Kiwa strengthens global presence with key addition of companies in US, UK and China

Rijswijk, 05 November 2024 - Kiwa has today announced that it is expanding its global presence, following an agreement with Element Materials Technology (“Element”), through the addition of NQA (USA, UK and India), the management systems certification division of BM Trada (UK), Unitek (USA), the technical services division of Trialon (USA), and the remaining 50% stake in SNQA, a joint venture partner (China). These businesses bring Kiwa additional expertise across a wide variety of markets and throughout the global Testing, Inspection and Certification (TIC) sector.

The investment in these companies brings a wealth of TIC and TIC-related services from offices in Europe, the Americas and Asia. NQA USA is recognized as the number one provider of certification services to aerospace in the US; Unitek is the country’s second largest provider of supply chain management and technical support services, with a strong focus on automotive, defense, and aviation. 

The acquisition also gives Kiwa the remaining 50% stake in SNQA, a Chinese joint venture focused on certification in the automative sector, where it has had a long-standing partnership together with NQA UK. Meanwhile, by obtaining NQA UK and the management systems certification division of BM Trada, Kiwa also becomes a leading provider of management system and sustainability certifications in the UK.

For Kiwa, this agreement creates significant business opportunities, as CEO Luc Leroy explains: “This addition of activities and investment in capabilities is an important milestone for us on both a strategic and a cultural level. To begin with, these new companies collectively provide us with deeper access and new, complementary services in targeted growth markets such as the United States and the United Kingdom as we make life safer for even more people around the world. Secondly, we welcome over 1,000 new, highly skilled colleagues to our global team. We have worked with some of them before, through our joint venture partnership in China, and we know they are a strong cultural fit; they already live our values in terms of delivering outstanding customer service and going the extra mile. I would also like to thank SHV as our parent company for their ongoing support and belief in our strategy and for their indispensable role during the process.”

Matt Hopkinson, EVP for Element in EMEAA added: “With this divestment, we are excited to focus our growth efforts and investment in Element’s core business lines in targeted end markets. As part of this, we will retain and grow BM Trada’s product certification services division, including its Q-mark scheme, which continues to be an important part of our portfolio. We would like to thank the colleagues who are leaving our group today for their many contributions to Element; they are a talented team and we wish them all the very best in their new partnership with Kiwa.”

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About Kiwa

Kiwa is a TIC company - we are an independent, impartial global leader in Testing, Inspection and Certification. We offer laboratory, (statutory) inspection, auditing and assurance activities, supported and strengthened by (strictly separated) training, consultancy and data services. Our customers are in virtually all markets and in both the private and public sectors. Wherever they are, they can count on us to create trust in their products, services, processes, (management) systems and employees. We support them with more than 11,000 engaged employees, working from over 35 countries across Europe, Asia, North and Latin America and Oceania. The Kiwa headquarters are in Rijswijk, the Netherlands. We are a member of the global SHV Family of Companies.

About Element

Element Materials Technology is one of the world’s leading global providers of testing, inspection, and certification services for a diverse range of products, materials, and technologies in advanced industrial supply chains where failure in use is not an option. Headquartered in London, UK, Element’s c.9,000 scientists, engineers, and technologists work across a global network of 270+ laboratories, supporting customers from early R&D through complex regulatory approvals and into production, ensuring their products are safe and sustainable and achieve market access.

Media enquiries:

For Kiwa: Anneke van de Wetering, tel: +31 6 5244 3910; or email: anneke.van.de.wetering@kiwa.com

For Element: Kate Aldridge, tel: +44 7767 705364; or email kate.aldridge@element.com

Notes to editors:

' As part of the transaction, NQA will use the name and branding of “BM Trada” for Management Systems Certification and Chain of Custody Certification services under licence. BM Trada’s product certification services division, Q-Mark certification scheme, and other fire and non-fire door certification schemes provided by BM Trada’s product certification services division, do not form part of the transaction and remain an Element Materials Technology line of business.