printer friendly version

Digicore complies with e-certification criteria

Local fleet management systems provider, DigiCore Holdings, now complies with the latest e-certification criteria promulgated by the European Union (EU) for the automotive industry.

Assuring the customer of world-class implementation, e-certification standards regulate the complete array of OEM and aftermarket electronic automotive products, covering engine management systems, car radios, alarms, immobilisers, and fleet management systems.

The well-known CE certification depended on self-accreditation, leaving it to the company to enforce in-house compliance. Conversely, once a product is submitted for the new EU e-certification, sample units are retained by the test facility for reference and future comparison of products sold under this certification. Should a manufacturer alter any design element or disregard any of the required ISO 9000 manufacturing standards, the product must be re-certified.

The stringent requirements of the EU standards surpass any local regulations or specifications by far. According to DigiCore Technology managing director, Deon du Rand, vendors had a two year period to re-design and upgrade their market offerings. From 1 October 2002, all automotive electronic products have to conform to the new regulations. The regulations place strict limits on electromagnetic interference that may be emitted by an automotive product, while the product must also show improved resistance to such interference from other systems.

"Apart from the legal implications, failure to comply opens vendors up to liability law suits, should their product be linked to injury or loss of production in the case of a vehicle accident," du Rand continued.

"The new C-Track technology with its integrated GSM capability was subjected to a rigorous four-week test at the KEMA laboratory in the Netherlands that it passed with flying colours.

Apart from the tests at KEMA, GSM FTA approval was also required. "With the GSM capability now fully integrated within the C-Track enclosure, DigiCore had to obtain FTA approval in order to demonstrate that the C-Track design and products will not compromise GSM networks in any way," said du Rand. Following the successful FTA approval the GSM regulator allocated a unique IMEI number range to DigiCore. Each C-Track unit now receives an unique IMEI number during production in DigiCore's manufacturing plant to allow the customer to link into any GSM network, worldwide," explains du Rand.

Share this article:

Further reading: