Hong Kong (23rd February, 2017) – STC today announced the acquisition of Benchmark Laboratories LLC, in New Jersey (‘Benchmark’). With over 16 years of experience in the testing and certification industry, Benchmark is accredited to ISO 17025 and accepted by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Post acquisition, Benchmark will become a wholly owned subsidiary of STC while continuing to operate as an independent business unit. “The acquisition of the Benchmark Laboratories marks an important milestone in STC’s history. This expansion will further strengthen our service capabilities and commitment to the North American market. With our network spanning the globe, I am sure that STC will continue to develop and excel, better serving customers, especially for the toys, children’s products and textile industries in the US,” commented Richard Fung, Chief Executive of STC. “We see significant potential in the US market. With the acquisition of Benchmark, STC (USA) is now STC’s Regional Headquarters in North America, providing local technical consultancy and customer services. This complements our current service network in Europe, Southeast Asia and Mainland China providing comprehensive support to the global supply chain,” Fung added. “We will also keep expanding our scope of services to meet the growing demand for professional conformity services in the United States as well as other countries around the world. ” About STC STC (Hong Kong Standards and Testing Centre) was found in 1963 as the first not-for-profit testing, certification and inspection organization in the region. STC provides a wide range of professional conformity assessment services, covering toys, children’s products, textile, garment, footwear, furniture, electrical and electronic products, medical devices, food, chemical and pharmaceutical products. STC is headquartered in Hong Kong, with testing laboratories and offices in mainland China, Vietnam, Japan, Germany, Italy and the United States. Media Contact Ms. Cynthia Ho Marketing Communications Manager Tel: +852 2667 2631 Fax: +852 2661 3181 E-Mail: cynthiaho@stc.group