World Cup and the 2013 Confederations Cup. All 12 World Cup stadiums in Brazil have now been equipped with the goal-line technology. The ref eree will test the equipment before each game.

Code protection For evaluation, the cameras’ images are transmitted to a server over fiber-optic cable. If a goal has been scored, the server will send a radio signal to the referee. The transmission is encrypted. The code changes three times per second, preventing manip ulation.

More on the topic of secure computer technology: www.tuv-sud.com/embedded TÜV SÜD Journal 29

To the point

Consumer adviser:

Putting a charge into summer Electric bicycles make riding easy because a motor takes care of the heavy legwork. As a result, it is a breeze for riders to climb hills or ride into a headwind. Here are five tips you should consider before buying one of these bikes.

Automatic or switch? About 90 percent of all electric bicycles are pedelecs, which is short for pedal electric cycles. Unlike older and frequently lowerpriced models, riders do not have to switch on their motors. The motor is automatically activated when the rider starts pedaling. Pedelecs reach a maximum speed of 25 kilometers per hour.

3 Short or long

Sporty or easy going?

On sporty bikes, riders bend their upper bodies. Bikes on which riders sit straight up take pressure off their wrists and backs. One important note: Riders‘ feet should always be able to maintain a stable position on the ground.

distance?

Most batteries enable riders to travel a distance of 40 kilometers to 60 kilometers. Those who need a constant boost from the motor will need a high-performance battery. It has the power to cover up to 140 kilometers, but is much more expensive. Make sure each battery type has an extended

Good brakes

warranty.

TESTING AND TESTING Given the wide range of motor and battery performance as well as the different styles, consumers should take long test rides before they buy anything. Those who try several models will have an easier time finding the bike that perfectly fits their needs and riding style.

More on the topic of product tests: www.tuv-sud.com/ps 30 TÜV SÜD Journal

are important to slow the movement produced by the motor.

Look for a seal of approval Under EU law, pedelecs must have a CE marking at the very minimum. Even more safety is assured by the »Geprüfte Sicherheit« (tested safety) seal and the »Zertifiziertes Pedelec« (certified pedelec) certification mark offered by TÜV SÜD.

Academy | dates

Training tips TÜV SÜD Academy A selected seminar series is introduced in each issue of TÜV SÜD Journal. This time, the feature topic is: Company responsibility and liability In their capacity as owners and operators of building and technical facilities, companies face a number of liability risks. In addition, they are subject to laws governing occupational safety and environmental protection. In a workshop, TÜV SÜD helps managing directors, facility managers, department heads and technical executives identify and minimize key liability risks. Key topics covered by the workshop • Responsibilities related to the operation of technical facilities • The Machinery Directive and the German Ordinance on Industrial Safety and Health • Requirements regarding occupational and facility safety • The consequences of violating organizational requirements • Legally secure delegation • Liability and responsibility in a company • Risk-analysis and prevention methodologies • Risk assessment as a company responsibility

05/06/07 CALENDAR

You can experience TÜV SÜD in person at the following trade fairs, congresses and events. Our team of experts is looking forward to meeting you. More information on the dates: www.tuv-sud.com/corporate-events

MAy Corporate Health Convention, Stuttgart, May 20–21, 2014 This trade fair offers a comprehensive market overview of services and products in corporate health management as well as of the issues of ergonomic work-station design and prevention.

JUNE

The courses are held throughout the year at locations across Germany.

Intersolar Europe, Munich, June 4–6, 2014

More information and available dates can be found online at: www.tuev-sued.de/academy

New markets, new conditions, new technologies: This trade fair helps people gain an overview of the dynamic solar-power industry. TÜV SÜD will present its wide range of services in this area at booth 540 in Hall A2.

wolfgang.humburg@tuev-sued.de

China International Lighting Fair, Guangzhou, June 6–12, 2014 House builders, planners, facility managers, retailers, manufacturers and suppliers can learn about the latest developments in lighting technology here. The focal points will include outdoor systems as well as control and LED technology.

