The Malta Standards Authority – National Metrology Services will be investing heavily to develop and enhance its metrological capacity to further sustain local industry and help attract foreign direct investment.
More than a million euros in funding have been obtained through the European Regional Development Fund for the purpose of executing a project whereby NMS will be developing its measurement capabilities in four keys areas of measurement.
As part of this project, Malta will soon have its own Standard Time which will be made available through an online portal that will allow synchronisation of all national stakeholders.
The aims of the project are wider in scope as they will lead to a fully operational setup in pressure, electricity, time and frequency. Trained staff will be conducting on-site and off-site calibration requirements for the widest possible range of clients hailing mainly from industry. This will eventually lead to an improved calibration culture.
Details of this project were given during a visit to the MSA-NMS Labs by Parliamentary Secretary for Consumers Chris Said to the MSA-NMS Laboratories in the Kordin Business Incubation Centre.
This project will benefit Small and Medium Enterprises and Maltese industry as the measurement instrumentation and competencies acquired will be put at their disposal. Companies in the pharmaceutical, aircraft maintenance, research and development, ICT and other service industries are set to benefit most.
The new measurement capabilities will serve as an added attraction to potential foreign direct investors as Malta will now be boasting of a comprehensive array of world class measurement and calibration capabilities which are considered fundamental for high value-added manufacturing companies.
If the proposed measurement capabilities are not installed in Malta, these firms would have to resort to similar services at higher costs and longer lead times abroad.
The ERDF funded project will also help in the setting up of new national measurement standards in the areas of pressure, electricity, time and frequency. These will be introduced into the national measurement system and will satisfy a market gap currently afflicting Maltese SMEs which will now see improvements in operational costs and even in competitiveness. The measurement capability will be accredited internationally in line with the requirements of ISO 17025.
Dr Said said that these and other capabilities already introduced by MSA-NMS safeguard the consumer from potential fraud.
“We are pushing Consumer Rights to the forefront of our agenda. We are working hard on the drafting of new legislation which will lead to the setting up of a competent authority on consumer and competition affairs. A consultation-process will soon kick-off and I invite all stakeholders to give us their input when the time comes”.
The MSA-NMS labs have been developed in two phases. In 2003 and 2004, the setting up of the labs was facilitated throught the use of €500,000 in pre-accession funds and another €230,000.
These funds were primarily used for investment in mass, dimension and temperature measurement capabilities.
In 2006 and 2007, €430,000 from the Transition Facility funds were used to increase the laboratories’ mass standard calibration capability to one tonne, to equip it for weigh bridge calibration, and to set up a humidity calibration standard.