Investment boosts polymer analysis capabilities
A
Smithers Rapra product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
May 29, 2003
Rapra Technology, Europe's leading polymer research and test house, is investing GBP 600,000 in "state of the art" polymer analysis equipment resources.
Rapra Technology, Europe's leading polymer research and test house, is investing GBP 600,000 in "state of the art" polymer analysis equipment resources.
Some GBP 400,000 in capital purchasing has been released for spending at the Shawbury HQ this summer.
The investment is the biggest ever made by the consultancy over the course of its 80-year history.
The new capabilities will strengthen Rapra Technology's position at the forefront of independent polymer analysis in Europe.
Items to be commissioned forthwith include a tandem gas chromatography (GC) time-of-flight mass spectrometer (GC-GC-ToF); a liquid chromatography mass spectrometer ion trap (LC-MS-MS) and a mapping infrared microscope.
Up to three new polymer experts will be recruited to Rapra's new polymer analysis team, which will develop and evaluate advanced GC-MS, LC-MS and other spectroscopic methods for the examination and analysis of materials and products.
Rapra Technology Chief Executive Andrew Ward says that the expansion has been enabled by the new structure of the company.
"At the time of the Management Buy Out in July 2002 we promised investment in the fundamentals.
We are delighted to be delivering on that promise now".
Ward adds that "Rapra's research, technical and analytic strengths underpin all that we do.
It is vital that we invest in them in order to ensure our continuing competitiveness".
Ward also notes that Rapra's recent business results and forecasting has provided a sound rationale for the investment: A general up upturn in demand for Rapra Technology services since the MBO has been encouraging.
Rapra Technology also forecasts that demand for its polymer analysis skills in relatively new areas such as pharmaceuticals and medical device testing is set to rise by over 85% in the next four years.
Large-scale contract research projects for bodies such as the UK's Food Standards Agency have also encouraged the Rapra expansion in the polymer analysis area.
Rapra Technology began a renewed programme of investment in its fundamental capabilities in the summer of 2002 when the company completed a GBP 140,000 investment in new liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC-MS) equipment for its Shawbury-based analytical laboratories.
That purchase added to Rapra's existing strengths in gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS), gel permeation and other kinds of chromatography and analysis.
The new purchases will extend the technical capability further.
Not what you're looking for? Search the site.
Google Ads
Contact Smithers Rapra
Related Stories
- Parker opens new store in Gillingham
- National Instruments - latest company news
- Our new lead generation service!
- Schaeffler - latest company news
- Leuze Electronic - latest company news
Articles by product category
- Consultancy and Services (903)
- Machine Building (4,517)
-
Engineering Design Software (6,179)
- Engineering Design Software (12)
- 2D CAD software (200)
- 3D CAD software (1,157)
- FEA and structural analysis software (369)
- Fluid, thermal, noise, vibration software (334)
- Simulation, modelling, validation software (914)
- Rendering, visualisation, styling software (196)
- Materials design and moulding design software (151)
- Process, instrumentation, automation software (258)
- Electrical design software (164)
- Publishing and documentation software (229)
- Maths, charting, statistics, QA software (317)
- Data, document management software (310)
- CAM, CNC, production management software (568)
- File conversion software, data capture (351)
- PLM and collaboration software (649)
-
Drives, Motors and Controls (3,361)
- Drives, Motors and Controls (1)
- Precision Motors and Gears (411)
- Industrial Drives/Controls (1,276)
- Linear Drives and Motors (114)
- Industrial Motors (497)
- Stepper and Servo Drives, Motors, Controls (1,060)
- Small Mechanical Components, Joining, Tools (1,975)
-
Control and Instrumentation (5,028)
- Plantwide control (1,324)
- Plant- and Machine-Wide Communications (1,174)
- Smaller-Sized PLCs (387)
- CNC and Motion Controllers (184)
- Mid-range and Large PLCs (201)
- Power Supplies, Uninterruptible Power (562)
- HMIs/Operator Interfaces (294)
- Logic Controllers, Timers and Relays (96)
- Cabling, Conduit, Signal Conditioning (806)
-
Monitoring, Measurement and Quality (5,459)
- Monitoring, Measurement and Quality (1)
- Data acquisition Software and Communications (494)
- Data Acquisition Hardware and PC I/O Boards (472)
- Electrical and Electronic Testing, PAT Equipment (630)
- Form/co-ordinate, optical, vision instruments (703)
- Gauges, Indicators and Instruments (440)
- Data loggers (422)
- Materials testing equipment (421)
- Telecomms/network test equipment, software etc (154)
- Testing and Calibration Services and Information (500)
- Testing, analysing and monitoring equipment (1,222)
-
Electrical and Electronic Equipment Design (4,160)
- Batteries, chargers and circuit protection (555)
- Connectors, Terminals, Busbars, Slip Rings (679)
- Enclosures and Equipment Cooling Fans (709)
- Knobs, Handles and Enclosure Hardware (420)
- PCs and Embedded Systems (798)
- Electrical and Electronic Subassemblies (369)
- Electrical and Electronic Components (630)
-
Materials and Processing (2,963)
- Materials and Processing (5)
- Materials and components (2,215)
- Rapid Prototyping (458)
- Materials processing and testing (285)
-
Engineering Industry News, Resources (6,093)
- Engineering Industry News, Resources (4)
- Engineering Business News, Views (388)
- Engineering Exhibitions, Events (562)
- Engineering Conferences (425)
- Engineering Seminars (400)
- Engineering Industry Developments, Awards (633)
- Engineering Guides, Newsletters (349)
- Engineering Recruitment, Employment (219)
- Engineering Training Courses (433)
- Engineering Education, Resources, Standards (838)
- Engineering Industry Reports, Surveys (597)
- Electronic Resources for Engineers (278)
- Health and Safety Legislation (402)
- Health and Safety Strategy, Risk Assessment (113)
- Health and Safety Consultancy, Software (175)
- Health and Safety Events, Training, News (277)
-
Powertrain Design (3,598)
- Powertrain Design (2)
- Bearings (939)
- Chains and belts (326)
- Gears, brakes, couplings and engines (1,441)
- Hydraulic Components (471)
- Lubricants (418)
-
Capital Equipment (3,387)
- Capital Equipment (1)
- Manufacturing Machinery and Plant Equipment (468)
- Production line blowers and fans (62)
- Compressors and Air Treatment (510)
- Electronics Manufacturing, Tools, Instruments (192)
- Electrical hardware (131)
- Machinery and Production Equipment (1,093)
- Robotics, Handling and Storage (930)
-
Sensors (7,080)
- Sensors (8)
- Accelerometers and Vibration Sensors (427)
- Loadcells, Force Sensors, Torque Sensors (699)
- Pressure sensors (621)
- Flowmeters and Flow Sensors (618)
- Level Sensors and Leak Detectors (527)
- Linear Position Sensors (399)
- Rotary Position, Tilt and Angular Sensors (546)
- Proximity Sensors (700)
- Gas, Chemical, Radiation, Magnetic Sensors (284)
- Humidity and Environmental Sensors (152)
- Temperature sensors (612)
- Vision and Colour Sensors (1,384)
- Barcode Sensors (103)
- Valves, Pumps, Process Hardware (3,623)
