Services

Technical assistance

The Mechanics Department can provide assistance if there are certain problems (e.g. technical faults) with research setups or research equipment. For this purpose, the department has staff who specialize in a range of fields, and it has a wide range of mechanical equipment at its disposal.

 

Maintenance/repair

The Mechanics Department also carries out maintenance and repairs. Whether or not a particular repair can be carried out will depend to a large extent on the availability of replacement parts. If parts are not available, the department will assess whether they can be produced in-house. Today it is increasingly the case that the purchase value of equipment – particularly standard equipment – is relatively low, so repair is not always a cost-effective solution.   The department also carries out maintenance on certain equipment.

 

Advice/preliminary examination

If you want to find out whether a certain problem can be solved mechanically, and if so how feasible or workable this is, you can consult the Mechanics Department to discuss the options. In complex cases, the department might suggest a preliminary assessment. The outcome of this method ranges from straightforward recommendations to a complete project formulation.

 

Project formulation

The department can produce a complete project formulation based on wishes and technical requirements and/or the results of a problem analysis or preliminary assessment. The project formulation describes the technical requirements and feasible solution direction for the assignment in question, and wherever possible gives an indication of the time required and the cost.

 

Outsourcing

The Mechanics Department can certainly be of assistance when work has to be outsourced. At a time when regulatory requirements and statutory standards are becoming increasingly stringent, without the relevant background knowledge it is becoming more and more difficult to have something produced elsewhere according to legal requirements. The department has the necessary expertise and experience to oversee and coordinate this type of outsourcing.

 

European Regulations: CE

The Mechanics Department can answer questions relating to the European CE regulation. It is not always clear to non-experts what the consequences of regulations will be regarding the realization of research facilities and/or equipment. At the very least, compliance with the relevant regulations and requirements must be demonstrated. In certain cases, a Technical Construction Dossier (TCD) must be compiled, containing documentation on risk assessments, risk-reduction measures, the standards applied and the necessary calculations and drawings. Working in accordance with relevant European standards leads to a ‘Presumption of Conformity’. The TCD must be available to the authorities for 10 years as statutory proof of conformity.

The Mechanics Department can assist and advise throughout the realization process.