HRD doubles working space at lab.

HRD Antwerp NV, the subsidiary of the Antwerp World Diamond Center (AWDC), experienced a double-digit increase in diamond certification submissions for 2007. As demand continues to grow for HRD's lab services, the group inaugurated a much larger working space today, and intends to add more space this year.

"With this investment, HRD Antwerp proves its faith in the future and in Antwerp's leading role in the field of diamond certification", said Georges Brys, general manager of HRD Antwerp. "The centralization of all grading activities worldwide in our central office in Antwerp, has led to a huge volume and taxed the grading capacity of the lab in 2007. By the end of 2008, the physical working space of the diamond lab should be doubled."