NIPPON GOHSEI First to Achieve Global Confirmity Under the PED

Nippon Gohsei has successfully completed what is believed to be the first Global Conformity Assessment, under the Pressure Equipment Directive (PED), of a Polymer Manufacturing Plant built in Europe.

The Directive (PED) has been adopted since 1997, but became mandatory on 29th May 2002. The Directive helps to remove technical trade barriers by harmonising standards within Europe. The aim of removing these technical trade barriers (the different standards and laws for each country) is to create a single European market. There are three main reasons for having the PED:

1. To ensure safe design, manufacture, and use of pressure equipment.
2. To harmonise technical standards in order to create free trade within Europe and
3. To regulate the design, manufacture, and conformity assessment of pressure equipment and assemblies.

The Directive supersedes all national norms and standards.

NIPPON GOHSEI’s plant was designed in Japan with parts manufactured in the UK, Poland, China, Italy, Japan, Korea and Canada. All equipment including individual items such as heat exchangers, distillation columns, reactor, vessels, interconnecting piping systems, safety devices and tanks were manufactured to meet the stringent requirements of the PED and bear the globally recognised CE Marking.

The Global Conformity Assessment requires a unique appraisal involving the evaluation of the individual equipment certification, the Essential Safety Requirements and the complete operating plant.

The Global Conformity Assessment was completed as a result of Nippon Gohsei working in conjunction with a recognised Notified Body as defined by the PED. Rigorous and detailed examination of plant design, hazard analysis, equipment and manufacturing processes were all necessary steps to obtain the Certificate of Conformity in accordance with the PED.

NIPPON GOHSEI’s new operation in the UK will be supplying the European market with Soarnol™ EVOH. The new facility is the largest single line for EVOH in the world. Soarnol™ EVOH is an environmentally friendly gas barrier material used primarily in the food industry, and is also used in the automotive, construction and fashion industries.