PCTEST is a leading research and development, certification, and testing business that has built a strong position in the mobile device, wearables, and network connectivity regulatory and compliance sector. Headquartered in Columbia, Maryland where it has three facilities, PCTEST also operates two laboratories in Silicon Valley, California, US, one in Ibaraki, Japan, and another in the region of Suwon, South Korea.
The acquisition signals the creation of an entirely new Connected Technologies sector in Element that will serve a wide range of customers from its 17 combined laboratories across the US, UK, Germany, China, Japan and Korea.
The sector will be able to use the commercial and technical synergies of Element’s existing strength in wireless, safety and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) testing alongside PCTEST’s recent significant investments behind 5G testing capability and a full suite of connected devices testing and certification services. These services include radio frequency (RF) exposure and specific absorption rate (SAR) testing, advanced battery performance and safety, RF and protocol testing, carrier conformance assessments and over-the-air (OTA) radiated antenna performance testing.
In addition to PCTEST’s facilities, the new Connected Technologies sector will also better serve its global customer base from Element’s existing laboratory network. Customers will have access to the new sector’s testing and certification services, offering assessments of wireless technology in consumer, healthcare and automotive industries, as they integrate new technology and features such as 5G.
Jo Wetz, CEO at Element said: “This is our third and largest acquisition in the connected technology space and is an important strategic step for Element as it lays the foundation of our newly created Connected Technologies sector. The connected technologies market is highly dynamic and fast growing, and by bringing together Element’s and PCTEST’s technical expertise, geographical reach and global customers, we will establish a position of real scale in this exciting market.
“The technologies we will be testing have applications in many of the other end markets that we serve, so we believe the acquisition will allow us to give our customers an extended offering. Element and PCTEST share the same customer focused culture, with both companies committed to consistently delivering the best services and investments for our clients.”
