Smithers expands testing capabilities

AKRON (Sept. 24)—Smithers Scientific Services Inc. said it boosted its Akron laboratories' material testing capabilities by 30 percent, largely by adding the Noveon Inc.'s rubber testing business it bought last year. The company said it acquired new testing equipment to supports its mixing, curing and testing department, and has integrated all the test equipment and capabilities it obtained from the Noveon business. "We now have the most extensive rubber compounding and mixing capabilities of any independent laboratory in the world," said David L. Schwarz, vice president of Smither's component and materials testing division. Smithers renovated about 4,000 square feet of space in the lower level of its Akron location to accommodate the heavy testing equipment it acquired.