Testing, Inspection and Certification (TIC)
Driving reliability, compliance and control in critical technology supply-chains
In today’s advanced manufacturing sectors, ensuring that components, subsystems and systems meet performance, safety and compliance standards is more important than ever.
The Testing, Inspection and Certification (TIC) industry is expanding rapidly as regulatory pressure, environmental performance goals, supply-chain risk and digital transformation all drive greater investment in testing, inspection and certification services.
Global forecasts indicate sustained growth, with EMC and product-compliance testing projected to increase by over 5% annually through 2024, fuelled by the adoption of 5G, IoT and connected technologies across automotive, medical and industrial applications.
Consolidation, Niches and Value
The TIC sector is evolving fast, shaped by three defining trends that are reshaping how organisations achieve quality assurance and compliance:
Consolidation by large sector players
A small number of global testing labs, certification houses and inspection networks now dominate the upper end of the TIC market, particularly for full-scale certification, multi-region approval, high-volume assessment and global regulatory compliance. These organisations set the standard for large-scale, multi-jurisdictional certification.
The rise of specialist niche players
Smaller, highly focused providers are gaining momentum in specific technical areas or regional markets, covering EMC pre-compliance, custom high-voltage component testing, wireless and IoT certification and bespoke inspection for aerospace, defence and critical infrastructure. Their agility allows faster response to new technologies and emerging standards.
Growth of in-house testing
Increasingly, technology OEMs and CEMs are developing in-house testing laboratories to reduce cost, accelerate design cycles and maintain visibility across the product qualification process. By bringing pre-compliance testing internally, organisations gain greater control over schedules, iterations and risk mitigation, while aligning closely with external certification requirements.
How APC Supports the Testing, Inspection and Certification Ecosystem
APC’s Specialist Test Solutions team understands the forces driving change across the TIC landscape. We support our customers with technology supply, integration, and expertise that enables greater control across the entire production, qualification and validation lifecycle.
- Specialist instrumentation and systems: Supplying test, measurement and inspection solutions for high-reliability sectors such as aerospace, defence, telecommunications and critical infrastructure.
- Pre-compliance and in-house lab development: Consultancy and partner linkages to help customers build or enhance internal pre-compliance facilities, covering calibration, fixture design, automation and data capture.
- Pathways to certification: Through partnerships with trusted manufacturers, test houses and compliance specialists, APC supports transitioning from in-house validation to external certification.
- Global standards expertise: Our teams understand the requirements of IEC, CISPR, FCC and CE frameworks, ensuring your products are compliant with local and international EMC standards.
Why choose APC Technology Group as your partner
Our specialist teams have decades of experience supplying high-reliability components and systems into a wide variety of industries within the UK, Ireland and across Europe, with particular expertise in critical national infrastructure and Aerospace and defence. APC is much more than a specialist distributor - our teams bring technical insight and project support, working with design teams, purchasing and engineering to deliver solutions aligned with project, regulatory and performance demands.
With a reliable and trusted network of technology partners, APC has a broad portfolio of technologies to enable TIC workflows: supporting test and measurement, calibration services and fully bespoke solution design and installation.
Our UK-based operations and European footprint enable customers to coordinate local in-house capability with broader global compliance pathways.
Ready to Elevate your Testing, Inspection and Certification Strategy?
Contact our team today to explore how we can help you build your internal pre-compliance capabilities, support external certification routes and align your technology supply chain for greater global compliance and control.
Contact us on 0330 313 3220 or submit the form opposite to start a discussion about your TIC requirements and how APC can support your next project.