Published: 3/31/2022
(Akron, Ohio) – March 31, 2022 - Smithers, a leading provider of testing, consulting, information, and compliance services, announces that Matt Kent, Technical Director of the Smithers Tire & Wheel Testing Center, is speaking at the 36
th annual
Clemson University Global Tire Industry Conference. Kent’s presentation, titled “High-Speed Uniformity Testing for Evolving Vehicle and Tire Development,” is scheduled for 1:15 PM on Tuesday, April 19, 2022. Smithers is also sponsoring the networking social at the conference, at 5:45 p.m. on Tuesday, April 19, 2022.
During the presentation, Kent will review a variety of common high-speed uniformity (HSU) test methods and how HSU testing can be used to understand performance factors such as flat spotting, impact response, and ride quality. He will give specific examples of how HSU data applies to automotive OEM, tire manufacturer, and tire distributor requirements. Kent will also discuss the importance of HSU data in creating high-fidelity tire and vehicle models.
“HSU testing is a hot topic in the tire industry due to the growing popularity of electric vehicles (EVs),” said Kent. “All tires generate some degree of vibration and resonance, but the driver can feel those vibrations much more strongly in an EV than an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle. HSU testing is key to understanding and mitigating any factors that may detract from a comfortable driving experience, in an EV or otherwise.”
Smithers added a
ZF HSU 5.3 testing machine to its Tire & Wheel Test Center in Ravenna, Ohio in 2021.
“Smithers is dedicated to providing our clients with accurate data and excellent service, which is why all our testing capability investment decisions are driven by what our clients need,” said Dr. Jim Popio, Vice President, Smithers Materials Science and Engineering Division. “Anyone who attends the Clemson tire conference this year will benefit greatly from Matt’s deep knowledge of HSU testing and how it supports nearly every step of the tire supply chain.”
Kent has over 20 years of experience in the tire industry and has worked in tire manufacturing and tire testing. He has been responsible for many testing machines, including MTS Flat Tracs, acoustic, laser measurement, uniformity, spring rate, and high- and low-speed durability. He became the Technical Director of the Smithers Tire & Wheel Test Center in 2017.
Kent has a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from the University of Toledo. He is a certified Six Sigma Black Belt, is certified in FARO Measurement Systems, and has received training Lean and pneumatic systems design.
The
Smithers Tire & Wheel Test Center offers a broad range of testing services for measuring performance,
durability, and other characteristics of passenger car, light truck, agricultural, fleet truck,
off-the-road (OTR), and specialty tires. Smithers also has
tire testing laboratories in China and the United Kingdom, providing testing services and accurate data worldwide.
For more information about Smithers, please visit
https://www.smithers.com/
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About Smithers:
Founded in 1925 and headquartered in Akron, Ohio, Smithers is a multinational provider of testing, consulting, information, and compliance services. With laboratories and operations in North America, Europe, and Asia, Smithers supports customers in the transportation, life science, packaging, materials, components, consumer, dry commodities, and energy industries. Smithers delivers accurate data, on time, with high touch, by integrating science, technology, and business expertise, so customers can innovate with confidence.
