Akron Rubber Development Laboratory is celebrating their 60th anniversary

Akron, OH – Akron Rubber Development Laboratory, Inc. (ARDL) is celebrating 60 years as the industry-leading international independent testing and development laboratory for the rubber and plastics industries. Dedicated to providing testing, development, and problem-solving services, ARDL’s clients include companies in industries such as Automotive, Aerospace, Medical, Defense, Consumer, Energy, Rail and more. Clients turn to ARDL for trusted results and the experience of ARDL’s experts to evaluate and improve materials. The company is excited for what the future holds and being the one-stop-shop for all our clients’ needs.

Established in 1962 by Charles Robert Samples, ARDL began its legacy with a staff of only two. Bob Samples, or “CR” as he was lovingly referred to, and Mac Wilborn discovered a need in the local rubber industry for quality testing. Beginning with a simple laboratory in tight quarters, the company has now grown to 95 employees in two modern laboratory facilities including a newly renovated 134,000 square foot building in Barberton, Ohio. While the ARDL family may have grown, Bob’s passion for problem solving lives on in an experienced and dynamic organization, specialized in diverse areas of testing, research and development. Now led by CEO Tim Samples, ARDL continues to expand capabilities and provides a comprehensive range of performance and quality tests for manufacturers, compounders, chemists, engineers, designers, entrepreneurs, and a wide range of professionals.

ARDL provides chemical analysis and physical testing, compounding, and mixing, microscopy, engineering, prototyping, failure analysis, consulting, and technical training services to ensure clients have a full understanding of material performance. The in-house team of scientists, engineers, industry, and management professionals is dedicated to continuously providing the rubber and plastics industries with the required confidentiality, professionalism, and expertise to understand material failure and/or evaluate new materials under real-world test conditions.

ARDL’s highly trained technical experts participate in an in-house program of continuing education and certification. It is this dedicated group of problem solvers with a solid background and experience in their respective fields that has achieved and sustained ARDL’s growth over the last six decades. ARDL has the industry experience and resources to be clients’ single-source laboratory, not only for standardized testing and analysis, but for custom, non-routine services as well. ARDL’s diverse technical staff is dedicated to building personal relationships with clients to better understand today’s unique challenges.