In 1962, five leading Dutch process industries (BPM now Shell, Algemene Kunstzijde Unie now AKZO, DSM, Hoogovens now Corus and Unilever) got together to explore combining tests and sharing the results on process instrumentation. Companies were at the time carrying out these activities individually at very high costs. The five concluded that sharing instrument evaluation reports, even with direct competitors, would be to the benefit of all. A follow-up meeting held on the 16th December 1963 resulted in the formation of a co -operation panel under the Dutch name "Werkgroup voor Instrument Beoordeling", shortened to WIB. An independent laboratory, the Institute for Applied Physical Research -TNO, was approached and asked to carry out testing on behalf of WIB. TNO was also made responsible for the administration of the association, supervised by a Board of WIB members. WIB activities attracted high interest from companies abroad wanting to join and a few years later the official language became English. WIB was translated into "Working-party on Instrument Behaviour". It was officially registered as a non- profit association in 1968.
