ACE Laboratories, a provider of silicone and rubber testing services, has completed its new test lab. Increasing lab space by 700m2, the expansion is part of an ongoing investment exceeding US$1m. The dedicated laboratory offers testing capabilities for materials and services to predict the in-service performance of rubber products such as tires, belts, mounts, vibration isolators, bridge bearings and seals.
The lab features new equipment including a Ueshima AB-2012 FPS Abrasion Tester. Ueshima testers are designed to replicate realistic road conditions in a lab-scale environment, analyzing tire material characteristics and predicting tread performance according to ISO 23337.
In 2022, ACE acquired the Ueshima RTM Friction Tester, which offers the tire industry cost-effective evaluations of the friction characteristics of tread materials. Together, both Ueshima systems can provide data that helps tire developers formulate new compounds. According to ACE, this can lead to improved braking performance, abrasion resistance and energy efficiency.
Other new testing solutions in the lab include the DeMattia Flexing Fatigue Tester, a 32-unit station with a heated cabinet, ranging from 60°C to 150°C, which assesses the durability and longevity of rubber and polymer products under varying temperatures. According to ACE, it complies with ASTM D813, ASTM D430 and ASTM D4482 standards.
The lab also features an MTS 831 Elastomer Test System, which tests the properties of rubber and elastomer products across a wide frequency and temperature range.
Erick Sharp, CEO of ACE Laboratories, said, “Our expanded testing lab shows our commitment to being at the forefront of material testing technologies, continuing our growth and diversification of services, investment in equipment, staff additions, partnerships and collaborations.”
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