Testing and Consultancy Services
CATRA has been in the business of testing since our foundation in 1952. We were instrumental in developing the ISO 8442 series of standards for Cutlery and Table Holloware. Our expertise goes well beyond cutlery, holloware and cookware as we have decades of experience working within a range of industries from construction to surgical.
Our team is trusted by major British and international manufacturers, supermarkets, and importers due to our broad range of experience and expertise.
Get in touch for a no commitment discussion of how we can help you take the quality of your product range to the next level.
Product Testing
We specialise in a broad range of both standardised and bespoke product tests. We are trusted by our customers to provide an efficient, independent and value for money product testing and evaluation service.
We always aim not just to find faults with your products, but to offer advice on what went wrong in manufacturing and how to improve your manufacturing practices.
Manufacturing Consultancy
CATRA has decades of experience working with manufacturers and designers of knives, tools and utensils. We undertake projects offering advice from the simplest heat treatment procedures all the way through to complete factory layouts.
Failure Investigation
Our depth of experience in a broad range of fields makes us well equiped to investigate the root causes of failure in your products. We have helped customers with failed cutlery, cookware, surgical instruments and implants, and much more. Our team takes great care to help not just identify the problem but eliminate it in the future.
Test Development
CATRA’s vast experience of a wide range of products has enabled us to offer specialised test procedures. We design, develop and manufacture the equipment for specialised testing of product performance.
Research & Development
We carry out a broad range of technical research and development on cutlery, flatware, knives, blades, hand tools, razors, cookware and more.
Manufacturing Machinery
With our research and development expertise, CATRA are at hand to provide advice into manufacturing machinery design for a range of products.
Safety Assessment & Evaluation
CATRA is able to test products and advise clients on the safety of products. For example, we evaluate UK products to The General Product Safety Regulations 2005 Statutory Instrument 1803.
Quality Improvement Services
CATRA’s unique postion as a research organisation, test house and manufacturing technologist allows us to offer the full technical package required to improve the quality of your goods without large increases in the cost of manufacture.
Our metallurgists and engineers provide a custom tailored service to all our clients. At the development stage, we offer consultancy on the design and manufacture of cutlery, kitchenware, food processing blades and more. During the stages of manufacturing we are able to qualify products through a comprehensive range of ISO testing, in house standard testing and custom testing.
We are on hand for retail organisations and manufacturers to ensure quality standards in manufacturing are being achieved.
Our testing and consultancy services extend to surgical tools, razor blades and specialist tools and blades from a wide range of industries. For specific applications where no international standards exist, we have developed specialist test equipment and standards, such as for the durability of scissors and folding knives.