New player appeared in Moldova’s legal metrology infrastructure

The metrological laboratory ALEX SISTEM – the first private laboratory in the national metrology system designated to examine weight measuring devices – started work on November 1. The laboratory was created and opened in accordance with the European and international legal metrology standards, Info-Prim Neo reports. “We won the right to perform metrological examinations of medium and ordinary precision scales that are now widely used to measure weight in such areas of public interest as commercial operations and transactions, levying of taxes, examination of the quality of products, processes and services. The laboratory will check 55 types of measuring devices that were included in the State Register of Measuring Equipment,” said the laboratory’s deputy head Tatiana Cioclea. According to her, the process of setting up the laboratory lasted for almost a year and included preparing the metrological examination rooms, training and assessing the personnel, acquiring the auxiliary measuring equipment, working out and implementing the quality system. The investments in the laboratory totaled about 2 million lei. The lab is now able to perform more than 3,500 examinations a year. “We did a huge work and are proud of the results achieved. We guarantee the accuracy, swiftness and impartiality of our examinations and exclude discrimination. For us, all the clients are equal, regardless of the form of ownership, the volume of the order and their social status. If the checked measuring apparatus meets the requirements of the legal metrology regulations, our clients receive an examination certificate. If not, they are issued with an unserviceability certificate,” said Tatiana Cioclea. According to specialists of the lab, the prices of the metrological examination services will depend on the type and characteristics of the measuring devices. It is expected that they will be by 10% lower that for state metrology services. The services are provided within five days of the payment of the tax. If the client ensures the necessary conditions, the examination can be performed on the spot. Contacted by Info-Prim Neo, Michael Vaisman, manager general of the weight measuring equipment producer Alex S&E, said the transfer of some metrological surveillance powers from the state sector to the private sector is normal as many countries in Western Europe resort to such practices. “The top priority of this model is to increase the state subsidies with a view to developing the standards base and investigations in fundamental metrology by reducing costs for maintaining the state industrial metrology services. The laboratory ALEX SISTEM, as other private metrology services, will work in a regulated legal environment and will have to be as competitive as the similar state services,” said Michael Vaisman. He added that this business can be successful only if there are satisfied the interests of all the interested sides – the state that must ensure the reliability and accuracy of the measurements, the economic entities that make or use measuring equipment in their work and are clients of the lab, and the ordinary people who use the results of these measurements.