Certification of Manufacturers
Get an expert opinion
Whether you require a prompt materials inspection, a careful weld seam inspection or an expert opinion – we check products directly at the manufacturer's plant and soon spot any improvement opportunities.
Welding technology
We offer engineering services for the maritime as well as the non-maritime industry such as certification of welding-related quality management systems, welding procedures and welders. Our welding experts certify welding shops for hull structures, steam boilers, pressure vessels, pipelines and machinery components – including the shop approval according to EN ISO 3834, DIN 18800, DIN 2303 (Military Structures) and GL rules. All GL-approved welding workshops are published in a list available on the GL website. This regularly-updated list is used by many companies to choose their suppliers. In addition, we provide you with third-party supervision of welder tests and welding procedure tests according to national and international standards. We approve welding consumables and overweldable shop primers. Furthermore, our experts will assist you in choosing the appropriate non-destructive testing procedure. In the event of weld defects, we are pleased to provide you with our expertise in helping you to avoid future claims.
Contact: Welding Technology
Welding workshop approvals
GL certifies all types of welding workshops such as workshops for hull structures, steam boilers, pressure vessels, pipelines or machinery components. Workshop approvals have to comply with the regulations of national and international standards – including shop approvals according to EN ISO 3834, DIN 18800, DIN 2303 (Military Structures) and GL-Rules. All GL-approved welding workshops are published in the “GL Approval Finder”.
Contact: Welding Technology
Welder tests
Qualified welders are crucial for the high quality of products. GL provides on-site supervision of welder tests, considering the demand for availability of welders in production. The GL certification is in line with internationally agreed standards for welder tests and hence accepted as third party certification worldwide. GL provides a “Reminder-Service” for expiring welder test certificates.
Contact: Welding Technology
Welding procedure tests
Welding procedure qualification will help to standardise welding procedures, pinpointing what to expect when it comes to the quality of manufactured parts. Drafts of a preliminary welding procedure (pWPS) will be reviewed and commented by the GL before the actual test welding is done. This pWPS will be given to a welder to prove that he is capable of producing a welded joint to the specified levels of weld quality and mechanical properties. GL experts will help develop welding procedure specifications (WPS) as the basis for the work instructions. For every kind of welded structure GL has a welding expert in-house to consult with welding for shipbuilding, pipelines, pressure vessels, welding in civil engineering, mechanical engineering or welding of steam boilers.
Contact: Welding Technology
Welding consumables
Choosing the appropriate welding consumable is crucial for the quality of a welding seam. GL performs annual tests at the manufacturer´s plant to ensure unchanged quality of welding seams. All GL-approved welding consumables are published in the “GL Approval Finder”.
Contact: Welding Technology
Non destructive testing
Since evaluation for internal defects of welding seams cannot be done by means of visual examination, other testing methods such as ultrasonic testing or radiography have to be applied. GL NDT engineers assist in choosing the appropriate non-destructive testing method and review test procedures. GL local surveyors will take care of compliance with the approved procedures. Finally GL provides support in the assessment of the discontinuities, if detected. Furthermore GL offers assistance in choosing a subcontractor that is capable of providing high quality NDT services.
Contact: Welding Technology
Materials solutions
GL provides valuable information about material, quality and supplier's capability. Rely on GL's experience while putting third-party inspection at your suppliers in the hands of our engineers. If the manufacturer does not have the necessary test equipment, the GL laboratory offers what is required, including non-destructive testing. GL undertakes certification of materials, material manufacturers and related manufacturing and fabrication procedures in the shipbuilding supply sector. GL also tests and certifies the performance of plastics and fibre-composite materials, adhesion properties and the resistance of adhesives to weathering and UV light. Furthermore, GL provides damage investigations and consulting on materials.
Contact: Materials Solutions
Construction products – your path to CE marking
In construction works, including buildings and civil engineering, the Construction Products Directive 89/106/EEC (CPD) applies to any product which is produced for incorporation in a permanent manner in construction works. In order to assess their properties and behaviour affecting the requirements of the CPD, "harmonised standards" have been established for the most relevant products. For "Structural Metallic Products" – from sheet metal to welded steel beams – a notified body has to perform an initial works inspection, an assessment and a continuous surveillance of the Factory Production Control (FPC).
GL offers its services according to the "System 2+" on products according to, for example, EN 10025-1, EN 10210-1 or EN 10219-1.
Contact: Construction Products
Corrosion protection and anti-fouling systems
Professional corrosion protection is becoming increasingly important as a way of ensuring reliability and a long life. The GL guidelines for corrosion protection and coating systems present a significant aid and a reliable basis for planning state-of-the-art corrosion protection. GL does the certification of coatings (incl. IMO PSPC) and anti-foulings. The certification of tributyltin-free (TBT-free) anti-fouling systems in respect to IMO AFS Convention 26 and the European Commission can also be provided. GL evaluates coatings and corrosion protection systems and much more. GL also provides damage investigations in view of corrosion matters.
Contact: Corrosion Protection and Anti-fouling Systems
