Areas of Specialisation

Packaging

The versatility of plastics, combined with a wide range of processing technologies has ensured its success in both rigid & flexible packaging.

The safety of packaging materials used in direct contact with food is of critical importance & is subjected to extensive regulations covering chemical migration.

All plastic product applications in contact with food, including packaging, must be carried out in accordance with governing legislation both national & international. Smithers Rapra has expert knowledge in this area & can guide you through the process & provide testing solutions.

Food contact & packaging >

Domestic Appliances

Smithers Rapra has been working with leading manufacturers of domestic appliances, to improve the quality, performance & value of their products. As plastic materials are developed there use has been increased particularly in replacing parts that were once metallic to save weight & costs.

Gloves:

Smithers Rapra has developed an area of expertise in glove testing & has earned a reputation as the leading test house for physical & electrical testing of gloves for all industry sectors.

Our accreditation covers many of the current international standards & we have extensive technical knowledge & experience to deal with our customers bespoke requirements. Our technologists work with a cross section of glove products including sports, medical, domestic & industrial (PPE) gloves.

Smithers Rapra has conducted quality assurance testing on gloves from all over the world particularly on Sports gloves where leading manufacturers are keen to establish proof of their products superiority.

Playground/Sporting Surfaces

The regulation for sporting surfaces is becoming more & more stringent. At Smithers Rapra we are aware of the seriousness of injury as a result of sub standard surfaces & we have developed the technical expertise & capability to test all types of surfaces. Surface types tested include, Astro turf, Rubber compound, Anti-slip & laminate flooring.

Smithers Rapra will support you from the design stage through to the approval of the surface. We are able to carry out testing in the laboratory, or offer on-site testing of existing or modified surfaces.

Sporting Equipment

The manufacturers of sporting equipment are required to meet stringent safety & performance criteria when designing & developing new products. Smithers Rapra are proactive in meeting the needs of our customers from development through to understanding material properties.

Textiles

Smithers Rapra is experienced in various forms of textile testing. As new technical materials come into the market place with properties designed to improve wear, improve heat retention/heat loss & reduce weight, testing & validation has become vitally important.

Our textile capabilities include physical & mechanical testing of the yarns & fibres used to make clothing, together with mechanical testing of the fabric itself to ensure material strength & durability.

Toys

The requirements for toys to be safe are as important today as they were 20 years ago, what has changed is the materials that toys are fabricated from, the complex rubbers & plastics utilised, the complexity of design & demands placed on them.

Smithers Rapra has the expertise & knowledge to assist companies in product design & material selection to ensure that the toys will satisfy the relevant standards before being sold to the Consumer.

It is also evident that importers & manufacturers are being held liable for accidents resulting from faulty production, poor design & inferior material selection. Smithers Rapra can carry out full failure diagnosis & can provide expert witness services.