Element has marked the first anniversary of its supersite in Wednesbury, UK with significant investments to improve technical capabilities and increase capacity.
The 50,000 square foot laboratory has benefitted from a number of investments since opening in June 2017, including increased capacity for door and window security testing, and sliding door, door closer, and floor spring durability testing. Additional environmental chambers, a new tensile testing machine, and a further UV chamber have also significantly enhanced Element’s turnaround time and increased the volume of testing.
Investments have also led to new capabilities for the provision of tests to UK-based and international customers in the automotive, door, window, and hardware industries. The site can now also conduct letterplate durability testing, finger protection device testing to BS8613, photogrammetry, and temporary freestanding fencing testing to BS1722-18.
As well as increasing testing capability, Element is committed to providing the highest quality service and ensuring a safe working environment for the 10,000+ tests it conducts annually. To support this, the laboratory has invested in a new scissor lift, a Winlet glazing robot, and an industrial pressure washer.
Rob Veitch, EVP of Fire & Building Products at Element, said: “We have had a strong year since opening the Wednesbury laboratory that has seen an ongoing program of investment enable us to continue providing increased levels of support to our growing number of customers in the automotive and building products industries.
“The investments we’ve made at the site form a core part of our commitment to continually improve standards and the level of technical service we offer. This ensures that our highly-skilled experts can play a key role in our customers’ product development process, and improve their speed to market.”
The Wednesbury laboratory conducts testing for products used in the built environment, including security, durability and weather testing of doors, windows and hardware. The laboratory also tests components and full vehicles for corrosion, UV weathering, environmental ageing, flammability, vibration and emissions.
The site currently employs 34 people, and offers testing to British, European, international and OEM standards.
About Element
Element specializes in providing a comprehensive range of materials and product qualification testing, inspection and certification services to the global Aerospace; Transportation & Industrials; Fire & Building Products; and Oil & Gas and Infrastructure sectors.
Element’s network of 6,700 Engaged Experts operate out of 188 laboratories in 32 countries and is trusted by organizations to test and advise on the safety, quality, performance and compliance of their products, systems and operations.
Media contacts:
Diana Milford, External Communications Manager
T: +44 (0) 131 333 8052 / +44 (0) 776 888 4954
Devan LaBrash, Pagoda Public Relations
T: +44 (0) 131 556 0770
E: devan.labrash@pagodapr.com
“This [investment] ensures that our highly-skilled experts can play a key role in our customers’ product development process, and improve their speed to market.”
Rob Veitch
EVP Fire & building products