Witham Laboratory

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Witham Laboratory
BSI Inspectorate Metals and Minerals
Mark FaulknerBusiness Director, Metals and
Minerals John GynnTechnical Operations
Director, Metals and Minerals July 2004
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Largest independent lab of its kind in the world
Determination of elemental content of submitted
samples, as needed by one or both parties for
financial settlement of trade.

• 3.5m turnover
• 3000 elements/month
• 9000 tests/month
• 27 elements party to umpire ratio

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Expertise and capability

• 3 lab managers
• 39 chemists 2 managers
• 6 technical/support staff 1 technical manager
• 410m2 fire assay floor space
• 700m2 total area of main site

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Comprehensive range of materials handled

• Metals and Minerals
• Precious metals
• Ferrous and heavy bulk
• Ferro-alloys
• Finished steel
• Steel scrap
• Non-ferrous metals
• Coal and coke
• Non-metallic (industrial metals)
• Geochemical and exploration analysis
• Oil and Petrochemicals
• Agrocommodities

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Trusted worldwide for Party and Umpire Analysis

• BSI Inspectorate leads the market in Umpire
  Analysis (around 30 of the markets we operate
  in) evidence of trust in our integrity and
  independence.
• Party Analysis Analysis on behalf of one party.
• Umpire/Arbitration Analysis Secondary analysis
  on behalf of both parties after results of party
  analyses have fallen outside contractually agreed
  splitting limits.

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Most accurate methods and technologies

• Proven gravimetric
• Wet chemical
• Fire assay

• XRF
• AAS
• ICP

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Certified to the strictest standards

• UKAS/ISO 17025 and ISO 90012000 certified for
  all activities the only independent inspection
  company laboratory to be so (see following
  slides).
• Consistently superior accuracy across all
  materials demonstrated by regular international
  round robin analytical exercises.
• Participation in ISO Standards Committees for the
  production of international published standards.
• Health Safety and Environmental controls and
  resources to meet and exceed legislation.

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What is UKAS/ISO 17025 accreditation?

• UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) is
  the sole UK accreditation body recognised by
  government to assess laboratories offering test
  and calibration services.
• ISO 17025 is the international standard for the
  competence of laboratories which UKAS accredits
  the competence of laboratories against.
• ISO 90002000 - not to be confused with 17025 or
  thought of as an acceptable alternative. Relates
  to documentation management, not technical
  competence.

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Why use a UKAS/ISO 17025 accredited laboratory?

• Client traceability of all measurements carried
  out back to national standards as held by the
  National Physical Laboratory (NPL).
• Minimised risk of unreliable results.
• People, facilities, technical expertise,
  management systems and track record to do the job
  right.
• Protection from litigation UKAS/ISO 17025
  accreditation is a powerful demonstration in
  court that due diligence and care has been used
  in selection of a laboratory.

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In practical terms

• Every test for every element involves comparison
  to a known concentration or factor.
• Heavy investment in reference materials,
  calibration and service programmes for all
  measuring equipment and staff.
• Regular use of over 200 UKAS accredited
  methods/procedures covering up to 50 elements.
• State of the art equipment, with exhaustive
  checks and audits to ensure peak performance.
• Continual reviews of performance, internally and
  externally.
• Continual research and development in order to
  improve performance.

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Summary

• Integrity
• Independence
• Innovation

BSI Inspectorate Ltd. 2 Perry Road, Witham,
Essex CM8 3TU, United Kingdom
Tel [phone]Fax 44 1376
520819 info_at_inspectorate.co.uk