Interview with Allan Grønkær Kristensen from FORCE Technology

Allan Grønkær Kristensen - Allan Grønkær Kristensen – Director of EMC Denmark and Technical Audiological Laboratory; Site Manager at FORCE Technology Aarhus, Denmark

EMC Directory recently interviewed Mr. Allan Grønkær Kristensen, who is currently the Director of EMC Denmark and Technical Audiological Laboratory, as well as the Site Manager at FORCE Technology Aarhus. He earned a BSc in Electronics Engineering from Odense Teknikum Engineering College and a BSc in Electro Acoustics from the University of Salford.

Mr Kristensen began his career as an electrician with Solectro PTY LTD in Australia before transitioning to teaching electronics and electroacoustics at the Odense Teknikum Engineering College. He later worked as an R&D Engineer at Scanvaegt International A/S. In 1997, he joined DELTA, which later merged with FORCE Technology, where he has held roles such as Chief SW Method Developer, Head of the Process Improvement Team and Head of the Technical Audiological Laboratory. Since 2018, Mr. Kristensen was also responsible for the EMC activities in Jutland. In 2022, Mr. Kristensen was appointed Director of EMC Denmark, with continued technical audiological responsibilities. Recently, he completed an MBA at Aarhus University to strengthen his strategic leadership.

Q. Can you provide a brief overview of FORCE Technology and its mission within the EMC testing industry?

Allan: FORCE Technology is a leading international provider of technological services and expertise. Our mission within the EMC testing industry is to ensure that products and systems operate reliably in their electromagnetic environment while complying with international regulations and standards.

We specialize in EMC solutions, ranging from testing and consultancy to certification and training. We aim to empower clients across diverse industries—such as automotive, aerospace, defense, medical and consumer electronics—to bring innovative, high-performing and safe products to market. By staying at the forefront of technological advancements and standardization efforts, we help our clients overcome EMC challenges and gain trust in their technologies globally.

Q. Can you tell us more about your EMC testing facilities and the equipment you have?

Allan: Our EMC testing facilities are designed to accommodate a wide range of testing needs, from small electronic devices to large industrial and automotive systems. Our three Nordic locations (Aarhus and Hørsholm in Denmark and Västerås in Sweden) offer the following state-of-the-art facilities:

10 m and 3 m anechoic chambers with hybrid absorbers to ensure accurate emission and immunity measurements across a wide frequency range up to 40 GHz. These are ideal for radiated emissions and susceptibility tests.
10 m and 3 m reverberation chambers used for simulating electromagnetic environments with high field strength
Multiple shielded chambers for Immunity and other tests
Climatic chambers for testing in controlled environments

Q. What are the key EMC testing services that FORCE Technology offers?

Allan: We provide a comprehensive set of EMC testing services for many industries and regulatory requirements.

Radiated and conducted emissions, including harmonics and flicker testing
EMC Immunity testing with most of the 61000-4-x series covered
Specialized testing in wireless technologies like RED, 5G, IoT and in controlled climatic environments
Specialized environments include automotive, railway, maritime, laboratory, military, aviation, space, etc.
Pre-compliance and custom testing, along with debugging, training and consultancy
Approval and certification in international standards
On-site and in-situ testing

Q. For which industries does FORCE Technology offer EMC testing, and which sector is largest for you?

Allan: We serve a wide range of industries where EMC compliance and performance are essential. Many requirements are unique, and we tailor our services to meet these needs.

Examples of industries:

Automotive and transportation, where key services include EMC testing for vehicles, components, hydrogen and charging systems (e.g., EV chargers). We are compliant with a wide range of ISO, CISPR, and OEM-specific standards.
Aerospace and Defence; compliance with MIL-STD and DO-160 standards
Medical devices and safety-related devices
Consumer electronics with a specialty in EU, FCC, IC, VCCI and KN, among others
Generic industrial and home equipment usually combined with Telecommunications and IT

Our largest sector, besides the generic industrial/residential sectors, is the automotive and transportation industry, driven by the rapid evolution of electric and autonomous vehicles. The integration of high-tech electronics, sensors, and communication systems in modern vehicles demands rigorous EMC compliance to ensure safety and functionality. Additionally, the global push for electric and hybrid vehicles (EVs) has created a surge in testing needs for components like inverters, chargers, fuel cells and battery management systems.

Q. Which organisations have accredited FORCE Technology's EMC testing facilities?

Allan: FORCE Technology's EMC testing facilities are accredited by several internationally recognised organisations, ensuring high standards of testing quality, reliability and compliance. Our laboratories are accredited to ISO/IEC 17025, which is the international standard for testing and calibration competence. DANAK accredits our laboratories in Denmark, confirming compliance with international standards and validating our testing services for CE marking and other certifications. FORCE Technology also supports the IECEE CB scheme, facilitating international approval processes for electrical products, and we act as a notified body.

These accreditations underscore our commitment to delivering trustworthy and globally recognised EMC testing services. They enable clients to meet regulatory and market requirements efficiently, whether targeting regional or international markets.

Q. Can you discuss your accredited automotive component testing services? What are the key standards for which you are accredited?

Allan: At FORCE Technology, we offer comprehensive EMC testing services for automotive components that are accredited to meet both international and manufacturer-specific standards. Our expertise ensures that automotive systems and components perform reliably in demanding electromagnetic environments, a critical requirement for safety and functionality in modern vehicles. We are accredited to perform testing in accordance with several key international and manufacturer-specific standards: CISPR 25, ISO 11452 Series, ISO 7637 Series and ISO 16750.

Manufacturer-specific standards include names like Ford, Volkswagen, BMW and Toyota.
With the rise of electric and hybrid vehicles, our testing services have evolved to include High-Voltage component testing and Hydrogen (H2) fuel cell systems.

Q. Do you offer complete product approval? If so, what specific services are included?

Allan: Yes, FORCE Technology offers complete product approval services, providing a seamless pathway to ensure that products meet all regulatory and market-specific requirements. Our services include EMC Testing, Safety Testing (with compliance with safety standards like IEC 60950, IEC 62368, and IEC 60601), radio and wireless testing, environmental and mechanical testing, certification and regulatory approvals.

Q. Do you offer EMC consultancy and technical guidance? How does it support clients in achieving product compliance and approvals?

Allan: Yes, FORCE Technology offers extensive EMC consultancy and technical guidance. We aim to proactively address EMC challenges, streamline the compliance process, and ensure products meet regulatory and market-specific requirements with minimal delays or redesigns. Our effective consultancy minimizes trial-and-error cycles, reducing both development costs and the need for repeated testing.

FORCE Technology also organizes a community for our clients called the EMC Club. The club is a community-driven space where knowledge is freely shared on a voluntary and private basis.

Q9. Can you tell us about the other testing services you provide?

Globally, FORCE Technology has more than 1000 employees and 400+ unique facilities. We possess one of Scandinavia's largest collections of facilities and laboratories that ensure, e.g. testing, demonstration and documentation of new technologies and products. Some of our service areas are: