Interview with Ashwani Malhotra from Megalab Group Inc.

EMC Directory recently interviewed Ashwani Malhotra, the Director of EMC at Megalab Group. He completed his Bachelor's in Engineering (Electrical and Computer) and further a Master of Science from Dalhousie University. Megalab is an ISO/IEC 17025:2017 Accredited engineering firm offering independent compliance services for clients across the United States (USA) & Canada. This company provides dynamic and technically diverse independent testing for automotive, military, aerospace, medical and industrial & consumer electronics industries, meeting the IEC, NEMA, ASTM and MIL standards.

Q1. Can you briefly share the founding story of Megalab Group Inc.? How has the company evolved in the testing and certification space over the years?

Ashwani Malhotra: I co‑founded Global EMC Inc. with Garry Lee in 2004. In the early days, we built a small, highly specialised team focused on electromagnetic‑compatibility (EMC) testing; those specialists quickly gained the loyalty of clients across a variety of sectors. My experience spans product‑safety, EMC, laser and wireless certification programs, and I’ve personally worked on MRI systems, surgical robots, RF generators and many other complex devices. We later re‑branded as Megalab to reflect a much broader scope. Today our Aurora‑based facility offers over 45,000 square feet of laboratory space and integrates EMC, product safety, mechanical/environmental and package‑testing services under one roof. With ISO/IEC 17025 A2LA accreditation, we have become a trusted compliance partner for startups and blue‑chip manufacturers alike.

Q2. What are the core service areas Megalab focuses on today, and how do they deliver value across various sectors?

Ashwani Malhotra: Megalab’s goal is to be an extension of our clients’ engineering teams. We therefore offer a comprehensive suite of services to support the full product‑development lifecycle:

• EMC and wireless testing: consultation and design review, pre‑compliance scans, EMI site surveys, shielding‑effectiveness testing, conducted and radiated emissions testing, flicker and harmonic testing, ESD, conducted and radiated immunity tests, and regulatory wireless testing (FCC, ISED, etc.).
• Product safety testing: construction review, medical device testing, NRTL/CSA/CE/UKCA approvals, machinery functional‑safety assessments and cybersecurity evaluations.
• Environmental and mechanical testing: temperature and humidity cycling, ingress‑protection (IP/NEMA), HALT/HASS, vibration and shock, corrosion testing and package‑distribution testing (ISTA, ASTM, Amazon, FedEx, Costco). These tests ensure products survive real‑world conditions.
• Global market access: certification and type‑approval services for markets worldwide (e.g., FCC/ISED in North America, CE/UKCA in Europe, CCC in China, BIS in India, CQC, KCC, RRA, etc.), including assistance with documentation and local representative requirements.

By consolidating these service,s we help customers streamline compliance, reduce time‑to‑market, and eliminate the need for multiple vendors. Our engineers provide iterative feedback during design so that clients can solve problems before they become costly delays.

Q3. Which key industries and applications does Megalab primarily serve through its testing and certification services?

Ashwani Malhotra: Our work spans many industries. We routinely test and certify:

• Medical devices: MRI scanners, surgical robots, infusion pumps, RF generators and other life‑critical systems.
• Industrial and agricultural equipment: robotics, farm machinery, CNC controllers and industrial controls.
• Aerospace & defence: avionics, flight simulators, communications gear and military electronics.
• Consumer electronics and IoT: Bluetooth and wireless devices, home‑automation products, IT equipment and wearable technology.
• Broadcast and telecommunications: transmitters, RF infrastructure, innovative broadcasting equipment and remote‑sensing systems.

This breadth allows us to transfer best practices across sectors and to tailor test plans to the regulatory demands of each market.

Q4. Megalab offers a broad range of EMC testing services. Can you provide an overview of these capabilities and their role in ensuring product compliance and performance?

Ashwani Malhotra: Our EMC capability covers emission, immunity, diagnostic and wireless testing. Key elements include:

• Consultation, design review and pre‑compliance scanning: early‑stage assessments identify potential emission or immunity issues so they can be corrected during design. We use near‑field probes, spectrum analysis and our in‑house EMxpert tools to map hot‑spots on circuit boards.
• EMI site surveys: on‑site measurements of ambient electromagnetic noise help customers evaluate installations or prepare facilities for sensitive equipment.
• Conducted & radiated emissions testing: measurements of unwanted RF emissions across 150 kHz–40 GHz ensure compliance with CISPR/FCC/EN limits.
• Immunity testing: ESD, surge, EFT/burst, conducted and radiated immunity tests verify that devices withstand disturbances without degradation. We also perform automotive/military standards (ISO 7637‑2, MIL‑STD‑461, etc.).
• Flicker & harmonic testing: assessments against IEC/EN 61000‑3‑2 and 61000‑3‑3 verify that devices do not distort mains power or cause flicker and voltage fluctuations (see Q9).
• Wireless testing: we offer OTA and regulatory testing for Bluetooth, Wi‑Fi, cellular (2G–6G) and emerging radio technologies under FCC/ISED/RED rules.
• Shielding efficacy and materials testing: we characterise enclosures, gaskets and materials to quantify attenuation and help clients design effective shields.

These services verify compliance with regulatory standards and provide diagnostic insight to optimise product performance and reliability.

Q5. How does Megalab incorporate international standards like IEC, CISPR, CE Directives, ISO and MIL‑STD into its testing processes to help clients achieve global market access?

Ashwani Malhotra: We build our test plans around globally recognised standards and we continuously monitor updates so that clients obtain certificates accepted worldwide:

• ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation: our management and technical systems are audited to this standard (see Q6), ensuring that test results are accepted by regulators and customers.
• CISPR and IEC standards: we test emissions and immunity against CISPR 11/22/32, IEC 61000 series (e.g., 61000‑3‑2 limits harmonic current emissions and 61000‑3‑3 limits voltage fluctuations/flicker) and other product‑specific standards (e.g., IEC 60601‑1‑2 for medical devices). Our engineers sit on technical committees to stay current.
• CE/UKCA directives: the European EMC Directive 2014/30/EU requires equipment to minimise electromagnetic emissions and to resist disturbance; we perform tests and compile technical files to support CE declarations. We also handle radio equipment under RED 2014/53/EU and safety under LVD 2014/35/EU.
• FCC/ISED and other national regulations: we conduct Part 15 emission tests for unintentional and intentional radiators and prepare filings for FCC and ISED certifications. For China, India and other regions, we test to SRRC, CQC, BIS or WPC requirements.
• Military and aerospace standards: for defence customers, we test to MIL‑STD‑461, DO‑160 and RTCA/DO‑160 requirements.

By integrating these standards into our procedures, we can provide a single set of test results that support approvals across multiple regions, greatly simplifying market access.

Q6. Why is ISO 17025 A2LA accreditation important in EMC testing, and how does it reflect on the quality and reliability of your services?

Ashwani Malhotra: ISO/IEC 17025 is the main international standard for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories. According to ISO/IEC 17025, most countries require labs to hold accreditation to be deemed technically competent. Suppliers and regulatory authorities often will not accept test results from a laboratory that is not accredited. Accreditation by bodies such as A2LA demonstrates that our lab has:

• Validated measurement methods and calibrated equipment to produce accurate data.
• Qualified personnel with ongoing training and competency assessments.
• A documented quality‑management system and continual‑improvement processes.

A2LA is a signatory to the ILAC Mutual Recognition Arrangement, meaning our reports are accepted by regulators worldwide. For clients, this accreditation provides confidence that our tests are impartial, repeatable and internationally recognised, reducing the risk of re‑testing in other jurisdictions.

Q7. Manufacturers often face differing EMC requirements across regions such as North America, Europe, China and India. What challenges do you frequently encounter, and how do you help clients navigate them?