IMPRINT Publisher: TÜV SÜD AG, Westendstraße 199, 80686 Munich Owners: TÜV SÜD e.V. (74.9 percent), TÜV SÜD Foundation (25.1 percent), Westendstraße 199, 80686 Munich Head of Corporate Communications: Matthias Andreesen Viegas Project Manager and Editor in Chief: Jörg Riedle Contact: +49 (0)89 5791-0, info@tuev-sued.de Realization: Medienfabrik Gütersloh GmbH, Neumarkter Straße 63, 81673 Munich Printing: Eberl Print GmbH, Kirchplatz 6, 87509 Immenstadt Photo credits: Airbus (19, 20), corbis (3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 33), Daimler AG (30), dpa Picture Alliance (4, 5), Getty (1), GoalControl (28, 29), Joe Merlo (21), Oscar Vinals (18,19), strichpunkt (2, 36), TÜV SÜD (2, 15, 21, 26, 32), Illustration (34, 35): LULU* TÜV SÜD Journal appears quarterly. Articles in the magazine are copyrighted. TÜV SÜD Journal is printed in a climate-neutral manner on paper from sustainable forestry.

carbon neutral

Renewable UK Offshore Wind, Glasgow, June 11–12, 2014 TÜV SÜD will present its complete range of services for offshore wind energy here. The international service provider assists planners, operators and manufacturers of offshore systems with comprehensive and individual testing, certifications and inspections.

JULY B2RUN, Munich, July 15, 2014 About 30,000 runners from more than 1,500 companies will get in the race to qualify for the German company running championship in Berlin. As an event partner, TÜV SÜD will be represented by its own team of runners and a booth inside the Olympic Stadium.

natureOffice.com | DE-141-647125

print production TÜV SÜD Journal 31

5 minutes

Electric and electronic testing in Bangalore

Export certificate for Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan

Free app for quality managers in companies

TÜV SÜD operates a dozen testing labs in India – including ones that work with textiles, cosmetics and toys. A 13th one has now joined the list: In the new testing center for electric and electronic products in Bangalore, an array of services related to CE marking and risk analysis is conducted, among other things. The tests are conducted on the basis of all applicable national and international standards.

For exports to the Belarus-Kazakhstan-Russia Customs Union, international companies must observe national certifications. TÜV SÜD recently issued further approv als to the Russian agency Rosakkreditacija. The focal point: a certificate for pressure equipment and steam boilers that became subject to new regulations in Feb ruary 2014.

For years, TÜV SÜD’s quality management glossary has been a trusted reference for all people who deal with this issue in companies. The reference work is now available as a free app for iOS and Android devices. One benefit of the app: Users have an opportunity to contribute their own entries to the reference book. The app can be downloaded from the iTunes Store and GooglePlay.

biswas.shyamli@tuv-sud.in

yury.kulikou@tuev-sued.de

carolin.eckert@tuev-sued.de

Environmental label for replacement catalytic converters

What is the service life of replacement cat alytic converters for cars and how effective are these components? This year, consumers gained a new resource to answer such questions: the German environmental seal »Blauer Engel« (Blue Angel). TÜV SÜD is one of only two authorized testing partners in Germany that can examine catalytic converters in this regard. In the company’s exhaust-gas lab in Heimsheim, a town near Stuttgart, experts use a special procedure to test the component. Among other things, the system undergoes a process that artificially ages them. They are placed into high-temperature furnaces and subjected to hydrothermal conditions that simulate an artificial service life of 160,000 kilometers. Afterward, exhaust-gas measurements are taken on certified roller test rigs. Other mandatory tests include the quantitative determination of precious metal levels, component measurements and a check to ascertain whether the materials in use could pose a health threat.

