The Lighting Industry Association (The LIA) will officially open its new Laboratories facility on 8 March 2016.

The facility is the culmination of many years’ of planning with lighting manufacturers, suppliers, retailers and wholesalers and will provide the industry with a cutting edge testing and certification service helping grow exports and improve product compliance.

Based in Telford, at 12,500 sq ft this purpose built facility is the largest facility of its type in Europe and houses the latest testing equipment creating a UK wide, national testing asset for the whole lighting industry. Already employing over 20 staff and technicians, it is envisaged the Laboratory will employ over 60 highly skilled personnel within the next two years.

This substantial investment was funded in part by the government’s regional growth fund. Along with the financial investment and that of the new technology the LIA will also be investing in key experts to ensure the industry continues to receive outstanding service, whilst encouraging those new to the industry to grow and develop.

The LIA Laboratories are the UK’s largest independent ISO 17025 test laboratory dedicated to lighting and an ISO 17065 (product certification) National Certification Body.

With the lighting industry changing dramatically and new advances in technology coming to the fore it seems almost daily. The LIA’s new laboratories facility is built for the future and can provide the testing services the industry expect and require to ensure their products are compliant both in the UK and abroad. The laboratories are also equipped with a variety of certification schemes to help strengthen the products, out there in the market.

LIA president Alasdair McRury (Holophane) and Councillor Leon Murray MBE, Mayor for Telford and Wrekin will join LIA CEO, Steve K Davies in officially opening the LIA Laboratories facility.