Smithers Rapra recently broke ground on the expansion of its Smithers Tire and Wheel Test Center in Ravenna, Ohio.

Six global tire manufacturers including Bridgestone Americas, Continental Tire the Americas, Cooper Tire & Rubber Co., Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., Hankook Tire America Corp., and Michelin North America have partnered with Smithers to introduce a new MTS Flat-Trac CT Plus Tire Test System at the test center. The new system requires a building expansion at the Ravenna laboratory, as well as the addition of several technical roles to support the partnership.

The expansion of the Ravenna laboratory is expected to be completed in July 2018.

“The original Force and Moment partnership, created by Smithers and tire manufacturers, was established 30 years ago and has been a tremendous success for everyone involved,” said Mike Hochschwender, president and CEO of The Smithers Group. “We’re building on that cooperation between Smithers and tire manufacturers with this new testing partnership to introduce a new MTS Flat-Trac CT Plus Tire Test System at the Smithers Tire and Wheel Test Center in Ravenna, Ohio. Sharing costs and access to the new machine allows all partners to benefit both technologically as well as economically.”