15 years LABCO - Extension building in 2018
In 1978, the contemporary LABCO GmbH was founded by Bergmann Kabelwerke AG as a development laboratory for automotive wiring and electrical system components in Brake (Unterweser). Since 1990 the laboratory was part of the Siemens AG. In 2000, the division was taken over by LEONI AG and the laboratory has been accredited by the DAkkS (Deutsche Akkreditierungsstelle GmbH) and its predecessor institutions since July 2000.
In 2003, the laboratory manager Costakis Constantinou bought the laboratory, founded the LABCO GmbH as a separate, independent company and became the managing director. At the beginning, there were only 5 employees working at LABCO under the leadership of Costakis Constantinou, with the number of personnel growing consistently over the past years. In 2021, that figure had already reached 36 highly qualified experts from the widest variety of backgrounds in technical fields and the natural sciences.
In 2012, it became clear that the laboratory in Brake would be too small to accommodate another expansion. A new, attractive site was found for a new edifice in Loxstedt-Stotel, some 20 km from the previous company headquarters and on the other side of the Weser River.
On a property covering approximately 7400 m², two highly modern laboratory buildings were constructed encompassing a gross area of around 1700 m². The new laboratory provides sufficient space for urgently needed additional equipment and additional personnel. This project placed great emphasis on energy-efficient design. The move into the new laboratory was made at the end of February 2014.
The constantly extended testing possibilities, the continuously growing machinery and the resulting larger number of employees are the reason for an urgently needed extension. In 2017 the management decided to expand the office and laboratory space by a further 720 m². To this end, a further 2,500 m² site was purchased in the southern section. The extension was completed in summer 2018. Just in time for the 15th anniversary.
The spectrum of testing services has also been continuously expanded over time. While the business started focussing exclusively on automotive wiring from Siemens and LEONI production, today the wiring from a wide array of renowned manufacturers as well as additional electrical system components are tested, such as safety systems, (HV) plug systems, fuses, etc., and even electrical-hydraulic bonded systems for suitability. LABCO can also test components from other industries, such as domestic appliances, ship building and the aerospace industry.
The company currently holds accreditation for more than 160 specifications and standards, with that number being constantly expanded within the scope of re-accreditation.