Alpha Technologies Invests in Recycled Rubber Research at The University of Akron

Hudson, OH, September 11, 2024 — Alpha Technologies, a leader in the rubber and
testing industries, is proud to announce a new investment into its long-standing relationship with the The University of Akron: Alpha Technologies has donated a Premier Rubber Process Analyzer (RPA) with Sub-Zero Technology to The University of Akron and will contribute $50,000 in support of the university’s research into recycled rubber over the next five years.

“The University of Akron extends its gratitude to Alpha Technologies for their generous donation, partnership and support of our faculty and students,” said Dr. Craig Menzemer, dean of the College of Engineering and Polymer Science. “We look forward to continuing our collaboration on recycled rubber research.”

Understanding the impact of crumb rubber on tire tread performance is key to the successful deployment of recycled rubber in the tire industry. Previously, certain critical tire performance predictors were only attainable via dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), which is costly and time-intensive. Alpha Technologies’ new Premier RPA with Sub-Zero Technology can conduct testing at low temperatures and capture those key metrics in just 23 minutes.

“Sub-Zero Technology is novel in the industry, and many leading rubber producers have begun adopting this technology into their research and quality control laboratories,” said Jayson Humble, Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Alpha Technologies. “With the Premier RPA in their laboratory, The University of Akron can stay on the cutting edge in the field of recycled rubber, make important advancements in the field, and discover new applications for the instrument.”

The University of Akron students will also receive hands-on training led by Unal Yilmazoglu, Applications Engineer, Alpha Technologies.

“Because Alpha Technologies is a preferred brand for top research institutions all over the world, most of these students will work with Alpha instruments when they enter the workforce,” said Yilmazoglu. “Our goal is to equip them for success in their careers by teaching them how to use the Premier RPA and analyze testing data, so they can graduate with hands-on experience and Alpha certifications already on their resumes.”

This investment is the latest development in a long-standing relationship between Alpha Technologies and The University of Akron. The university has had Alpha instruments in its laboratories for many years, and Alpha Technologies employs many University of Akron alumni, including Yilmazoglu and Humble.

“It’s a tremendous honor to return to The University of Akron and share what I’ve learned from my years in industry with my fellow Zips,” said Yilmazoglu. “Nurturing up-and-coming talent is a top priority at Alpha Technologies, and we’re grateful for this opportunity to invest further into our excellent relationship with the university.”

To learn more about Sub-Zero Technology and Alpha Technologies Premier Series instruments, contact Jayson Humble.