About Us
Erick Sharp founded ACE Laboratories LLC in 2014.His experience working for companies in the United States and Europe provided Erick a close look and a deep education at the state of rubber and silicone testing, research and development and a clear view of where the industry was heading.
ACE Brings Innovation in Technology & Services to the Rubber and Silicone Markets
ACE started as a one-man operation in Akron, Ohio in a 2000 square-foot facility. It grew quickly as ACE found client after client in need of a new laboratory that provided high-quality products and services to an ever-changing industry.
Within two years, ACE expanded and moved into a 220,000 square-foot building in Ravenna, Ohio with a talented team of professionals. The move provided ACE with the space to grow and broaden their offerings.
In 2018, ACE earned a coveted ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation, one of the most important standards for testing for laboratories around the world. Laboratories with this accreditation have proven capabilities to provide accurate, precise data and testing.
CEO and founder, Erick Sharp, has a passion for innovation and has instilled this value in his team. ACE continues to expand its capabilities and offerings, making them an industry leader.
In addition to providing research, development, and testing, ACE partners with colleges and high schools to offer an inside look at a globally renowned laboratory, hoping to bring fresh ideas to the industry.
Management
Erick Sharp
President | CEO
Erick founded ACE in December 2014. He has been in the rubber and polymer industry for over 20 years which has included key roles within Lauren International, Quanex Building Products, and Portage Precision Polymers. He holds a degree in Industrial Engineering.
Doug Foster
Director of Technical Services
Prior to joining ACE, Doug spent 11 years managing Dupont’s Performance Materials laboratory. He has a BS in Chemistry from John Carroll and MBA from Youngstown Sate University.
KYLIE KNIPP
Senior Technical Account Manager
Kylie joined ACE in January 2023. She has over 10 years of technical experience in the rubber industry. She obtained her Bachelors in Chemical Engineering from the University of Akron.
Zach Ellashek
Operations Manager
Zach has extensive experience in scaling up operational systems in rapidly growing small businesses. He spent the last ten years scaling a startup company in Phoenix, AZ.
Todd Lang
Sr. Analytical Chemist
Todd has over thirty years of analytical chemistry experience and specializes in method development. He acts as a consultant for Cleveland State University.
Eric Britton
Technical Sales Engineer
Eric has worked as a chemist and engineer in the custom rubber compounding and rubber fabrication sectors. He has a BS degree in Chemical Engineering from The University of Akron.
Rodney Armstrong
Engineering Manager/Business Unit | Manager - Construction
Rodney has been working in the polymer testing industry for over ten years. Prior to joining ACE he was Director of Momentum Technology Laboratories. Rodney has a BS in Electronics from The University of Akron.
Dylan Bencze
Quality Engineer
Dylan has a BS in Biomedical Engineering from Robert Morris University, a Masters in Polymer Engineering from The University of Akon and is a certified ISO /IEC 17025 lead auditor via ANAB.
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