Learning the ropes
Samson, the US based marine and industrial cordage specialist, has completed its 15,000 square foot (1,400 square metre) expansion at its Ferndale Washington facility. The expansion includes a new Innovation and Training Center (ITC) and several enhancements to the manufacturing area.
The ITC was specially designed to create an environment of collaboration and innovation. It now houses both the Research and Development and Quality functions, as well as an expanded test lab. The office space accommodates 16 engineers and field service technicians, 9 quality assurance technical professionals, a large-capacity training room, and a full testing facility. The testing facility contains test beds that accommodate up to 1.1 million pounds break strength, a cyclic bend over sheave (CBOS) test bed, drop towers, yarn and creep testers, a chemical laboratory, and dedicated splicing benches to support product testing and customer/employee training.
“I am extremely excited to see this fantastic leap in our technical and training capabilities, while also being able to accomplish some significant operational upgrades that support our endless drive to improve Samson’s service to our customers and safety,” said Mark Swiackey, Chief Operating Officer.
Among its many innovations through 130 years of ropemaking, Samson lays claim to inventing the double braid and pioneering the first high modulus polyethylene fibre ropes.
By Jake Frith
