Throughout the past century technology has increasingly evolved and transformed. With schools now using learning tools such as robotics and 3D printers, it is important to understand how safe electronics are.
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Spectrum Industries headquartered in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, verifies and guarantees that all products manufactured are safe. The premier furniture company tests every product according to ANSI-BIFMA furniture standards and has multiple products that are UL certified. A UL certified label on products ensures consumers that Spectrum has met company and quality standards in order to prevent safety accidents.
“UL certification verifies to us and our customers that our product designs meet or exceed all the safety criteria defined by specific UL standards,” said Dennis Barka, Spectrum’s Vice President of Process Control. “It ensures robust designs that protect consumers from safety and durability issues that may otherwise be unknown and inherent in an uncertified product.”
UL, otherwise known as Underwriters Laboratories, has created the national safety standard. It promotes safe living and working environments by companies testing and inspecting products in order to meet safety standards. If a product is UL listed that means it has met UL’s Safety Standards.
“Our electrical products that we purchase have to meet UL requirements,” said Randal Greene, Buyer of Spectrum’s Purchasing Department. “There are different UL certification levels. We find out from our vendors what their UL listings are on electrical components. And if we are in doubt, we also have an outside company that can test for UL. We can send part of a product to them and they will run it through and approve it.”
Having multiple products UL Certified ensures customers that our products are safe for them and students to use. In order for a product to receive UL certification, manufacturers submit their products for testing and if it meets UL’s Safety Standards, it can be UL marked. Products that aren’t UL listed can result in electrical shock or fire.
Besides using UL listed products, Spectrum also makes sure its products are RoHS compliant. RoHS, a self-certification program that Spectrum follows, stands for the Restriction of Hazardous Substances in electrical and electronic products.
“RoHS is an initiative, a directive, which stipulates that certain hazardous chemicals have to be under a certain level within that material,” said Greene. “As long as our products meet this directive our products can be exported into the European Union. European Union countries have RoHS requirements, the United States does not.”
If companies do not comply, large penalties or fines can be given. Spectrum’s products are all RoHS compliant to ensure customers that we meet applicable standards for safety and durability.
“By being RoHS compliant and following UL standards, we are able to help protect our customers from any potential issues,” said Barka. “Our customers know our products are safe, and with the certification marks, it never has to be questioned.”
Spectrum operates as an environmentally responsible manufacturer and implements environmental sustainability through waste prevention, material recovery and recycling, product design, and procurement. By being RoHS compliant, Spectrum is implementing its environmental stewardship by restricting materials that can harm the environment and become exposed to workers in recycling and manufacturing processes.
“We take pride in being a good corporate citizen by doing our part to help protect our environment,” said Barka. “We always strive to incorporate environmentally safe initiatives and practices into all our daily operational and manufacturing processes.”