More testing options for electromagnetic compatibility

Electronic devices have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. To ensure that they do not step on each other's electronic toes, they must meet certain immunity re quirements and maintain certain threshold levels. In its global network of testing facilities, TÜV SÜD takes a close look at electronic devices ranging from smartphones to complete »Electromagnetic electric vehicles and determines whether all electromagnetic-compatibility standards are being maintained. The lab network has now is produced by practically been expanded: with new testing options in all electronic devices.« Germany and Japan. In March 2014, a hall for — Johann Roidt, TÜV SÜD testing photovoltaic inverters and components was opened in the Bavarian city of Straubing. Inverters are a central element in photovoltaic systems. They are used to convert the direct current produced by the units into alternating current that is fed into the power grid. Just a few weeks earlier, TÜV SÜD opened a 10-meter testing hall in Yonezawa, Japan. Industrial components and vehicles weighing up to four tons can be tested in it.

INTERFERENCE

johann.roidt@tuev-sued.de | noriko.nakao@tuv-sud.jp pascal.mast@tuev-sued.de

32 TÜV SÜD Journal

5 minutes

Verband der TÜV e.V. warns of safety problems The safety levels of technical systems like elevators are very high in Germany, according to the Industrial Plant Safety Report 2014 prepared by authorized surveillance units and released in mid-April by the Verband der TÜV e.V. (VdTÜV). But technical industrial plants also have safety problems that can only be uncovered by independent inspections. For this reason, the VdTÜV issued a warning regarding fuel depots and other facilities that have combustible liquids on site, saying they should not forgo such independent inspections. But plans being considered by the German government would enable them to do exactly that. The proposal: The companies themselves would conduct the inspections. »Should independent inspections be dropped, more facilities will ultimately have dangerous safety problems because they will no longer have an incentive to do regular maintenance,« said Dr Klaus Brüggemann, Member of the Board of VdTÜV e.V. »Our system has truly proven itself and helps create a model safety culture in Germany.« johannes.naeumann@vdtuev.de

minutes

More reading pleasure with the TÜV SÜD Journal app In mid-2013, a TÜV SÜD Journal app for smartphones and tablet PCs was introduced – for use on both iOs and Android devices: The alternative to the printed issue of the magazine is available free of charge in the iTunes Store and GooglePlay. In addition to visual elements and reader navigation that have been optimized for mobile end devices, the app version also contains supplementary information about articles in the magazine, including photo galleries and videos. By the way: Readers who prefer to read TÜV SÜD Journal on PC monitor now have access to a special edition. More information can be found at www.tuvsud.com/journal. The QR code will direct you to the app download. joerg.riedle@tuev-sued.de

with TÜV SÜD

Closely examine costly extras for used cars A luxury sedan at a compact car’s price: People interested in buying used cars can find really good deals. Smart buyers, however, check to see whether the car might come with some costly extras. »High-tech or convenience extras in used cars can result in expensive repairs,« says Eberhard Lang of TÜV SÜD. Even special items like wide tires come with a higher price tag when they have to be replaced. Popular extras like xenon headlights, automatic transmissions and navigation systems can also create a drain on wallets once their warranty has expired. For instance, it costs more than €1,000 to replace xenon headlights. The control device of an infotainment system will cost at least as much. A sun roof goes for €700, and it will take more than €9,000 to replace a seven-speed automatic transmission. TÜV SÜD recommends: Car buyers should definitely pay close attention to a wide-ranging warranty when looking at well-equipped used vehicles. eberhard.lang@tuev-sued.de

Who has the most healthy company? For the sixth time, the German business newspaper Handelsblatt, EuPD Research Sustainable Management and TÜV SÜD are searching for Germany's most healthy company. Last year, a record number of 323 companies entered the race. Companies and organizations in Germany can present and submit their concepts for occupational-health management. Employing a scientifically evaluated and tested quality Apply now: through the end of model, a jury will evaluate the subat mitted concepts www.corporate-health-award.de! and select a winner for each of the 10 categories. The awards will be presented during a health conference scheduled for the end of November 2014. The application deadline is June 30, 2014. The application process is free of charge and anonymous.

JunE 2014

birgit.klusmeier@tuev-sued.de

TÜV SÜD Journal 33

The final say

NO DARK SIDE OF THE MOON

A Japanese construction company has come up with the innovative idea of securing the world’s energy supply by building a solar-panel ring around the moon.

34 TÜV SÜD Journal

The final say