Springboard 
Engineering 
expands

The sale of Springboard Engineering in June 2011 to Underwriters Laboratories provided the impetus for organic growth, both in employees and equipment. Now the reliability testing and engineering advisory company that rose from the demise of Maytag Corp. is expanding its operations to the other side of First Avenue East.

UL Verification Services is leasing the former Tractor Supply Store on a long-term basis to Springboard, making more office and testing space available. Although Springboard will retain its office and testing spaces in the former K-Mart building on the north side of First Avenue, the renovation on the other side of the street represents a $500,000 commitment to its parent UL company as well as to Newton.

“We’re taxpayers in this building now,” said Springboard Operations Manager Craig Thies. “This means increased revenue for Springboard and for the City of Newton.”

Springboard has hired local contractors for the expansion, including Dan Kunkel for drywall work, DePenning for electrical work, Yeager’s for plumbing services, Nook for heating and cooling installation and Forbes for office furniture.

The addition of the new building will enable Springboard to expand its testing capabilities, and they plan on hiring an additional five employees over the next year. Springboard is a verification services company, testing performance of appliances, electronics and other equipment for energy efficiency. In addition to the improved testing capabilities, Thies said the newly-acquired building has a large unused floor space, which should help UL bring more ideas to Springboard in the future.

Renovation is expected to be complete by the end of February, Thies said, while some parts of the new building will be operational by next week.