Published: 9/22/2013

Brad McDougall, an expert in automotive component testing, has been named lead test engineer for the Smithers Lansing Product Testing Lab, which will open in January 2014.

The announcements were made at the Automotive Testing Expo 2013 North America, in Novi, Michigan, where Smithers is highlighting its plastics, rubber and composite materials product testing solutions in Booth 7063. Company experts are on hand to speak with attendees about the wide range of testing services offered to the automotive industry. From tires and wheels to polymer based components, to automotive components, and the effects of winter conditions on tire traction and vehicle safety systems, Smithers will showcase its standard and custom testing capabilities designed to assist companies go to market quicker and with higher success rates.

The new Lansing Product Testing Lab is being added to enhance Smithers' existing service to the R&D and engineering labs of major automakers and suppliers in Michigan and the Midwest. It will complement the co-located Smithers package and distribution testing lab, which serves consumer packaged goods and beverage companies, medical device manufacturers, automotive OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers with evaluations of product packaging and how they perform in the reality of the complex supply chain.

“We are focused on investing in innovative, new services to meet our customers’ needs,” said Jim Dowey, president at Smithers. “Adding Brad McDougall to our product testing team, led by industry expert Jeff Andrasik, I’m confident we will continue to add value to our automotive clients’ product life cycles by helping them solve their development challenges.”

McDougall’s career spans various aspects of the automotive industry. From airbag and seat belt testing to steering wheel and seat engineering, he has led teams focused on testing and evaluating the integrity and quality of automotive parts throughout his 20-year career.

The Smithers Lansing Product Testing Lab joins the Smithers Product Testing Lab in Akron, OH, Tire & Wheel Test Center in Ravenna, OH, the Winter Test Facility in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and lab in Suzhou, China in serving the global automotive industry.