KITCHENER, Ontario—AirBoss of America Corp. has opened its new R&D Technical Centre and Laboratory at its flagship Rubber Solutions manufacturing facility in Kitchener.
The center is located in a new administration building and houses a laboratory, state-of-the-art technical and testing equipment and collaboration space, AirBoss said in a Nov. 14 press release. The grand opening ceremony took place at 11 a.m. that day, the company said.
"The new R&D Technical Centre will allow for enhanced collaborative development opportunities with AirBoss' current and future customers and is expected to further AirBoss' reputation for having one of the most advanced rubber compound development laboratories in North America," the company said.
The existing laboratory in Kitchener has been accredited to the ISO 17025 laboratory standard since 2003 by the American Association of Lab Accreditation, according to AirBoss.
"The new facility emphasizes the commitment to advanced innovation that is directed toward the success of our customers as they compete in their individual product segments," Chris Bitsakakis, AirBoss President and CEO, said in a statement.
"A significant portion of our 2019 capital expenditure budget was allocated to the Kitchener facility," he said.
The investment will create a number of new jobs over the next several years, according to Bitsikakis. AirBoss employs more than 250 in Kitchener.