Professionalism, reliability and innovation: these are the hallmarks of IPEM S.r.l., a Campania-based company highly specialised in verification functions on various types of electrical earthing systems. Founded in 2015, qualified by the MISE and accredited by ACCREDIA, this all-Italian excellence has focused its attention on electric vehicle charging stations and columns, the spread of which will necessarily have to intensify in the coming years: in fact, it will be necessary to have at least 6.8 million charging stations by 2030 to make up the gap with other European countries and ensure sufficient coverage for new green car registrations. Maria Agrillo, the company’s CEO, explains the importance of periodic checks on the recharging point’s power supply systems, which must comply with the regulations in force and be certified by a qualified professional.
by Roberta Imbimbo
Dr Agrillo, can you tell us why these checks are very important today?
Climate change, with its disastrous effects on our planet, and the consequent desire to reduce global warming by making increasingly climate-friendly choices, have prompted us to rethink more sustainable solutions for our daily lives, especially in terms of mobility. It is no coincidence that the demand for electric vehicles has increased significantly in recent years, and with it also the number of recharging infrastructures installed both in the public and private sector throughout the country (this process has certainly been speeded up by the measure issued by Brussels, according to which from 2035 only zero-emission cars will have to be registered). However, this innovative scenario opens up some major challenges in the area of safety: in order to reduce the possibility of fire or explosion – essentially due to the high energy density of the battery and recharging systems – the law imposes the obligation to carry out periodic inspections on the recharging columns, the frequency of which can range from 24 to 60 months, and whose priority objective is to avoid accidents or damage to end users and the personnel in charge of the ordinary and extraordinary maintenance of the systems themselves. Among the bodies authorised by the MISE to carry out these audits is IPEM S.r.l., which obtained this important qualification at the end of a long and meticulous audit process, thanks to which it can now attest to a modus operandi of the highest level, the result of the efficiency of its management. As a third-party inspection body, accredited by ACCREDIA, the company is able to offer a service with high added value.
What are your strengths compared to your competitors?
The experience gained over many years of activity, highly specialised know-how, huge investments in state-of-the-art technological equipment, an experienced and motivated team, and the ability to offer a professional service throughout the country have enabled us to assert our leadership in a highly competitive market, and to increase our customer base year after year, expanding our target audience. Today, whoever provides and manages the charging service is required by law to ensure the full compliance of charging stations with the safety and functionality requirements of the CEI EN IEC 61851-1 standard. This is a precise responsibility for the employer, under penalty of severe administrative and criminal sanctions (fines between 1,000 and 4,800 euros or imprisonment for 2 to 4 months). In this operational context, IPEM proposes itself as a unique and qualified partner able to guarantee an extremely efficient and reliable verification service to protect the safety of the various market players. Safety First is in fact the leitmotif of a solid Group that strives every day to strive for excellence and to spread the culture of safety, especially in those sectors where workers operate in high-risk situations and therefore require greater attention.
