Krayer's UL Blog

With the push of a button, the machine starts moving. For the operator, this means productivity, but also potential hazards. To ensure that routine does not turn into a risk, a clear understanding of every detail is essential: the risk assessment. Relation to UL The risk assessment considers all hazards associated with a machine, ranging […]

Machines that are idle cost money. Machines that aren’t safe cost people their health. Machines that don’t meet legal requirements cause stress and sometimes even result in loss of market access. Does that sound drastic? It is. That’s why it exists: the Machinery Directive. What the Machinery Directive Really Means for Companies: What at first […]

Machine safety requirements are strict in every country, but the U.S. in particular has specific regulations that manufacturers must comply with to ensure market access. Anyone who wants to use or sell machinery in the U.S. should therefore ask themselves: Are my machines ready to meet the specific safety requirements? In this article, we provide […]

UL certification is a true mark of quality for machinery and equipment shipped to North America. In order for components, parts, products, and complete control cabinets to receive UL certification, they must demonstrably meet the safety requirements of the relevant UL standards. Underwriters Laboratories Inc., known as UL for short, which issues the UL label, […]

When it comes to exporting switchgear to North America, it is essential to pay close attention to the wiring and the wiring colors in the control cabinet. Not only does the safety of the system depend on this, but so does the success of the export. This is because the system will not be approved […]

Choosing the right certification in control panel construction is crucial to ensuring the smooth handover of machines both domestically and internationally. However, the standards that must be observed in control panel construction are not uniform; rather, they must meet varying requirements around the world. That is why it is particularly important to know which standards […]

In addition to Underwriters Laboratories (UL), there are a number of other government-recognized organizations that test products for the North American market and certify their safety with their own labels. Canada has its own organization, the CSA Group. But is it better to rely on CSA certification rather than on UL’s services? Relation to UL […]

At Krayer Systemtechnik, we know from our own experience just how demanding the process is before a product receives UL certification . That’s why we’re delighted to guide other companies through this process and provide them with active support. We recently had the opportunity to do just that for Bloksma-Engineering GmbH in Urbach. Entering the […]

Anyone seeking to have a control panel for a machine or system approved by U.S. authorities for the first time will find that the procedure differs significantly from the one typically followed in Europe. In our blog post, we explain why this is the case and whether obtaining UL certification can simplify the approval process. […]

UL originated in the United States. There, UL certification is one of the most important seals of approval. However, German companies do not have to go to the United States to obtain the coveted UL label. Thanks to UL International, certification is also possible in Germany. Relation to UL To certify a control cabinet, it […]

UL is an independent U.S. organization that tests products for compliance with safety requirements based on its own standards. UL is one of 19 government-recognized testing laboratories in the United States (Nationally Recognized Test Laboratory). But what accounts for UL’s prominent position in the U.S.? Relation to UL Having a UL-certified control cabinet on a […]

Potentially explosive areas exist wherever explosive substances such as flammable or combustible gases, vapors, or dusts are present. To ensure explosion protection and a high level of safety, EX zones must be properly labeled. In this article, we’ll explain exactly what that means and how a so-called explosive atmosphere forms. Relation to UL In the […]

In the U.S., there are two classification systems for the protection ratings of electrical equipment enclosures. One is the NEMA rating, and the other is the UL type rating. At first glance, the two do not seem to differ significantly. In this article, we explain why they are not interchangeable and what that means in […]

Customers often ask us whether certifications from Intertek, TÜV, or FM are accepted by UL. Unfortunately, we have to explain that this is not the case. We’ll explain why that is here. Workplace Safety in the United States To understand why TÜV, Intertek, and FM certifications are not accepted by Underwriters Laboratories (UL), we first […]

The power grid systems in the United States differ fundamentally from those in Europe. Anyone wishing to export an electrically powered device to the United States must therefore consider not only plugs and outlets, but also different line voltages and power grids that are designed entirely differently. Types of Electric Power Grids in the United […]

In many industries, there are areas where there is a risk of explosion. These so-called Ex zones occur where flammable gases, vapors, or dusts accumulate in the air, and they impose special requirements on the planning, design, and selection of equipment. A key foundation for this is the zone classification in explosion protection. It defines […]

UL standards are product safety standards for the U.S. market developed by Underwriters Laboratories (UL). Products that comply with these standards may receive a label, after passing testing, indicating their UL certification . The UL label is essential for the sale of a wide range of products in the United States. Are UL standards government […]

