PHILADELPHIA - Axalta Coating Systems announced that its Houston Technical Services Laboratory has received ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation awarded by the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA). Many global OEMs that require product approval will now accept the data generated by Axalta’s Houston laboratory, which will reduce the cycle time for obtaining global product approvals.

A2LA accreditation reflects the capabilities of Axalta’s quality management systems overall and its ability to perform specific activities defined by its A2LA Scope of Accreditation (A2LA Certificate #4024.01). These activities include mechanical testing of coatings to evaluate effects on color, gloss, appearance and overall functionality before and after exposure to corrosive environments.

“Our Houston Technical Services Laboratory and its personnel have many years of experience with the coating evaluation methods included in our Scope of Accreditation, a key factor in the successful accreditation process with A2LA,” states Michael Cash, Axalta Senior Vice President and President of Industrial Coatings. “This recognition serves as further evidence of Axalta’s determination not only to support our customers at the highest level, but also to perform as a world-class coatings organization.”

Axalta also holds A2LA accreditation at its Coatings Technology Center in Wilmington, DE, as well as its laboratory in Mt. Clemens, MI, which is adjacent to its facility that produces coatings for OEMs in the transportation sector. Having labs with third-party accreditation will continue to enhance Axalta’s customer service experience.

A2LA is the largest U.S.-based, multi-discipline accreditation body with over 35 years of experience providing internationally recognized accreditation services and quality training. A2LA’s accreditation services encompass testing and calibration laboratories, medical testing laboratories, inspection bodies, proficiency testing providers, reference material producers and product certification bodies. Organizations are accredited to international standards and field-specific requirements developed with government and industry collaboration. A2LA also offers a wide variety of both public and private on-site training programs to complement the various accreditation programs.