Sports Labs, Scotland’s only FIFA-accredited football turf test institute, has opened a new test laboratory in Livingston.

The 20,000sq ft facility houses a sample preparation room, heat and humidity controlled specialist testing rooms, a physical properties lab, five Lisport XL wear simulation machines, a research and development laboratory and store and quarantine areas.

“The new laboratory provides a modern set up in which to efficiently deal with customers samples,” says O’Donnell. “It offers much more capacity to deal with larger volumes in an efficient manner. The handling and processing of the samples can also been streamlined to reduce the time it takes to test and report the results.”

Founded by O’Donnell in 1998, Sports Labs offers sports surfaces testing and certification, as well as goal-line technology testing, to clients all around the world.

O’Donnell adds that the new facility will enable the company to develop and begin offering new services – as well as speed up existing testing practices.

“The facility will allow us to expand the services we have available for our clients and offer a much more efficient service,” he says.

“We will be able to increase capacity, conduct R&D work and allow the us to bring innovation to the sector – we’re looking forward to setting a benchmark for other labs to aspire to.”