Gundlach

Rose

Eldis

Fastener Testing

Automated Optical Image Analyzer

Picture it… it’s 1987 and three colleagues of Amax Materials Research Center (formerly Climax Molybdenum Company of Michigan) find out that the Ann Arbor facility at which they work, is being closed and part of its operation is moving to Colorado. Needless to say, Rick Gundlach, Duane Rose and George Eldis were at a loss. Rick, with eighteen years at AMAX as a metallurgical engineer and research supervisor; Duane, an authority in electron microscopy, energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, optical microscopy and photomicrography; and George, who held research and management positions with Amax Materials Research Center (formerly Climax Molybdenum Company of Michigan), definitely had the technical knowledge, so they decided to open a company of their own. With their severance packages and creative business wit, they opened Climax Research Services (CRS), a full service metallurgical facility that specializes in providing a complete range of metallurgical analysis, engineering, testing and consulting. Although the name “Climax Research Services” can raise some eyebrows for a few reasons, the main reason for the name is its connection to the industry-known Climax Mine in Colorado and the reputation of the metallurgical engineering research group associated with that organization.

Rick, Duane and George hired their first employee in 1988 and ended the year with six employees. In each successive year, CRS has grown to its current staff of 55 employees. In 1994, CRS acquired Analytical Associates from Frankel Metal Co., which expanded the extent of CRS laboratory services to include chemical analysis, for the first time. Through this acquisition, Climax Research Services became one of a small handful of companies, worldwide, capable of providing a full range of metallurgical engineering research, consulting and laboratory testing services to the market place.

Even though CRS is among the very few that provide such wide-ranging services, the owners’ philosophy is that the customers always come first. One of the company’s strong points is its technical accuracy, no matter how large or small the job. CRS employees have always prided themselves on applying the same expert attention to small or routine jobs as they do to failure analysis or complex development programs. Timeliness is also a high priority at CRS. Two shifts are scheduled daily, along with a sample pick up service, which aids CRS in responding quickly to their customers’ needs. 

Considering the history of CRS, how unique they are in the industry and their commitment to customer service, it only makes sense to explain what they actually do. 

With an average industrial metals experience of 25 years, the CRS staff has a broad range of expertise. These professionals supply the two primary services offered, which are Engineering Consulting Services and Laboratory Testing Services. The Engineering Consulting Services group is comprised of three synergistic services, which include Consulting, Research and Development; Engineering and Design; and. More specific examples of these services are: Failure Analysis; Metallurgical Processing; Phase Transformation Analysis; Residual Stress Testing and Analysis; Welding; Alloy Development; Induction Heating Development and Legal Expert Testimony, just to name a few.

The Laboratory Services are divided into specialties as well. These include Chemical Analysis, Metallographic Characterization, Mechanical Testing, Fatigue Testing, Corrosion Testing, Wear Testing, Heat Treatment, Machining, X-Ray Diffraction, Fastener Testing (see photo) and Technical Support, among others. One unique aspect of the Laboratory Services is their Technical Support group. These seasoned professionals are the experts when it comes to determining a customer’s testing needs. They identify the correct testing method required and then route the incoming jobs to the corresponding departments. This service has proven to be very effective at minimizing the cost to the client and the completion time for jobs.

Climax Research Services is continually striving to provide the best quality service to their customers. In February 2000, Climax Research Services built a new facility in Wixom, Michigan. They doubled their capacity in order to better serve their customers’ needs in an efficient and timely manner. Now, with a fully equipped, state-of-the-art testing facility and laboratory, CRS expects to expand their list of services in the very near future. CRS is now located at 51229 Century Court in Wixom, Michigan 48393-2074. Their new phone number is 248-960-4900, and fax 248-960-4970. CRS can also be found at www.climaxresearch.com. With all of their advances and customer service dedication, the future is very bright for this continually growing company.