Ashwani Malhotra: Each region has its own technical requirements and administrative processes. Common challenges include:

• Different emission limits and measurement methods: for example, the EU’s CISPR 32 uses quasi‑peak detectors and Class A/B limits, while the FCC’s Part 15 applies average and quasi‑peak limits with slightly different frequency ranges.
• Varied radio spectrum regulations: wireless products must comply with FCC rules in the U.S., ISED rules in Canada, RED in Europe, SRRC and CQC in China, WPC and BIS in India, and other national authorities. Approved frequency bands, power limits and test procedures can vary significantly.
• Certification pathways: the FCC requires a Telecommunication Certification Body (TCB) to grant approvals; CE marking often relies on self‑declaration supported by a technical file; some Asian countries require local testing or representation.
• Documentation and language requirements: regulators may require test reports, declarations, risk analyses and labelling in specific formats and languages.

We help clients by mapping out the compliance requirements for each target market, tailoring test plans accordingly and preparing the necessary filings. Our global partnerships allow us to coordinate local testing when required. Early consultation ensures that design decisions (such as antenna choices or power‑supply configurations) meet the strictest standards, preventing delays when seeking approvals in multiple regions.

Q8. How do services like pre‑compliance scans and EMI site surveys support manufacturers during early product development? Can you share how they reduce risk and speed up time to market?

Ashwani Malhotra: Pre‑compliance testing and site surveys act like quality‑control checkpoints during development. An article from Eurofins E&E notes that failing final EMC tests forces redesigns, retesting and delays, whereas building pre‑compliance testing into a project from the start avoids costly surprises. Key benefits include:

• Early detection of issues: near‑field scans and emissions measurements during each development stage reveal design problems (e.g., noisy clock lines, insufficient filtering) before the product is frozen. Fixing these issues early is cheaper and faster than redesigning at the end.
• Optimisation of design and cost: pre‑screening can prevent both under‑ and over‑engineering. Over‑designing for EMC adds unnecessary cost; targeted scans show where shielding or filtering is truly needed.
• Reduced risk of failure: By verifying immunity margins and emission levels early, manufacturers enter formal compliance tests with confidence, which shortens the overall approval cycle.
• EMI site surveys: we measure the electromagnetic environment at customer premises to identify ambient noise sources and evaluate whether a facility is suitable for installing sensitive equipment. For large systems or on‑site installations, this prevents in‑service interference issues.

Overall, these services accelerate time‑to‑market by integrating compliance considerations into design rather than treating them as a final hurdle.

Q9. Flicker and harmonic testing play a vital role in EMC compliance. How does Megalab handle assessments based on standards like EN 61000‑3‑2 and EN 61000‑3‑3?

Ashwani Malhotra:

• Harmonic current testing (IEC/EN 61000‑3‑2): this standard limits the harmonic currents drawn by devices rated ≤16 A to prevent mains voltage distortion. Our lab measures currents up to the 40th harmonic and compares them against Class A/B/C/D limits. We provide advice on power‑factor‑correction circuits and filter design to help customers meet the limits.
• Voltage fluctuation and flicker testing (IEC/EN 61000‑3‑3): IEC 61000‑3‑3 sets limits for voltage changes, fluctuations and flicker in public low‑voltage systems. It ensures devices do not cause lamps to flicker or other equipment to trip. We simulate the low‑voltage supply and monitor parameters such as Pst (short‑term flicker severity) and ΔU% (voltage change). We also advise on soft‑start circuits and load balancing to minimise flicker.
• Reporting and remediation: after testing, we prepare a detailed report, including harmonic spectra or flicker curves. If a device exceeds limits, we work with the client to redesign power supplies or control algorithms and re‑test until compliance is achieved.

These tests not only satisfy regulatory requirements but also improve the power‑quality performance of our clients’ products.

Q10. As wireless technologies become more integrated into modern devices, how is Megalab adapting its testing processes to address these new EMC challenges?

