Electric toothbrushes and lawnmowers, small and large household appliances, multimedia products – 200,000 product types with millions of model variants bear the VDE mark worldwide, which is known in the entire electrical engineering and information technology industry and recognized by roughly two-thirds of consumers. The test mark, which represents the highest level of safety and is part of "Made in Germany", is celebrating its 100th birthday this year. The VDE, which launched the mark in 1920, is praising the fact that the safety level of electronic products and systems in Germany is the highest worldwide. At the same time, the technology organization warns that many cheap products in particular fail the tests – mainly import goods from outside the EU.
The VDE Institute’s tests are tough. In professional circles, the VDE’s test seal is synonymous with the highest safety standards. "Many of the products that manufacturers submit to us do not pass our test engineers’ entry tests", reports Ansgar Hinz, CEO of the VDE and VDE Institute. These products must be improved accordingly before they are allowed to bear the VDE mark. Many manufacturers do not test the finished product at first; rather, they are already collaborating with VDE experts during the development phase in order to afterwards receive the VDE mark. "User safety and protection are our number one priority", continues Hinz.