AKRON—Announced more than one year ago, Smithers' new, 1,200-sq.-ft. medical device functional testing laboratory at the company's headquarters in downtown Akron officially has opened its doors.
With it, Smithers becomes one of the first independent testing and consulting firms to offer both analytical chemistry and functional medical device testing in both North America and Europe.
To accompany the opening, Smithers has appointed six-year company veteran Mike Kelly as lead testing engineer for the lab.
"Adding the device testing laboratory alongside our analytical services laboratory in Akron enables us to offer a full line of services to our North American clients," Gael Peron, vice president of Medical Device Testing at Smithers, said in a statement. "Many of our clients operate globally, and this expanded expertise and lab capacity will support their development needs."
The new lab, to be operational by the first quarter of 2021, will be part of more than 4,000 square feet of medical device lab testing space in North America, and will complement additional, similar testing facilities in Leatherhead and Shawbury, England.
The lab is adjacent to the company's analytical chemistry testing lab, built in 2017.
The new device testing lab measures information gleaned from the performance of the medical device itself, such as spring tension or axial-rotational forces.
The lab can measure dose accuracy, plunger stopper movement, injection time and depth and breakage resistance, among many other analytics. The testing lab also can measure packaging characteristics.
As lead testing engineer at the lab, Kelly brings product and materials testing experience to the role. Kelly also has experience working in a hospital orthopedics department, where he conductive comparative studies.
"Mike has significant experience supporting clients with laboratory testing and a strong background in medical devices," Peron said. "He and his team will be excellent testing partners to our clients in the medical device industry as they bring great products to market."
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