As Head of Standards-Developing VdTÜV,Dr. Manfred Bayerlein to Support the EU-US FTA, Standards Harmonization
Boston, MA – June 24, 2013 – Dr. Manfred Bayerlein, CEO of TUV Rheinland of North America, has been named the new Chairman of Verband der TÜV e.V. (VdTÜV), the association of technical inspection agencies, or TÜVs. Dr. Bayerlein will chair the association for the next two years. Prominent on his agenda is the free trade agreement (FTA) between the European Union (EU) and the US, with such benefits as economic growth, faster time to market and reduced testing costs for manufacturers across nearly all industries. Since 1949, the Confederation of Technical Inspection Agencies (Vereinigung der Technischen Überwachungs-Vereine, or VdTÜV), has been responsible for the unification of technical inspection and exchange of experience between various TÜVs. Its members are all TÜV organizations. VdTÜV creates technical standards, coordinates the opinion-forming process and technical positioning through member participation in 100 committees, and represents the industry in communication with government bodies and the media with regard to technical safety, quality, environmental protection and economic feasibility. Following his election, Dr. Bayerlein announced that he would expand VdTÜV’s role in society as a mediator in the pivotal issues. “Climate change, the energy transition, the development of mobility, the safety of the communication networks and the intensive accompaniment of globalization are the major challenges for all people, and TÜVs’ role is to help ensure the safest transition for people, the environment and technology,” said he. “Additionally, TÜVs’ technical standards and product safety expertise would be instrumental in informing the decisions about such partnerships as TAFTA.” A proponent of the EU-US FTA, Dr. Bayerlein believes that VdTÜV, in its role as a prominent standards-developing association, will contribute to harmonization of technical standards between the two markets, while respecting the traditions and cultures they developed over decades. He emphasizes the creation of uniform standards and application of comparable procedures when it comes to accrediting laboratories and appointing or licensing certification bodies to prevent the distortion of competition despite the free trade area. Dr. Bayerlein has served as the CEO of TÜV Rheinland since 2011, and has been part of the VdTÜV Executive Committee since 2012. He is also on the board of the International Federation of Inspection Agencies (IFIA) and a member of the Supervisory Board of IABG Industrieanlagen-Betriebsgesellschaft and of the Supervisory Board of Forschungszentrum Jülich. Dr. Bayerlein was born in Bayreuth in Germany in 1959. He studied materials science and IT at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg. After completing his doctorate in 1991, he started working for the ABB Group, where his last position was as a member of the management of ABB Service GmbH in Dortmund. After working for MESSER Cutting & Welding in Frankfurt on the Main and Paris, Bayerlein moved to TÜV Süd AG in 2003, where from 2008 his responsibilities as a member of the Executive Board and Chief Operating Officer included business operations. About VdTÜV VdTÜV is the industry association of all TÜV companies. It represents the interests of its members in the decision-making centers in Berlin and Brussels. With its long tradition, VdTÜV is an important contact in all matters relating to technical safety, sustainability and environmental protection. For more information, visit www.vdtuev.de. About TÜV Rheinland Founded in 1872, TÜV Rheinland is a global leader in independent testing, inspection, and certification services, ensuring quality and safety for people, the environment and technology in nearly all aspects of life. The company maintains a presence in 500 locations spanning 65 countries, employs 17,000 people and has an annual revenue of $2 billion (€1.5 billion). TÜV Rheinland inspects technical equipment, products and services, oversees projects and helps to shape processes for a wide variety of companies through its worldwide network of approved labs, testing facilities and education centers. Since 2006, the company has been a member of the United Nations Global Compact to promote sustainability and combat corruption. For more information, visit www.tuv.com/us.