Independent testing services provider Smithers has expanded capabilities at its Smithers Rapra testing laboratory in Suzhou, China.
The lab achieved ISO/IEC 17025 in 2013 and has been providing tire testing for a wide variety of specifications including SAE, GMW, ASTM and ISO protocols to the Chinese market for several years. Clients recently gained a first-hand look at the work performed by the Smithers team to support their growing needs for testing and support services.
“We’re executing our strategy to expand our expertise and capabilities for tire, rubber and polymer component testing in China,” said Jim Dowey, president of Smithers Rapra. “Our clients shared their needs and we listened. The result is an increased scope of services that will help to support our clients’ current testing needs today and into the future.”
The following new testing capabilities have been added to the Smithers Rapra Suzhou laboratory:
• Long-term oven aging and endurance tire testing
• Radial and cornering fatigue testing of passenger car radial wheels
• Rolling resistance of truck and bus radial tires
• Radial and cornering fatigue testing of truck and bus radial wheels
With these capabilities, Smithers Rapra said it is able to support the rolling resistance requirements of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN ECE) Regulation No. 11, as well as the ISO 28580 specification that is commonly used for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s SmartWay verification. Both standards are critical to supporting the sale of tires to the U.S. and European markets by Chinese tire manufacturers, the company added.
In addition to testing capabilities, the client event showcased Smithers Quality Assessments’ key management systems support services. Another company within the Smithers Group, Smithers Quality Assessments assists clients with supply chain management, internal quality system audits, process improvement, and quality and environmental management systems training.
The Suzhou facility provides analysis, training and testing for a wide spectrum of products and a variety of industries, including tire and wheel, automotive, transport, consumer, pharmaceutical and medical, and industrial, such as construction, utilities and power generation.
Photo caption: Smithers executives celebrate the expanded testing capabilities and management systems support available at the Smithers Rapra testing laboratory in Suzhou, China, during a recent client event.
