AKRON, OH, USA – April 2, 2012. As a result of growth, three Smithers companies announced changes. New name, Smithers Pira, presented to clients, additional information products and events announced by Smithers Rapra, and Smithers Apex introduced.
The Smithers Group is a global technology based services organization. Each Smithers company operates in a well defined expertise area, providing testing, consulting, information or compliance services to clients within that market.
Smithers Pira
Smithers unveiled, Smithers Pira, a global testing, consulting and information services business. Previously known as Pira International and now fully integrated with The Smithers Group, Smithers Pira is the worldwide authority on the packaging, paper and print industry supply chains.
Jim Dowey, President of Smithers Pira commented, “Our goal was to make it easy for clients to understand the connection to Smithers and at the same time retain the industry wide recognition of Pira. Having the Smithers Group, a global independent technology based services organization, behind us is big plus for our clients. Smithers Pira in being part of the Smithers family is able to align with other Smithers companies to leverage resources when projects extend across multiple expertise areas.”
Pira International has been part of the Smithers organization for over a year, with the acquisition occurring in late 2010. After first focusing on the goal of retaining all clients during the transition, Smithers Pira is now positioned to grow and build upon a diverse testing, consulting and information service offering.
Established in 1930, Smithers Pira provides strategic and technical consulting, testing, intelligence and events to help clients gain market insights, identify opportunities, evaluate product performance and manage compliance.
Combining industry experience with state of the art laboratory testing and simulation facilities, Smithers Pira Testing delivers tangible solutions for clients in the packaging, paper and print industry supply chains. Expertise encompasses chemical migration, materials selection, packaging conversion and performance in distribution and use.
Smithers Rapra
Smithers Rapra adding information products and events to an already diverse testing and consulting offering focused on plastics, rubber, and composites. These offerings provide clients, in both the industrial and academic fields, with the information and knowledge required to advance their materials and product development efforts.
Smithers previously marketed polymer related information products and events primarily under the iSmithers name. However combining information with the testing and consulting activities, all under the Smithers Rapra banner now allows clients in these industries to easily understand and access the range of available services.
Rav Lally, Managing Director of Information at Smithers said, “There is an obvious synergy with information products and events and our testing and consulting services. The move to consolidate the offerings within the Smithers Rapra business is a logical step. Our clients will see a comprehensive offering all built around a core expertise in polymers and polymer related materials and products. “
Mr. Lally continued, “The growth of Smithers means our information services and products are stronger than ever and are serving a more diverse range of markets.”
The information offering from Smithers Rapra includes; events, strategic consulting, publications, business intelligence reports and the Polymer Library.
Smithers Apex
Smithers introduced, Smithers Apex, a global information services and consulting business. Previously known as IntertechPira and now fully integrated with The Smithers Group, Smithers Apex provides industry leading events, market research, publications and strategic and technical consulting to niche, emerging and high growth industries.
“The word ‘apex’ epitomises the high level of content and expertise that we will continue to deliver to our clients and customers. The Smithers Apex brand is uniquely positioned to allow us to broaden our portfolio into a number of exciting new areas.” Rav Lally, Managing Director of Information at Smithers commented. “Our goal is to make it easy for clients to recognize the connection to Smithers, a global independent technology based services organization, and to understand our abilities to leverage resources and coordinate with other Smithers businesses - including Smithers Pira and Smithers Rapra - across multiple expertise areas.”
IntertechPira has been part of the Smithers organization for more than a year, with the acquisition occurring in December 2010. Having successfully completed the integration, Smithers Apex is now well positioned to grow and expand upon a diverse consulting and information services portfolio covering new, emerging, disruptive and high growth opportunities.
Smithers Apex is a global business currently active in a wide range of industry sectors, including home and personal care; lighting, imaging and displays; plastic electronics and alternative energy. Smithers Apex will continue to produce market-leading events like LEDs, Cleaning Products, Image Sensors and Wireless Power. Smithers Apex also offers a range of market reports, publications and membership services for these and other technology sectors.
Note to Editors:
About The Smithers Group:
Headquartered in Akron, Ohio, The Smithers Group includes Smithers Pira, Smithers Rapra, Smithers Apex, Smithers Viscient, Smithers Pharma Services, and Smithers Quality Assessments. Each Smithers Group company provides technology-based services focused on a defined market. As a group the diversity of market sectors and technologies provides stability and a platform for long term growth. By integrating science, technology and business expertise, Smithers goal is to add value throughout the life cycle of our clients’ products, by utilizing testing, consulting, information and compliance services. All Smithers companies are known by their clients as Trusted Providers of Innovative Solutions.
About The Smithers Group Companies:
Smithers Rapra is the global leader in rubber, plastics, polymer and composites testing, consulting and information products and events, with key focuses including the tire, industrial, transportation, consumer and medical industries. For more information, visit www.rapra.net or www.smithersrapra.com.
Smithers Pira is the worldwide authority on packaging, paper and print industry supply chains. Established in 1930, the company provides strategic and technical consulting, testing, intelligence and events to help clients gain market insights, identify opportunities, evaluate product performance and manage compliance. For more information, visit www.smitherspira.com
Smithers Viscient is a global Contract Research Organization (CRO) providing environmental testing, toxicology, and regulatory services for the crop protection, pharmaceutical, industrial chemical, and the consumer and household product industries. With laboratories located in North America and Europe, Smithers Viscient has performed standard guideline and higher-tiered environmental studies for over 40 years. Smithers Viscient conducts studies to satisfy all regulatory requirements globally. Services include ecotoxicology, avian toxicology, environmental fate, metabolism, residue, analytical, and product chemistry, and consulting. For more information, visit www.smithersviscient.com
Smithers Quality Assessment is an accredited third-party registrar. Since 1993, Smithers Quality Assessments has provided quality and environmental management system certification services such as ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and related standards to manufacturing companies and service providers. For more information, visit www.smithersregistar.com
Smithers Pharma Services provides formulation services, analytical chemistry, and pre-clinical and clinical bioanalytical testing, while offering further drug development support through in-house storage stability studies. Smithers Pharma serves the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and consumer healthcare industries, delivering a broad portfolio of services to help clients move their drug products through the full drug development process, from pre-formulations to market registration. For more information, visit www.smitherspharma.com
Smithers Apex, formerly known as IntertechPira, is a global business that provides events, market research, publications and strategic and technical consulting to an expanding list of niche, emerging and high growth industries, including the home and personal care; lighting, imaging and displays; plastic electronics and the alternative energy industries. For more information, visit www.smithersapex.com
