Smithers Scientific Services Inc. has expanded its materials testing capabilities in its Akron laboratories by 30%.
The majority of the expansion is the result of the company's acquisition of Noveon Inc.'s rubber testing business unit last year.
"We have integrated all the test equipment and capabilities we acquired from Noveon into our facility here," says David Schwarz, vice president of Smithers' component and materials testing division.
Smithers has the capacity and capability "to perform virtually all standard rubber and polymer-related tests," he adds.
In addition to the Noveon equipment, Smithers has purchased new pieces of testing equipment to support its growing mixing, curing and testing department, including the Rubber Process Analyzer, the Rubber Solids Analyzer, the Dynamic Stress Relaxometer and the MTS Servo-Hydraulic test system for dynamic materials and component testing.
Smithers recently renovated about 4,000 square feet of space in the lower level of its Akron location to accommodate the heavy testing equipment.
The new area includes a remodeled and relocated forensics laboratory, a dedicated raw materials room, a rubber mixing and stock curing room, a process testing area, a tire measurement laboratory and a new maintenance room.
As part of the expansion, Smithers hired Marc Gibson to head the company's physical and mechanical testing in the Akron laboratories.
