Akron, Ohio - The Smithers Group has acquired Pira International, a leading provider of independent, knowledge-based information and testing services to clients in the packaging, paper and print industry and their supply chains.
Headquartered in Leatherhead, UK, Pira International was founded in 1930 and most recently was owned by BASF. It employs about 120 people at five facilities in the UK and the US.
"Pira represents a tremendous strategic fit for Smithers", commented Michael Hochschwender, president and CEO of The Smithers Group, in a 2 Dec announcement. "We have long respected the Pira organisation and we are excited about what this acquisition means for our clients in terms of the expanded service offerings they will see from both Smithers and Pira." Hochschwender added.
Recognised globally for its information services, Pira provides strategic and technical consulting, intelligence and events to the packaging, paper and print industry supply chains, the Smithers announcement said. It helps business leaders world-wide make well informed market and technology decisions. Through the IntertechPira brand, it provides similar added-value insights to niche, emerging and high growth industries including lighting and displays, clean energy, home and personal care, industrial biotechnology, performance materials and chemicals. Many information services clients also participate in the eleven industry membership programmes offered by Pira.
In addition, Pira's testing services help clients in the packaging, paper and print industry and their supply chains to evaluate product performance and manage compliance throughout the product lifecycle. Expertise includes molecular migration, materials selection, packaging conversion and performance in distribution and use. For more information, visit www.pira-international.com.
Headquartered in Akron, Ohio, The Smithers Group now includes Smithers Viscient, Smithers Pharma Services, Smithers Rapra, Smithers Quality Assessments, iSmithers, as well as Pira International and IntertechPira.
Each Smithers Group company provides technology-based services focused on a defined market.
Smithers Rapra is the global leader in rubber, plastics, polymer and composites testing and consulting services focused mainly on the tire, industrial, transportation, consumer and medical industries. Smithers Rapra encompasses what was previously Smithers Rapra Technologies, established in the United Kingdom in 1919 and Smithers Scientific Services, established in the United States in 1925. For more information, visit www.rapra.net or www.smithersrapra.com.
iSmithers evolved from the information division of Smithers Rapra in 2008 after delivering 30 years of knowledge transfer solutions. It serves a global academic and industrial market with polymer, chemical, pharmaceutical, ecotoxicology and life-science related knowledge and information products and events. These include a wide range of technology and market-based journals and books, national and international conferences, polymer technology training courses and electronic web and database products. For more information, visit www.ismithers.net
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 utilising testing, consulting, information and compliance services. All Smithers companies are known by their clients as Trusted Providers of Innovative Solutions. For more information, visit www.smithers.com.
"
