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Factory Certification vs Accredia: What’s the Real Difference?

When it comes to tightening tools, precision isn’t optional — it’s a requirement.
But how can we be sure that a screwdriver or torque tester truly meets the required standards?
The answer lies in certification. But beware: not all certifications are created equal.

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What is a Factory Certification?

A Factory Certificate is issued directly by Kolver, the manufacturer, following a test carried out using calibrated instruments traceable to international standards, such as ISO 5393.
This certificate confirms that the equipment has been tested at the factory and that the measured values comply with the declared technical specifications.

Advantages of the Factory Certificate:

• Recognized during quality audits and ISO certifications, as it ensures metrological traceability to international standards
• Included with the purchase of Kolver tools
• Quickly issued and low-cost in case of renewal
• Ideal for internal use and audits when a third-party certificate is not explicitly required

To better understand the effectiveness and reliability of the factory certificate, it’s useful to refer to ISO 5393, the international standard for testing the performance of power tools used for threaded fasteners.

Specifically, ISO 5393 defines a test method to measure the repeatability of output torque (also called torque scatter), a key parameter in evaluating screwdriver quality.

This standard helps determine how reliably a screwdriver can apply the same torque under consistent conditions, establishing a standardized test method that allows:

• Measuring torque variation over a series of repeated cycles
• Assessing the operational reliability of the tool
• Ensuring that the equipment is suitable for use in industries where torque repeatability is critical (e.g., automotive, aerospace, electronics)

Kolver uses this very method to test all its tools. Internal testing ensures that each product complies with the repeatability requirements of the standard, delivering reliable, stable, and verifiable performance — already guaranteed by the Factory Certificate.

What is an Accredia Certification?

This certification is issued by a laboratory accredited under ISO/IEC 17025, i.e., recognized by Accredia, the sole Italian accreditation body.
It is a certification recognized at the national and European level, and required only in specific regulatory or contractual contexts.

Advantages:

• Recognized during quality audits and ISO certifications
• Ensures metrological traceability according to international standards
• Required in sectors where legal compliance is mandatory

Disadvantages:

• High cost
• Very long issuance times

When is it truly necessary?

• Public tenders
• Audits where third-party certification is explicitly required by clients or authorities
• Fields governed by very strict regulations

So, which certification should you choose?

The answer — as is often the case — depends on the end user’s specific needs and application context.

For most applications, the Factory Certificate is more than sufficient.
It ensures the necessary quality and traceability to operate safely and in compliance with general standards.

The Accredia Certificate should only be requested when strictly necessary, based on specific requirements imposed by the end customer or regulatory constraints.

Kolver offers both options, so you always get the right tool, with the certification best suited to your needs.