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In 2023, LS Electric officials install an additional short-circuit generator at the Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute's power testing facility. / LS Electric

LS Electric is speeding up its push into the North American power equipment market after securing accredited testing laboratory status from the Canadian Standards Association (CSA). With North American power infrastructure investment expanding amid AI data center growth and the replacement of aging power grids, the strategy is to shorten certification procedures — a key hurdle for entering the local market — boosting responsiveness to customers and competitiveness in winning orders. Since the U.S. and Canada maintain strict safety and quality certification requirements, quickly securing certification aligned with local standards is a crucial competitive factor in entering the market and winning contracts.

According to LS Electric on the 13th, its Power Test & Technology Institute (PT&T) recently obtained WMTL (Witnessed Manufacturer's Testing Laboratory) accredited testing status from CSA. This allows PT&T to directly conduct standards testing on power equipment products under CSA witnessing, and to obtain CSA certification based on those test results.

CSA is an organization that conducts product testing and certification for the Canadian and broader North American market. Designated as a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), it holds the authority to certify products and award certification marks on equal footing with organizations like UL, TÜV, DEKRA, and Intertek.

With this accreditation, LS Electric can reduce the time and cost of certification needed to serve the North American market. Rather than commissioning product testing from an outside lab, the company can now conduct standards testing at its own facility under CSA witnessing, shortening the time needed from product development to certification. PT&T is Korea's only privately operated power equipment testing facility, capable of testing power equipment ranging from low-voltage to ultra-high-voltage. Backed by high-power and high-voltage testing equipment and experience meeting global standards, it can link testing, certification, and quality verification from the early stages of product development.

Going forward, LS Electric plans to incorporate North American standards requirements from the product development stage and reduce the time needed for CSA certification to improve its responsiveness to local customers. Building on this, the company aims to expand its supply of high-value-added power equipment to North America's data center, wide-area power grid, and industrial power equipment markets.

An LS Electric official said, "Securing this CSA-accredited testing laboratory status has once again demonstrated PT&T's testing and certification capabilities in the global market," adding, "Building on our advanced technology and locally tailored strategy, we will speed up our response to North American customers and further strengthen our competitive edge in the power infrastructure supercycle market."

                                                                                                          Lee Seo-yeon