In order to aid members in product safety compliance efforts, Promotional Products Association International (PPAI), Irving, Texas, announced it has selected Specialized Technology Resources (STR) as an authorized business partner to provide product testing services to PPAI members.
“PPAI’s mission is to provide products and services that will ensure the success of our members,” said Steve Slagle, CAE, president and CEO of PPAI. “The addition of STR to our business partner team allows us to fill a product testing void in the industry. The majority of promotional products companies are small businesses—without the infrastructure to implement robust product testing programs. Our business partner agreement with a CPSC-certified testing lab has secured a pricing package for product testing services available to all PPAI members—regardless of factory location or testing volume.”
This agreement is an extension of the successful consultation program under which STR has served as a technical resource for PPAI since the beginning of 2009. STR has worked with PPAI to deliver professional development programs including monthly webinars, ongoing interpretation of Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) requirements, one-on-one consultations at the PPAI Expo 2010 and creation of CPSIA navigation guidance.
As the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) implements additional regulations requiring third-party testing of specific products and product categories, STR will be able to provide specific testing guidance and testing services to all PPAI members. Additionally, STR will continue to offer consultations and education at PPAI events and meetings.
“While the CPSC has certified a number of companies for product testing, all of which can be found on both the CPSC and PPAI websites, STR has stepped up to offer preferred pricing to all PPAI members,” Slagle said.
STR is a CPSC accredited third-party laboratory and global quality assurance service provider with more than 25 years of experience in the toy and premium industries. STR provides testing, audit, certification and responsible sourcing services to help companies achieve the highest level of confidence in the quality, safety and social standards of their products and systems. The company is based in Enfield, Conn., and has sophisticated laboratories and offices in more than 30 countries across five continents, and the reach to provide audit services in more than 100 countries around the world.
About PPAI
PPAI—the promotional products industry’s only international not-for-profit trade association—offers education, tradeshows, business products and services, mentoring, technology and legislative support to its more than 7,500 global members. Promotional products are an $18 billion industry and include wearables, writing instruments, calendars, drinkware and many other items, usually imprinted with a company’s name, logo or message. PPAI created and maintains the UPIC (Universal Promotional Identification Code), the industry’s only free identification system and universal company database.
For more information on PPAI, visit www.ppa.org or call (972) 258-3041.
