Intertek Expands Composite Testing Capabilities in U.S. With State-of-the-Art Machining Equipment

22 Sep 2015

First-of-Its-Kind Apparatus in the Country Underscores Ongoing Commitment to Timely, Accurate Services

Pittsfield, Mass. (September 22, 2015) - Intertek, a leading provider of quality solutions to industries worldwide, has enhanced its advanced composites materials testing capabilities with the acquisition of an advanced precision composite plate saw, the Extec Labcut5000, at the company’s Plastics Technology Laboratory Composites Test Center. With this investment, Intertek is able to offer faster turnaround times of accurate data to customers in the automotive, aerospace, energy and building products industries. 

“Intertek is committed to providing customers with comprehensive solutions to help bring quality products and materials to market,” said James Galipeau, Director at Intertek Pittsfield. “As the first company in the U.S. to acquire this recently approved machining system, dedicated to accurately test specimens for highly reinforced polymer-based tests on composites, we continue to set the pace for the industry as we offer timely, accurate results to manufacturers in multiple industries.”

The new machine includes an electronic programmable fence designed for precision over long cut lengths and to maintain parallelism better than 0.001”/L (0.020mm/L) for rectangular specimen. This provides the accuracy required for defect-free specimens, helping ensure consistent, fast manufacturing of composites essential in automotive and aerospace applications. The system is a significant step in meeting the lab’s goal of quick turn for composites test programs—including the use of non-destructive testing to pre-screen composites panels, accurate machining of specimens and long-term exposure of extensive mechanical evaluations. It also rounds out extensive capabilities for specimen preparation, including tabbing and preparation of strain-gages for mechanical evaluation, tensile, compression and shear of high-strength materials used in structural reinforced applications.

Intertek’s Plastics Technology Laboratory provides expertise on plastic and composites material characterization for the automotive and aerospace industries with efficient, cost-effective insights and testing capabilities. The lab holds NADCAP AC 7122/1 (Class A, Class B) and ISO 17025 Certifications to conduct hundreds of mechanical/physical, electrical, chemical, and thermal tests for composites, plastics, adhesives, resins, foams, pre-pregs and films. Intertek demonstrates leadership in Composites Testing through ongoing participation in ASTM D30 Committees on Composites, ISO committees and Nadcap. For more information, visit www.intertek.com/composites/.

About Intertek
Intertek is a leading quality solutions provider to industries worldwide. From auditing and inspection, to testing, training, advisory, quality assurance and certification, Intertek adds value for its customers by helping improve the quality and safety of their products, assets and processes. With a network of more than 1,000 laboratories and offices and over 38,000 people in more than 100 countries, Intertek supports companies’ success in the global marketplace, by helping customers to meet end users’ expectations for safety, sustainability, performance, integrity and desirability in virtually any market worldwide. Visit www.intertek.com.

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Contacts:
Kimberly Stuart
Marketing Manager, Polymers and Composites
(413) 499-0983
kimberly.stuart@intertek.com

Cheryl Prejsnar
Public Relations Manager
630-481-3185
cheryl.prejsnar@intertek.com