Ensuring quality with performance testing

In order to ensure we’re maintaining our consistently high standards, we perform numerous, thorough tests on our products during development. This helps to ensure they’re performing at the optimum levels before they are released to customers. These tests can be divided into three main test groups:

1. Safety tests
2. Functionality tests
3. Performance tests

Today, we’re delving a little deeper into performance testing. What is performance testing, how does it work, and how does it ultimately benefit our customers? We spoke to our Research & Development Manager to find out…

What is performance testing?

Performance testing is just one part of the thorough testing that each of our products undergoes. The procedure gives us a comprehensive picture of product performance in comparison to the product requirements.

For example, in cases of hinges, during performance testing we would look at:

• Hinge durability
• Hinge closing force
• Hinge sag

All these tests ensure the product is long-lasting and performs at its best possible levels. Our hinges are designed to outlive kitchen cabinets and perform consistently with every use.

How performance testing works

The complete testing procedure is defined in what we refer to as our ‘Product Specification Sheet’. This is a document prepared by our R&D (Research & Development) department which supports the main product documentation – a combination of 2D drawings and 3D models.

An important part of the Product Specification Sheet is the chapter on testing. This defines the clear criteria for safety and performance testing for the specific product, detailing what is and what is not acceptable. The testing criteria are prepared by R&D and approved by the individual product category Product Manager.  

There are three steps to the process:

1. All testing starts with samples preparation. These could be R&D samples from the proto shop or “regular” samples from the production floor.

2. The second step is to conduct the tests. As detailed above, each set of tests is dependent on the individual product and its requirements.

3. Finally, we prepare a report that we then use to analyse the results of the tests.

Meeting standards and guaranteeing quality

Our performance tests are based on a collection of criteria; company know-how (our own good and bad experiences), as well as national and international standards. The purpose of the test is to guarantee quality. We want to make sure we can supply our customers with safe and well-performing products that operate according to our expectations.

We know that a product passing all required performance test criteria is guaranteed to perform well in various real-life conditions, with very minimal risk that the product will be unsafe or non-performing.

We also ensure that our products meet any industry standards that must be adhered to. This includes international standards like EN 15570, as well as national standards including BS 6222, ANSI KCMA, ANSI BHMA, and DIN.

Specialist machinery and our own test lab

We use specialist equipment to undertake performance testing, which is specific to the individual product being tested. For example, for hinge testing we would need:

1. A hinge life cycling jig for a durability test
2. A set of weights to load front for a sag test
3. A ruler for sag measurement
4. A digital force gauge to measure the hinge clothing force on front

We’re serious about supplying quality furniture hardware, which is why we’re also equipped with our very own test lab. This lab is equipped to test our hardware thoroughly. It is used to test any new developments and also to maintain product consistency in regular production.