SGS opens new lab in Makati

SGS Philippines Inc. formally yesterday launched its new and improved laboratory facilities in Makati, further affirming its confidence in the growth of the economy and in spite of its continuing case to collect approximately P7 billion from the government.

At the formal opening ceremony of the SGS Central Laboratory (Cenlab) in Makati yesterday, SGS Philippines managing director Rosario Cajucom-Bradbury said that the SGS Group has invested about $2 million over a two- year period to put up new laboratories in the country.

SGS has laboratory facilities in Manila, Subic, Cebu and in Rapu-Rapu, Albay.

According to Cajucom-Bradbury, the Cenlab in Makati is an "affirmation of our confidence in and support for Philippine business."

She disclosed that in the testing and inspection services alone, SGS has observed an increase in business by as much as 40 percent, "which we believe is a very strong indication of the country’s business growth."

Thus, SGS’s investment in its new laboratory, Cajucom-Bradbury said, "is in response to growing demand of local industries to conform to international standards to make them globally competitive while continuously improving the quality of their products and services."

In fact, SGS projects that most of its potential business will be in testing and ensuring compliance of Philippine electronics and electrical equipment to the new European Union standards on hazardous substances.

Likewise, SGS also projects business growth in the field of mineral and mining testing and verification.

In fact, SGS recently set up a laboratory facility in Rapu-Rapu, Albay as a service outsourcer for the Lafayette Group.

SGS provides inspection, testing, verification and certification services.

In the 1980s it provided customs and import valuation services to the government.

However, a dispute over it’s unpaid fees remains unresolved.

Despite the payment dispute, Cajucom-Bradbury assured that SGS is still prepared to assist the government should it seek assistance on customs and import valuation.