AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS – March 28, 2013 – Element Material Technology announces the acquisition of leading US composite lab, Delsen Testing Laboratories, a move which significantly strengthens Element’s position within the fast-growing aerospace composite testing market.
The purchase of Delsen, based in Glendale, California, further adds to Element’s capabilities and expertise in the commercial aerospace, power generation and transport industries, with the vast majority of Delsen’s activity falling within aerospace.
The acquisition follows Element’s recent major investment in developing advanced facilities to test ceramic matrix composites, a material capable of dramatically increasing fuel efficiency in the next generation of aerospace engines.
Charles Noall, President and CEO of Element, said: “The primes are focusing their R&D budgets increasingly towards composite materials. As a result, the purchase of one of the most highly regarded composite testing laboratories in America marks a considerable step in Element’s strategy to become a market-leader in aerospace materials testing services, as well as the world’s largest dedicated materials testing provider.
“Delsen is Nadcap approved and holds a number of major aerospace prime approvals; it also holds an excellent overall reputation for quality, expertise, and knowledge, making it an ideal addition to the Element Group’s existing capabilities.
“We envision Delsen becoming a ‘centre of excellence’ in aerospace composite materials testing. The facility will enable Element to shorten lead times, increase productivity and extend our capability. With composites continuing to replace traditional metal applications in a variety of sectors, this acquisition sets Element at the forefront of a fast-growing, rapidly evolving industry.”
The purchase of Delsen by Element follows a number of significant acquisitions in the last fifteen months, including one of America’s largest independent materials testing businesses, Sherry Laboratories, headquartered in Daleville, Indiana. Other transactions include MAR-TEST of Cincinnati, Ohio, Detroit Testing Laboratories of Warren, Michigan, and UK-based polymer engineering and testing specialists MERL.
About Element
Element is a company with a global presence; its laboratories are staffed by experts specializing in materials testing, product qualification testing and failure analysis for the Aerospace, Oil & Gas and Transportation and Industrials sectors. Element’s team of 1,600 scientists, engineers and technicians work in 45 facilities located throughout the U.S. and Europe. For a complete list of Accreditations & Approvals and more information, please visit www.element.com.
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