Local fibre tech company eyes foreign markets following certification

With the recent certification of its fiberglass bathtubs and shower units, Fibre Tech Industrial Plastics (FTIP) will now be able to confidently export fibre glass products to countries in the CARICOM region and beyond, its Managing Director Somat Ali has said.

Ali made these remarks following the certification last Tuesday by the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS).

According to a GNBS press release, Ali said that with the expected increase of local business from the Oil and Gas Sector and the boom in construction, it is the ideal time for local manufacturers to have their products certified. “I am very happy. It makes an impact when you’ve been certified by the National Standards Body,” Ali was quoted as saying. The locally manufactured products are now, for the first time, certified under the Standard Body’s Product Certification Programme after the items were found to be in conformance with requirements of the Guyana Standard for plastic bathtub and shower units (GYS 557:2020).

Through the Product Certification Programme and by virtue of the GNBS Act, FTIP is now permitted to affix the National Standards Mark to bathtubs and shower units it manufactures. The certificate is valid for one year, and was presented by Al Donavon Fraser, Head of the GNBS’ Certification Department to Amrita Panday, Chief Executive Officer of FTIP at the company’s Triumph, East Coast Demerara headquarters.

The release said FTIP’s journey towards certification of its fibreglass bathtubs and showers units commenced in 2019, when the company approached the Bureau. Thereafter, the Bureau in collaboration with the company worked to adopt the Standard from the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) and the American National Standard Institute (ANSI). Other products currently certified to National Standards are PVC pipes, gold jewellery and concrete hollow blocks. More manufacturers are being encouraged to have their products certified under the Product Certification Programme to give consumers assurance that they provide quality products.

As the GNBS continues its mandate to create a culture of quality in Guyana, it is offering Product Certification as a voluntary programme, under which local manufacturers can claim that their products are made to consistent quality. The aim of the programme is to implement and monitor systems within participating companies based on requirements of national standards. This gives an assurance of quality to buyers of these products and provides a competitive edge to manufacturers in local and international markets.

During the handover ceremony, Fraser stated that the certification of products ensures conformance to standards and provides the assurance of quality to consumers. In addition, he lauded FTIP for being the first to certify such products and encouraged more companies to certify their products. Ali expressed gratitude to the GNBS and the FTIP teams for making the certification a reality.