A UL mark is not an official certification mark and, strictly speaking, is not required if a product is to be sold in the United States. In practice, however, serious complications almost always arise when a product without a UL mark is introduced to the U.S. market. The same applies to the installation of such […]

UL 508 and UL 508A are standards for industrial electrical equipment that apply to operation in the United States and Canada. They were developed by Underwriters Laboratories (UL), the world’s leading provider of safety standards testing and certification. The two standards cover different areas: UL 508 is the standard for the safety of industrial control […]

Many components have been tried and tested over the years and provide valuable service in EU control cabinets. It therefore seems reasonable to consider using them in UL control cabinets as well. However, this can quickly lead to problems, because components for the North American market require special UL certification, which is granted by UL […]

When it comes to UL standards, we always stay up to date. We regularly receive training directly from UL on new developments and changes to the UL 508A, UL 638A, and UL 1203 standards. Now we want to build a bridge between UL and our customers: On November 10, 2021, we’re hosting a workshop—in collaboration […]

Many customers are surprised by the size of their UL control cabinet. They did not expect that the UL control cabinet for a machine or system being exported to the U.S. or Canada would be significantly larger than the control cabinet for the same machine or system in Europe. Different Standards in the Control Cabinet […]

North America is an important growth market for German mechanical engineering companies, not least because of the new president’s economic policies. The headquarters of the largest companies in the automotive, electrical engineering, electronics, and consumer goods sectors are also located in the U.S. Furthermore, machinery and equipment bearing the “Made in Germany” quality label are […]

To give our customers greater insight into the manufacturing of their UL control cabinets and to incorporate adjustments into the planning process at an early stage, we are continuing to digitize our processes. As a result, we are now working with a digital twin, which offers significant advantages for both our customers and us. In […]

To help curb the spread of the coronavirus, KRAYER is now providing its employees with free COVID-19 self-tests twice a week. This initiative has been met with overwhelming acceptance. Last week, every single KRAYER employee agreed to take a rapid COVID-19 test at home on Monday and Thursday mornings before starting work. In the event […]

Companies that wish to export machinery and equipment to the United States will almost inevitably be confronted with the issue of “product liability.” When the media reports on spectacular product liability lawsuits in North America, the damages awarded to plaintiffs by the courts sometimes seem wildly excessive by European standards. This creates the impression that […]

The latest addition to our machinery fleet, the LS900 EDGE combination laser marker from Gravotech, supports us in our UL control cabinet manufacturing, particularly in the area of engraving. We can now perform any type of laser marking inside and on your control cabinet—from nameplates to component and channel markings to warning signs. This gives […]

What You, as a Mechanical Engineer, Should Know About UL or CSA Certification Just as Niagara Falls connects the United States and Canada, the two countries also share common ground when it comes to machine safety requirements. This is because the rules governing these requirements in both North America and Canada are entirely different from […]

It is with pride and joy that we have accepted our nomination for the “Großer Preis des Mittelstandes” business competition. Since 1994, the Oskar Patzelt Foundation has presented this award annually to particularly successful small and medium-sized enterprises in Germany. Companies are evaluated in five areas: Krayer Systemtechnik GmbH has continued to evolve in recent […]

To speed up the manufacturing process and shorten delivery times, Krayer expanded its machine fleet in October 2020 with a Perforex BC BC 1008 machining center from Rittal. All mechanical machining steps involved in the assembly of a control cabinet—such as drilling, thread cutting, or milling—can now be completed in a single operation. “This saves […]

KRAYER continues to expand its position asthe top choice in the UL sector. To this end, in June 2020, our company underwent what is arguably the most demanding and rigorous certification process available, administered by the U.S.-based UL organization (https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Underwriters_Laboratories): certification for switchgear and control cabinets for allhazardous areas. Result: passed with flying colors. UL […]

UL 508A & CSA C22.2 – Control Panel Manufacturing for Export Manufacturers of control cabinets must strictly comply with all legal and technical requirements set by Underwriters Laboratories when exporting control systems to the United States. The key application standard, UL 508A, must be met in all cases. In the United States in particular, failure […]

New videos about the company. Three new videos showcase Krayer Systemtechnik GmbH from a different perspective: as short films. There are three options to choose from: On the Krayer website dedicated to the films, you can watch them at your leisure.

An Overview of UL Labels Control technology used in the U.S. and Canadian markets is subject to countless regulations that must be complied with. To import, market, or install your control cabinets in these countries To achieve this, all materials, components, and the final product itself must be tested for operational safety in accordance with […]