When it comes to the reliability of professional equipment, electrical safety is obviously an essential factor. It is no less important than the performance achieved by the equipment and is also an indication of the seriousness of a brand. From this perspective, obtaining certifications (not only mandatory but also voluntary) is tangible proof of product quality and reliability.
«For Cimbali Group, guaranteeing the health and safety of people is a priority – says Andrea Coccia, R&D Director of the Group –. The entire production of professional coffee machines undergoes rigorous functional tests and electrical safety tests according to regulations. In addition, a sample of products is further tested through additional functional tests».
In terms of electrical safety, a distinctive element is that the Group voluntarily certifies all its machines. «The choice to use voluntary certifications – Andrea Coccia explains – is one of Cimbali Group’s competitive elements. We invest significant economic resources each year (more than 500,000 euros) to ensure full compliance in every Country of the world where we are present. And the entire certification process is completed before each new product is placed on the market. We involve several international certifying bodies to attest the safety of our products, including by affixing their mark: Demko (Europe), KC (Korea), PSE (Japan), cULus (USA & Canada), InMetro (Brazil), S Mark (Argentina) and CCC/CQC (China)».
High-quality electrotechnical components
At the component level, the electrical safety of Cimbali Group’s professional coffee machines is ensured by the adoption of high–quality electrotechnical components. In particular, thermal cut–outs are used to protect both motors and heating elements, while fuses and ptc are used to protect other components or to ensure safety low voltage circuit limits. In addition, microswitches, made inaccessible, are used to cut power to “dangerous” components when parts are removed from the appliances. «These components – Coccia adds –, selected exclusively from qualified suppliers, are critical to preventing malfunctions and ensuring product reliability».
An additional point to note is that Cimbali Group is a “Customer Testing Facility – CTF Stage 2”. This means that the Group is qualified to carry out, in-house, the main safety tests within the scope of IEC and EN standards. «A special focus – Coccia points out – concerns tests related to “Abnormal Operation”, with which verifications are performed to assess the safety of the product under conditions of failure or foreseeable improper use. These verifications are conducted to certify that the machine does not pose a danger of fire, electric shock or other safety hazards if there are failures. For example, in one of the tests the operation of the coffee machine without water supply is checked, in order to evaluate the intervention of the safety devices».
Two inseparable fields
Electrical safety and innovation are two closely interconnected areas. «Safety – Coccia explains – is not only a complementary element of innovation, but is its backbone. Any technological advance can be said to be truly innovative only if it guarantees reliability and safety for users. Regulations, compliance testing and safety-oriented design are not obstacles to innovation, but essential tools for developing sustainable and reliable solutions. True innovation is not just what is new, but what is new and safe».
