Kitemark first®, sales follow
Jactone Products is no stranger to the Kitemark® process; the company already holds a licence for its fire blankets. So, when the company decided to manufacture fire extinguishers for the first time, its main priority was to make sure that it could compete in the marketplace. Managing Director, Craig Halford, believed the only way to do this was to have the Kitemark® on their new extinguishers before any product was even sold.
He explains: "As a new manufacturer, the Kitemark® gains us greater acceptability. There's not the same status given to uncertified products. We needed the Kitemark® to compete effectively because it's universally recognized. It proves the product complies with the standard, is manufactured under a reputable certification scheme and our quality systems have been checked."
Craig approached BSI and explained that his deadlines were tight. What he didn't realize at the time was that Jactone was about to set a record time for achieving the Kitemark® for fire extinguishers. He takes up the story: We achieved the Kitemark® in just 89 days. We placed the order for Kitemark® certification on 16 February and had notification that we'd got it on 16 May.
"Nobody should underestimate the effort that went into this achievement. BSI responded very quickly; the people involved did a fantastic job for us. In fact, both BSI and ourselves bust a gut to make sure we got there."
What's in store for the future? Jactone is now in a position to market its new range of fire extinguishers in the UK on an equal footing with competitors that already have the Kitemark®. Craig says, "Manufacturers need to use every tool in the armoury to achieve recognition. We believe the best way is to put a Kitemark® on every product we are able to."
"The next step for us is to market and sell our extinguishers, and well be looking at going to BSI for CE marking under the Pressure Equipment Directive next."
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