NORTHBROOK, IL /CNW/ -- UL, a global safety science leader, acquired today Advanced Furniture Testing, a Holland, Mich.-based privately held firm that provides performance and durability furniture testing services to many of the largest North American commercial furniture manufacturers. The acquisition enables UL to combine its safety certification and chemical emissions testing services with Advanced Furniture Testing's expertise in performance and durability testing to offer a broader portfolio of services to office furniture manufacturers.

"As a known market innovator, Advanced Furniture Testing brings to the office furniture industry high-quality testing and machine-building services specifically designed for furniture testing," said Alberto Uggetti, UL general manager for UL's Furniture Division. "This acquisition establishes UL as a leader in the furniture testing business and provides us with an opportunity to build a furniture center of excellence with an expanded service portfolio, as well as add capabilities in children's furniture."

As the way in which people work continues to evolve, furniture design innovation has led to new functions, new materials and new products driving greater employee collaboration and connectivity. Expanding its furniture testing capabilities to meet this market growth is a strategic imperative for UL.

UL plans to retain Advanced Furniture Testing's Holland, Mich., headquarters and its Jasper, Ind., testing facility, both of which are located in key furniture manufacturing regions. In addition, Advanced Furniture Testing will tap UL's global resources in Italy, China and the United States to develop and expand market opportunities with furniture retailers and manufacturers.

Advanced Furniture Testing's founder, Doug Woodard, and its 12 employees will transfer to UL and remain with the company. Woodward, previously employed by Herman Miller and KI, has designed and built nearly 30 test machines and devices.

The transaction was signed and closed on Sept. 30, 2014. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. 

SOURCE UL