SATRA is to invest more than GBP2 million to build a fourth and final phase of its Kettering laboratory and office complex, making the centre's furniture and floor coverings testing facility the largest in the UK. The Board of SATRA Technology Centre has approved the investment for the building of the next phase of SATRA's Wyndham Way complex. The development will provide an additional 24,000 sq.ft.(to make a total of 75,000 sq.ft.) of high quality, air conditioned modern laboratory and office space, which will be utilised for the Technology Centre's ambitious growth plans over the next five years.

Dr Ron Whittaker, Chief Executive, confirmed that the extension would allow for expansion of SATRA's footwear research activities as well as incorporating the largest furniture and floorcoverings test centre in the UK, additional flammability chambers and increased space for SATRA's work on the fast developing construction products Directive.

The new phase is expected to be completed in Summer 2007.

Dr Whittaker described the investment as a major milestone in the Technology Centre's 88 year history.

It is the culmination of a ten year development plan set out in the mid-1990s to develop in Kettering a state of the art consumer product research and testing centre unsurpassed in the UK.

Despite consumer goods such as furniture and footwear being manufactured increasingly in the Far East, SATRA has ensured by offering unrivalled expertise and exceptional customer service that the products are still fully evaluated and tested in its UK based laboratory.

When completed, SATRA's Wyndham Way premises will represent a total investment of over GBP5 million.