Element opens aerospace testing lab in Melbourne, Florida

Specializes in environmental, dynamics, and electromagnetic interference (EMI) testing.


Element Materials Technology (Element) has opened a 20,000ft2 laboratory in Melbourne, Florida.

The RTCA DO-160 and MIL-STD 810/461 Testing Center of Technical Excellence, an investment of $2 million, offers a range of environmental, dynamic, and electromagnetic interference (EMI) testing capabilities to customers in the aerospace, defense, and industrial markets. The laboratory features more than 50 pieces of test equipment, including three new EMI chambers, dynamic shaker systems, environmental chambers (including icing), salt fog enclosures, and driving sand and dust equipment.

Rick Sluiters, EVP Aerospace at Element, commented, “This new facility was borne out the merger of our two smaller existing laboratories in Melbourne, alongside the transfer of environmental equipment from our laboratory in Jupiter, Florida. We wanted to create a state-of-the-art testing Center of Technical Excellence that provides our customers with the full range of environmental, dynamics, and EMI testing under one roof, saving them time and money and providing higher operational efficiency.

“This investment also allowed us to grow our footprint in our Jupiter laboratory which is a Center of Excellence for Fuel systems, Hydraulic and Pneumatic test simulation, and offers highly-specialized services such as extreme environment simulation, hydraulics, and pneumatics component and system simulation, bird-strike, ballistic impact, and fire testing.”

Element’s Environmental and EMI testing capabilities help customers make certain that the products they deliver, whether for civil or military aircraft, can withstand the most demanding electromagnetic, climatic, and mechanical environments to ensure they are safe, quality, compliant, and fit for purpose.

With a global footprint of ISO 17025 accredited laboratories, leading-edge engineering expertise and state-of-the-art testing capabilities, including reverberation and direct illumination HIRF, wind-milling vibration and 3kHz high g vibration, Element can replicate the increasingly severe electromagnetic and environmental conditions being demanded by its customers and their aerospace supply chain partners.