Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • European Rubber Journal
  • Plastics News
web
Subscribe
  • Login
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • News
    • ITEC
    • Automotive
    • Tire
    • Non-Tire
    • Suppliers
    • Silicone
    • Latex
    • Coronavirus
    • Executive Action
    • Government/Legal
    • Opinion
    • Technical Notebooks
    • International Elastomer Show
    • Women in Tire & Rubber
    • HEXPOL Sponsored Content
    • Goodyear recognized by Lockheed Martin as 'elite supplier'
      EV tire advancements to help secure future
      Lambillotte: Only question on AVs is timing
      CAR official says EV future brighter than autonomous
    • Hot topics at virtual CES: AVs, air taxis and drones
      Apollo to raise prices of Vredestein brand tires
      China's tire production up in 2020
      Renault to form JV with U.S. hydrogen specialist Plug Power for fuel cell vans
    • Apollo to raise prices of Vredestein brand tires
      China's tire production up in 2020
      Smithers webinars focus on performance materials in green tires
      Ferentino Tyre opens Sri Lanka plant; eyes exports to U.S., Europe
    • WCCO task force navigates pandemic, expands communications
      JobsOhio funding gives Sperry & Rice room to grow
      TRAC's Glenn Maidment caps 51-year rubber industry career
      LafargeHolcim looks to solidify U.S. presence with Firestone Building Products purchase
    • Engel starts distribution of its Wintec brand in Europe
      ANRPC notes rubber price recovery
      Bostik investment expands its adhesives offerings
      Smithers webinars focus on performance materials in green tires
    • Safic-Alcan extends distribution agreement with Momentive
      Momentive aims to grow silicone presence in Asia-Pacific region
      IRP Medical solidifies portfolio with KDL deal
      Rubber lab services firm Ace reports record year
    • WCCO task force navigates pandemic, expands communications
      ASTM cancels April meetings as COVID-19 continues impact
      Paycheck Protection Program funding reopens Jan. 15
      Detroit Auto Show canceled; alternative event being planned for September
    • ARP Materials adds technical sales manager
      Jack Murphy joins Akron Dispersions
      Adriano Alfani named Versalis CEO
      Maroon Group adds to Southeast sales team
    • Hot topics at virtual CES: AVs, air taxis and drones
      Paycheck Protection Program funding reopens Jan. 15
      Taiwan tire makers propose settlement of import duties case
      Lobbying group unveils policy agenda to speed transition to EVs
    • Column: Pandemic looms over everything in life, business in 2020
      Column: Lessons from the 2020 Best Places to Work
      Editorial: Silicone hit hard by pandemic, expected to bounce back
      Column: Still far way from normal
    • Effects of multiple repurposed materials for reinforcements of standard rubber compounds
      Impact of peroxide blends on the cure rate and aged properties in HNBR
      Techniques to detect long chain branching in polymers
      A comparative study looking at effects of curing kinetics and batch variation on SBR injection molding and numerical analytics
    • WORD panelists say evolution, authenticity keys to success
      IEC keynote: Communication key to logistics
      IEC speaker: Specialized elastomers may reduce spread of life-threatening pathogens
      Rubber Division seeking abstracts for Spring Technical Meeting
    • WORD panelists say evolution, authenticity keys to success
      New video celebrates women in rubber industry
      ITEC panelists say women can thrive in tire industry
      Rubber Division planning second Women of Rubber event
    • Sponsored By HEXPOL Compounding
      Faster Access to Your Polymer Compounding Experts Around the World
      Sponsored By HEXPOL Compounding
      Take a walk thru a HEXPOL Lab
      Sponsored By HEXPOL Compounding
      HEXPOL offers a unique selection of High Performance Elastomers to match your application requirements
      Sponsored By HEXPOL Compounding
      It’s what you can’t see that makes the Difference at HEXPOL
  • Blogs
    • Products
    • Wacky World of Rubber
    • New Products: MonTech introduces 1,500 kN lab press
      New products: 3M introduces new durable, pliable medical adhesive
      New Products: Lanxess launches energy-efficient PU elastomer
      New Products: MonTech automates bale cutter for safety, productivity
    • Wacky World of Rubber: How Trelleborg, teens sealed a spot in the world record book
      Wacky World of Rubber: Of chicken and feet, but not chicken feet
      Wacky World of Rubber: Time to go mattress shopping
      Wacky World of Rubber: Because nothing says football like 'frunk' shrimp
  • Newsletters
    • Rubber in Automotive
    • Silicone News
    • Latex News
    • Sign Up for Newsletters
    • Hot topics at virtual CES: AVs, air taxis and drones
      Apollo to raise prices of Vredestein brand tires
      China's tire production up in 2020
      Renault to form JV with U.S. hydrogen specialist Plug Power for fuel cell vans
    • Safic-Alcan extends distribution agreement with Momentive
      Momentive aims to grow silicone presence in Asia-Pacific region
      IRP Medical solidifies portfolio with KDL deal
      Rubber lab services firm Ace reports record year
    • Jack Murphy joins Akron Dispersions
      Synthomer optimistic, raises earnings forecast
      Top Glove reopens COVID-hit factories with enhanced precautions
      Malaysia electronics group to enter rubber gloves sector
  • Multimedia
    • Videos
    • Photo Galleries
  • Directory
  • Resources
    • Classifieds & Mold Mart
    • Sponsored Content
    • White Papers
    • Sponsored By HB Chemical
      The Company Behind the Inventory
      Sponsored By French Oil Mill Machinery
      Process Improvement, Cost Reduction with Custom Press Systems
    • Sponsored By Uncountable Inc.
      Cooper Standard deploys lab informatics platform to synchronize R&D
      Sponsored By Elkem
      LSR Select™: A solution to improve your financial impact in molding applications
      Sponsored By HEXPOL Compounding
      Peroxide Cureable Silicone Injection Molding
      Sponsored By HEXPOL Compounding
      Understanding and Selecting Performance Additives for Rubber Compounding
  • Data
  • Events
    • RPN Events
    • RPN Livestreams/Webinars
    • Industry Events
    • Past Events
    • ITEC Library
    • International Silicone Conference Library
    • 2021 Healthcare Elastomers Virtual Edition
      2021 Rubber in Automotive Virtual Edition
      2020 International Silicone Conference Virtual Edition
      2020 ITEC Virtual Edition
  • Advertise
  • DIGITAL EDITION
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. News
October 11, 2017 02:00 AM

