| SATRA Technology Centre (SATRA) is a research and technology centre, employing over 180 scientific, technical and support staff across two sites in the UK and China. Founded as the Shoe and Allied Trade Research Association in 1919, it has since extended its expertise to cover other consumer product industry sectors including furniture, safety products, clothing, floorcoverings, leathergoods and fabric care. It is partly funded through membership, which includes 1,600 companies in over 70 countries.
SATRA is also a Notified Body for EU Directives on personal protective equipment, toys, medical devices and construction products.
SATRA-s activities include research, material and product evaluation, consumer product and personal protective equipment testing, management systems and consultancy, international quality systems, quality assurance, publications, information services, and the production and sale of test equipment.
In 2002 SATRA acquired Hampden Test Equipment which supplies test machinery for hardness, resilience and abrasion measurements; it also makes ozone cabinets, mainly for the polymer industries. Hampden also calibrates hardness testers and services, and calibrates ozone cabinets.
Its facilities include testing capability for fall arrest harnesses, fireproof suits, safety eyewear, chain saw protection, and horse riding protective equipment. It also undertakes footwear durability testing, footwear fitting, chemistry laboratory testing and furniture durability testing. |