BSI group acquires Singapore certification organisation

The British Standards Institution (BSI), the global leader in the certification of quality, safety and service standards for industry and commerce, has acquired International Standards Certification Pte Ltd (ISC), a Singapore-based certification organisation.

This acquisition comes with the news that the BSI group's existing laboratory in the region, Inspectorate Singapore, has just received official recognition of its world-class status in metals testing.

BSI has acquired ISC as part of its international expansion strategy aimed at making it the preferred supplier of quality and inspection services to the world's leading businesses.

ISC operates in the certification market in Singapore, and also offers training and auditing services to the international quality standard ISO 9000.

BSI's purchase of a 100% equity interest in ISC is the group's latest acquisition following last year's changes to its Royal Charter, designed to give greater operating flexibility.

This strategic investment in this key South East Asian economy, builds on BSI's operations in over 90 countries around the world. ISC will work closely with Inspectorate Singapore, to offer customers an increasing range of services with a particular emphasis on local delivery. Mr Philip Kee is remaining as managing director of ISC.

The official recognition for Inspectorate Singapore as a world-class metals testing facility comes from the London Metals Exchange, which has the twin roles of accreditation body for metals test laboratories, and 'stock exchange' for dealing in refined metals.

This accreditation means that Inspectorate Singapore has joined the top six laboratories in the world - an elite club which includes Inspectorate's flagship laboratory in Whitham, England, which tests metals and minerals.

Inspectorate Singapore has been predominantly involved in testing oil and petrochemicals, and this accreditation for metals sampling and testing expands the service the company offers to clients in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.