Smithers expands extractables lab in Akron

Kyle Brown
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print
    Smithers Rapra expanded its Akron-based chemistry lab.

    AKRON—Smithers Rapra expanded its existing U.S. chemistry laboratory space by more than 40 percent, by adding a new extractables and leachables lab at the Akron Global Business Accelerator.

    The expansion, which is located near Smithers' headquarters site in Akron, adds about 2,000 square feet of chemistry laboratory for Smithers Rapra. The cost of the new lab and equipment was not disclosed.

    The lab adds testing capabilities to Smithers' global extractables and leachables services, with capabilities for gas chromatography mass spectrometry, ultra performance liquid chromatography/HRAM mass spectrometry, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and pH and conductivity testing. It also supports Smithers' current Akron analytical lab serving rubber and polymer product manufacturers.

    "We wanted to be certain we had some of the best capabilities available on the market today in order to best serve the increasing demands of extractables and leachables science," President Nat Leonard said. "Our LC-MS system is capable of accurate mass measurements of less than one part per million."

    The lab also has added a Waters UNIFI scientific information system, which allows researchers to build out compound libraries using multiple points of identification for the trace level components in samples.

    "This translates into more confident identification of unknown components in samples. Ultimately, this is what will best serve our clients' needs," Leonard said.

    The GC-MS system is equipped with a robotic sampler that gives flexibility in preparing samples, and a cryogenic injection system that makes analysis of highly volatile compounds more reliable and sensitive. Other equipment includes a total organic carbon analyzer.

    "Between our Akron laboratories and our package testing laboratory in Lansing, Mich., we work with clients on the entire lifecycle of medical components and devices: E&L analyses, materials characterization, device performance analysis and packaging optimization," Leonard said.

    Paul Cummings joined the lab's team as general manager, and led the effort for extractables and leachables, and food contact analyses, Leonard said. Cummings brings more than 35 years of experience in chemistry and leadership in the pharmaceutical industry, most recently working as a research fellow and manager of trace organic analysis for Intertek Pharmaceutical Services. He also has worked at West Pharmaceutical, Drugscan, GlaxoSmithKline and Merck.

    In April, Daniel Norwood joined the organization as senior consultant. Norwood has more than 41 years of experience in chemistry and pharmaceutical research, and has worked in multiple areas of analytical chemistry, including structural analysis of pharmaceutical impurities and degradation products, along with assessment of extractables and leachables. He has conducted research for Boehringer Ingelheim, Magellan Laboratories and the Glaxo Research Institute.

