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UL Solutions Opens 100,000-SF Retail Product Lab in Lowell

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Safety science company UL Solutions Inc. of Northbrook, Illinois, on Wednesday officially opened a 100,000-SF facility in Lowell to help its retail customers improve product safety, quality, performance and sustainability.

The Retail Center of Excellence is one of the most advanced testing laboratories of its kind in the U.S., the company said in a news release. It includes a consumer product testing laboratory, a technical support center and a “product experience center” for studying consumer insights prior to production.

The facility replaces an existing lab in Rogers. It was specially designed to enable testing and technical support services for private-label products, according to the release, and includes space for expansion in the future.

UL solutions said the new lab serves as headquarters for its global network of high-tech retail and consumer products labs, which includes a 60,000-SF softlines facility in Bentonville.

The new lab aims to provide retailers with more dynamic and data-driven approaches to not only enhance product performance and safety, but shift quality assurance investments earlier in product development to enable speed to market.

“We are thrilled to be part of Arkansas’ innovation ecosystem, where we sit side by side with the world’s top retail companies,” Jennifer Scanlon, president and CEO of UL Solutions, said in a statement. “Our investment in this transformative Retail Center of Excellence underscores our commitment to helping our customers bring successful new products to market quicker than ever.”

Lab features include:

  • On-site safety science experts with deep technical expertise who are available for real-time collaboration with retailers, brands and suppliers
  • Capabilities for general merchandise including packaging, furniture, electrical products and electronics, and sporting goods
  • New general merchandise service areas, such as reliability and chemistry
  • Improved services for candles, housewares and cookware, footwear, hardware (such as tools), luggage, jewelry, optical goods, stationery, art and paint, and toys
  • Collaboration space for meetings, seminars and events to educate retail stakeholders on quality assurance processes and address industry challenges

 

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