by zkirill on 7/1/24, 6:25 PM with 10 comments
A big name lab just sent me an estimate for €6,000 to perform tests needed to get CE certification. It took them a month to prepare the quote. The product is a barebones development board in a metal case that comes with a power supply adapter. All components already passed CE certification independently. Last month a lab in China quoted me $300 for the same tests. I submitted the request to the lab in China on Friday night and they replied on Saturday at 03:00 their time. I was expecting 5x cost difference to perform the tests in Europe but not 20x. Is this normal? How does it make business sense not to get everything done in China including any necessary redesign in case the device fails the tests? Especially since I would need to pass the same test again whenever the development board BOM changes.
by throwAGIway on 7/2/24, 2:14 PM
At least they replied, lol. I still have dozens of Chinese saleswomen wishing me good morning on WhatsApp more than two months after I sent my RFQ, the EU companies didn't even reply.
by iamflimflam1 on 7/2/24, 9:00 PM
by ecesena on 7/2/24, 10:30 PM
Same experience, go with China to start, as you said you'll likely change the design and need to certify again.
by 02sth on 7/4/24, 9:43 AM
In Poland it would cost 2 to 3k euro. Can help with it.
by b20000 on 7/2/24, 9:12 PM
testing in china is not the same as testing in europe