FDDI is in the final stages of getting PFI accreditation for its renowned International Testing Centre (ITC). After a series of technical audits, PFI has agreed for accreditation of laboratory subject to procurement of certain machines and gadgets required to meet the international standards. The ITC specializes in testing of leather, leather products, footwear, footwear components, textile products, plastics, etc. The International Testing Centre is the only laboratory in India which has been ISO 17025 certified by Deutschen Akkreditierungs Rat (DAR) of Germany for testing of banned chemicals and safety footwear tests as per EN 344-1: 1993 norms. It has also been awarded the ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 by Bureau Veritas Quality International.

PFI is the world leader in testing of safety shoes having its office at Germany, Hong Kong & China. It is the first time PFI has accreditated any laboratory in India. However, the Managing Director of FDDI, Mr. Rajeev Lakhara, IRS, is insisting PFI for collaboration and not just accreditation. Collaboration with Prufund Forschungsinstitute Pirmasens e.V will help the industry to compete with the international best and enhance the exports from our country, the outcome of which will visible in a short span of time. When contacted, Mr. Lakhara said, “The buyers of Europe, America, Canada and other developed countries are very strict for quality / requirement of the safety shoes, as any lapse / failure costs heavily in those countries. Lack of authorized laboratories is causing great problem for exporting industries. Particularly, the bottleneck is testing for CE marking. Thus, we are trying our level best to give the services to the industry which will enable Indian industries to get the testing done at FDDI at much lower costs compared to the foreign counterparts and immensely help the industries to enhance the export.”

Citing about the relevance & requirement of this collaboration, Mr. Lakhara said, “ The potential for export of safety shoes from India to developed countries has multiplied due to higher labour wages in China and anti-dumping duties levied by European and American countries. Lots of industries have installed new capacities and many have expanded the capacity for production of safety, protective, occupational footwear. There is a dire need for testing of safety shoes for CE marking. Now, industries are compelled to send the footwear to European laboratories involving lot of time and money, whereas if the industry gets this facility here in FDDI, it will give a major boost to the industry & the exporters will need not to send their samples abroad i.e., Germany, Hong Kong for testing.”

 

Mr. Hwang Young Hyuk joins Footwear Design & Development Institute, Noida as Consultant in the area of Sports & Non-Leather Footwear Technology.

Mr. Hwang - a Bachelor Degree in Chemical Engineering from Dong A University in Korea with experience as Technical Director in KPT in South China manufacturing for Reebok & Adidas, will provide consultancy to upgrade the technology of small & medium scale industries besides providing training to the students in sports shoe technology. The experience of his long industrial voyage will give a fillip to the efforts of FDDI.