Ashwani Malhotra: The proliferation of 5G, IoT and short‑range radios introduces higher frequencies, dense device deployments and more complex modulation schemes. As a result:

• Higher device densities and lower latencies: fifth‑generation (5G) devices can involve up to 10⁶ devices per km² with latency requirements down to 1 ms. High densities increase the risk of interference and electromagnetic susceptibility (EMS).
• Wide frequency spectrum: many EMC standards were designed for frequencies up to 18 GHz, but new designs operate to 90 GHz. We have invested in test chambers, vector network analysers and over‑the‑air (OTA) equipment capable of millimetre‑wave measurements.
• Conducted vs. radiated mechanisms: both conducted and radiated emissions can affect wireless devices. We perform comprehensive tests, including spurious emission, occupied bandwidth, conducted RF power and radiated spurious emissions, as well as co‑existence assessments.

We continuously upgrade our laboratories with 5G NR, Wi‑Fi 6/7 and Bluetooth LE radio test systems. Our team also provides design guidance for antenna placement, ground‑plane layout and power‑supply filtering. By integrating radio and EMC testing, we ensure that wireless functionality and electromagnetic compatibility are validated simultaneously.

Q11. Shielding effectiveness is key in reducing electromagnetic interference. How does Megalab conduct shielding efficacy testing, and why is it critical for robust EMC performance?

Ashwani Malhotra: Effective shielding attenuates radiated emissions and protects devices from external interference. LearnEMC notes that properly designed and installed metallic enclosures can reduce radiated emissions and improve radiated immunity by 40 dB or more. However, poorly designed shields or a single breach can nullify the benefit. Our approach includes:

• Material characterisation: we test candidate materials to determine reflection and absorption losses across relevant frequency ranges. Tests are performed using network analysers, coaxial holders or free‑space methods.
• Enclosure and gasket testing: complete enclosures are evaluated in a reverberation or anechoic chamber by measuring the insertion loss when a signal is transmitted through the enclosure. We also check the effectiveness of seams, doors and cable penetrations.
• Partial‑shield testing: In some cases, partial shields can redirect fields or isolate circuits. We evaluate these designs to ensure they meet EMC objectives without unnecessary cost or weight.

Shielding effectiveness testing is critical because it allows us to balance mechanical design, weight and cost against EMC performance. By quantifying attenuation, we can advise whether additional filtering or absorber materials are required to meet emission and immunity targets.

Q12. Looking ahead, what emerging trends or technologies do you see shaping the future of EMC testing, and how is Megalab preparing to stay ahead of the curve?

Ashwani Malhotra: Several trends will shape EMC testing over the coming decade:

• 5G/6G and IoT expansion: increasing device densities and the use of unlicensed spectrum require testing at higher frequencies, new modulation schemes and complex co‑existence scenarios. We are expanding our facilities to support millimetre‑wave, massive MIMO and beamforming tests.
• Electric vehicles and autonomous systems: EV power electronics, battery chargers and high‑speed data buses introduce high‑current, high‑frequency noise. We are developing test protocols for ISO 7637, ISO 11452 and UN ECE requirements and investing in transient‑immunity equipment.
• Wireless power transfer and mixed‑signal products: increasing use of inductive charging and high‑density mixed‑signal electronics demands new coupling and immunity assessments. We are working with international committees to define relevant test methods.
• Digital twins and simulation: model‑based EMC design and virtual testing will complement physical testing. We are integrating simulation tools to predict emission sources and optimize shielding before prototypes are built.
• Cybersecurity and functional safety: as devices become connected, EMC testing will converge with cybersecurity and safety assessments. Megalab is expanding into cybersecurity evaluations and developing combined testing strategies.

To stay ahead, we continuously invest in state‑of‑the‑art instrumentation, participate in standards‑development committees, and provide ongoing training for our engineers. Our objective is to remain a trusted partner as technologies evolve and regulatory landscapes change.

About Megalab:

Megalab Group Inc. is an ISO/IEC 17025:2017 Accredited engineering firm offering independent compliance services for clients across the United States (USA) & Canada. This company provides dynamic and technically diverse independent testing for Automotive, Military, Aerospace, Medical and Industrial & Consumer Electronics industries, meeting the IEC, NEMA, ASTM and MIL standards.