Element Expands Huntsville Lab into Strategic Hub for Aerospace, Defense, and Nuclear Testing
Element Materials Technology has announced a major expansion of its Huntsville, Alabama laboratory, positioning the facility as a strategic U.S. hub for advanced testing across aerospace, space, energy, and defense programs.
Located in what's widely considered America's defense and space capital — particularly after last year's permanent relocation of the U.S. Space Command headquarters to the city — the expanded Huntsville lab now enables customers to run entire critical test programs in a single facility.
Expanded capabilities
The facility has added infrastructure, engineering expertise, and expanded its environmental, dynamics, and EMI/EMC services. Qualification services now include vibration, shock, MIPS, thermal, vacuum, acoustic, and electromagnetic compatibility testing, supporting customers from early development through qualification and sustainment.
"This expansion cements Huntsville as a strategic U.S. hub for advanced testing," said Corey Demidovich, Element's Senior Vice President for Aerospace and Energy in the Americas. He noted that the investment allows customers to qualify next-generation systems faster with fewer handoffs, particularly on complex aerospace, space, and defense programs.
Industry-first SMR qualification testing
The expansion also includes what Element describes as an industry first: dedicated product qualification testing for small modular reactor (SMR) programs. The new capability allows nuclear developers and supply chain partners to test materials and components under demanding conditions, assess structural integrity and fatigue, verify safety-critical performance, and support regulatory compliance as SMR technologies scale.
Demidovich added that the company is building on decades of experience in oil and gas testing and bringing that rigor to nuclear, hydrogen, and other emerging energy technologies.
The Huntsville investment is part of a broader series of investments across Element's global network aimed at strengthening its position in mission-critical testing services.