AKRON—Akron Rubber Development Laboratory Inc. has completed its acquisition of an 11-acre property that the firm said eventually will house all of its laboratories.
The property, located in nearby Barberton, Ohio, includes a 130,000 sq.-ft. facility that will be converted into ARDL's headquarters. Currently, ARDL occupies three separate properties totaling 55,000 square feet.
ARDL, in its third generation as a family run business, has more than 100 employees. With hundreds of pieces of test equipment that run thousands of tests and materials development projects, officials at the firm said the company was running out of space at its current Akron location.
“We couldn't be more excited,” Tim Samples, ARDL's CEO, said in a statement. “We've been in business over 54 years, and we now have plenty of space to bring the company together and allow it to evolve and grow for the foreseeable future.”
Consolidating the business will take place gradually over the next several years. The firm said the move will be done with care, as to not disrupt service to any customers.
“The city of Barberton and the Barberton Community Development Corp. have been fantastic partners throughout this process, said Greg Simms, ARDL's director of innovation and sustainability. Simms is heading the project. “We are confident this move will improve efficiency and enhance client experience.”
“This is what makes Barberton so unique,” said Scott Wagner, executive director of the Barberton Community Development Corp. “The partnership between the city of Barberton, the Barberton Community Development Corp. and the Barberton Community Foundation is a very powerful economic development tool.”
ARDL will receive a $2.5 million low-interest loan obtained through the Barberton Community Development Corp., with the funds obtained through the Barberton Community Foundation.
Mayor William Judge said economic development has been his priority since taking office. “As such, we have been engaged with ARDL for over a year and having the ability to collaborate with the Barberton Community Development Corp., the Barberton Community Foundation and ARDL to fill a previously vacant building with jobs is exciting. I look forward to ARDL becoming a part of the Barberton community.”
ARDL provides independent testing, development and problem-solving for the rubber, plastics and textile industries. Interested parties can follow the project with updates and photos at www.ardl.com.