Smithers buys APL assets, expands Akron laboratories

AKRON (Sept. 9)—Smithers Scientific Services Inc. is expanding its Akron laboratories, largely through the purchase of testing equipment and instrumentation from the Akron Polymer Laboratories unit of Tritech Laboratories L.L.C., as well as the transfer of all of APL's commercial activities. APL is discontinuing operations, said Smithers, which also said the purchase will significantly expand Smithers' technical services in plastics and urethanes. "We've done those areas on a limited basis, but this purchase will allow us to increase our efforts in those markets," a company spokesman said. Officials of Tritech, a subsidiary of Harwick Standard Distribution Corp., could not be reached for comment.