By Bill Bregar, Plastics NewsNorwood, Massachusetts-Testing instrument maker Instron Corp. has a new owner: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Glenview, Illinois-based ITW bought Instron of Norwood from private equity firm Kirtland Capital Partners. Terms were not disclosed. Cleveland-based Kirtland Capital had bought Instron in 1999 and took it private.For the rubber and plastics sectors, Instron makes equipment for tensile testing as well as for measuring compression, puncture resistance, impact strength, hardness and fatigue. The company also makes equipment for structural testing. Norwood-based Instron expects 2005 sales of about $240 million.David Speer, ITW's president and CEO, said Instron has an installed base of more than 70 000 testing instruments around the world."
