NET opens new test center in Bamble, expands with two new companies and new chairman

The company Nordisk Emballasje Testing AS has become part of NETopp Holding, which now owns NET and NETopp Eiendom AS. On 20 September this year, we will officially open our new test center – the only one of its kind in Northern Europe. NET was established by Rune Fink, Tom Haugan and Geir Morten Johansen in January 2007 as an offshoot of Borealis. The company quickly contacted Susanne Dahlberg from Gothenburg, who has 10 years' experience from the certification unit in SP. SP in Sweden and DTI in Denmark constitute NET's biggest competitors in the Nordics within the area of ​​hazardous goods packaging.

NET has delegated authority from DSB, the Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority and the Norwegian Maritime Directorate to test and certify packaging intended for the transport of dangerous goods. This is NET's core business. Since its inception, NET's tasks have consisted of consultancy within various packaging, fire testing, testing in the field, as well as various tests of finished products. In May, the laboratory was accredited according to ISO17025 by Norsk Akkreditering after more than 4 years in Swedac. The important thing in this context is that NET is an independent laboratory, which is used to resolve disputes. For our customers, the change in our ownership structure will only be felt by an even more dynamic NET as a partner, and it will strengthen NET immediately, as we are now assured of a secure future with a specially adapted and efficient new test centre. This is a dream that has been with Managing Director Rune Fink ever since May 1995, when he inspected for the first time in Brussels the most important device, the drop test tower of the best German quality. We can hoist all types of products, from frying pans to rocket engines up to a height of 9 metres, before they fall freely under full control. The plant today is designed for products up to 4 tonnes. We have air-conditioned rooms with humidity control from -30 to + 60 degrees. The climate rooms can also be used for aging test objects and can accelerate/shorten the time before the product is tested. The freezer is mainly intended for plastic articles before drop testing, but can also be of great use for many other test tasks. We carry out pressure tests according to different requirements, or in tests where we only have to observe when and how it bangs. Other standard tests can be mentioned; pallet tests, transport tests, fatigue tests, fire tests, stacking and compression tests. It is an important wish and goal to establish a future fire laboratory. Our new test facility is the only one of its kind in Northern Europe and has a fantastic location at Eik Næringspark in Bamble municipality. NETopp Eiendom has a 3-year option agreement on adjacent land, to ensure the possibilities for further expansion. Development together with the partners in the industrial area can create a pleasant increase in employment in the municipality. We hope related industries such as design agencies, product developers, packaging manufacturers and sellers see this potential, and express their interest in strengthening joint operations here, says Jan Erik Parr, who in August was elected the new chairman of NET after Johansen resigned in May. The change in the establishment of the new companies strengthens our market opportunities and therefore the companies' future. Parr is looking forward to being involved in further developing NET, so that there will be positive growth for Bamble municipality and Grenland. The property that was chosen for NET's new test facility has an address: Dronning Margretesvei 15 3960 Stathelle. Choosing the Eik industrial area as a location was an easy choice. The municipality's case managers worked very quickly, very attentively and deserve all the praise they can get for the cooperation and determination with which they have met us. A big thank you to Bamble Kommune and Cosmic Bygg AS as the main actors in the construction process, as well as Teleklima and Buskerud Kulde for important contributions and positive people who together have made this happen according to plan!