Cal Poly Graphic Communication Department Opens New Laboratory

Testing Machines Inc. (TMI), a Cal Poly "partner in education," has established a modern Substrates, Ink and Toner Laboratory that will be used to serve the research, testing and product-evaluation needs of the printing, packaging, imaging and supply sectors of the graphic arts industry.

During International Printing Week 2002, the university dedicated the TMI Laboratory and recognized the company's role as its major contributor. TMI provided the lab with nearly $60,000 worth of equipment, including an ink tub tester, a monitor-smoothness tester, a smoothness gauge, a basis weight scale, an Elmendorf tear tester, a pendulum 1600 Gram, a gloss meter, a Laray viscometer, and a printability tester. In addition to research, testing and product evaluations, the instrumentation provided by TMI will also be used in Cal Poly's academic program and in industry seminars and workshops.

"Through TMI's support, Cal Poly now has an unprecedented laboratory in the western United States for educating students on testing procedures and standards used in printing, packaging and related imaging fields," said Harvey Levenson, head of Cal Poly's Graphic Communication Department. "I anticipate heavy use of the laboratory for product evaluation and as a problem-analysis facility by, paper, ink and toner vendors, printers and packaging companies from all over North America."

The services to industry will be coordinated through the university's Graphic Communication Institute. Testing and research will be conducted by highly trained students under the supervision of Cal Poly professors.

As part of the dedication of the laboratory, Rick Young, director of international sales for TMI, conducted a seminar on materials testing for Cal Poly students and faculty and staff members.
Cal Poly's Graphic Communication Department, founded in 1946, maintains an enrollment of 300 students and more than 33,000 square feet of modern laboratories. The department is one of the largest programs of its kind in the nation.