    The expansion will add about 2,000 square feet and new testing capabilities.

    In July, Alison Schweda joined as principal scientist, bringing more than 10 years of experience in chemistry and research management in the pharmaceutical industry. She worked most recently as a research scientist at the Charles River Laboratory in Ashland, Ohio.

    Most recently, Wes Gray joined the team as senior scientist and project lead in September. Gray has 25 years of experience in chemistry and laboratory operations management in the pharmaceutical and pharmacological industries. He most recently worked as the research operations manager at the Pediatric Pharmacology Research Center at the University of Toledo in Toledo, Ohio.

    "We're fully staffed for the time being," Leonard said. "As client demands increase, we will look to add chemists or scientists to support the business. We will be building out the technical depth and breadth of the business."

    The lab is a significant investment in Smithers' long-term strategy to better serve the medical device, pharmaceutical and food industries as clients continue to seek specific expertise in new product development, Leonard said.

    "These industries are growing at a rapid pace, as is demand for high-caliber services and expert guidance. We want to grow in the same direction as our clients so they can continue to count on Smithers to support their business and product development goals from start to finish," he said.

    Also, Smithers' client base in North America has continued to grow, originally pulling resources from Smithers' England lab for testing.

    "Opening this new lab means our (United Kingdom) lab can focus on European clients, and both labs will be able to deliver faster turnaround times for client projects," Leonard said. "Time is of the essence when it comes to extractables and leachables studies, so delivering timely results is a top priority for us."

    The expansion also allows Smithers to offer consistent results worldwide, keeping in mind local concerns, he said.

    "Many of our clients operate and develop new products on a global basis," Leonard said. "Adding several new experts in the field and expanded lab capacity will allow us to closely match up our resources to our clients' regional needs. It also brings a consistency in methodology, communication and data delivery to streamline the full testing process."

    Smithers is keeping a close eye on increasing market demand and regulation changes to guide additional future lab expansion, Leonard said.

    "We are certainly focusing our effort on this market as we see significant market demand and potential future increases in demand as regulatory requirements change or increase for other related areas such as the e-cigarette and electronic nicotine delivery system market," Leonard said. "As the business grows, we will look at expanding capacity as well as our team to support client needs."

    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Rubber & Plastics News wants to hear from its readers. If you want to express your opinion on a story or issue, email your letter to Editor Bruce Meyer at [email protected].

    SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTERS
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Get our newsletters

    Staying current is easy with Rubber & Plastics News delivered straight to your inbox, free of charge.

    Subscribe Today

    Subscribe to Rubber & Plastics News to get the best coverage and leading insights in the industry.

    SUBSCRIBE
    Connect with Us
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    MISSION

    To serve companies in the global rubber product industry by delivering news, industry insights, opinions and technical information.

    web
    Contact Us

    2291 Riverfront Pkwy, Suite 1000
    Cuyahoga Falls,
    OH 44221

    Customer Service:
    877-320-1726

    Resources
    • About Us
    • Digital Edition
    • Contact the Staff
    • Advertise
    • Order Reprints
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    • Terms of Service
    • Careers
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Partner Sites
    • Tire Business
    • European Rubber Journal
    • Plastics News
    • Plastics News China
    • Urethanes Technology
    • Automotive News
    • Crain Brands
    Copyright © 1996-2021. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
      • ITEC
      • Automotive
      • Tire
      • Non-Tire
      • Suppliers
      • Silicone
      • Latex
      • Coronavirus
      • Executive Action
      • Government/Legal
      • Opinion
      • Technical Notebooks
      • International Elastomer Show
      • Women in Tire & Rubber
      • HEXPOL Sponsored Content
    • Blogs
      • Products
      • Wacky World of Rubber
    • Newsletters
      • Rubber in Automotive
      • Silicone News
      • Latex News
      • Sign Up for Newsletters
    • Multimedia
      • Videos
      • Photo Galleries
    • Directory
    • Resources
      • Classifieds & Mold Mart
      • Sponsored Content
      • White Papers
    • Data
    • Events
      • RPN Events
      • RPN Livestreams/Webinars
      • Industry Events
      • Past Events
      • ITEC Library
      • International Silicone Conference Library
    • Advertise
    • DIGITAL EDITION