International. Following its recent commitment to continuously improve the end-to-end experience for installation partners and end customers, SnapAV announced a $2.3 million investment in its Charlotte, North Carolina, Quality and Innovation Lab, which significantly expands the company's product testing and development capabilities. with new equipment, more space and a larger workforce.
The new equipment enables faster and more accurate testing for wireless communications and power protection products, while several all-new lab areas help experts examine the reliability and compatibility between displays, AV equipment, IoT devices, and more.
"Our mission to improve product quality never ends," said SnapAV's director of engineering, Harry Dhaliwal. "SnapAV is in a unique position at the center of manufacturing, retail and distribution, and our continued investment in Quality & Innovation Labs reinforces our ability to deliver innovative solutions and quickly address partner needs. This latest investment provides the lab's experienced test engineers and experienced installation professionals with sophisticated tools to test everything from device longevity and optimal operating temperatures to cross-platform and driver compatibility for third-party product integration."
The Charlotte Quality and Innovation Lab exemplifies the company's dedication to partner success and industry leadership and now occupies two and a half times its original footprint, having grown from 3,000 square feet to 7,500 square feet, while the full-time staff has increased from 12 to 20.
With significant investments in leading test equipment for power equipment and networks such as Wattbox, Araknis, and Pakedge products, the professionals who run the lab can now work faster, smarter, and more efficiently to analyze more attributes and refine more products.
The expansion also added several new areas for testing specific products and applications. In the new area of The Internet of Things (IoT), a collection of wall- and rack-mounted devices integrates with SnapAV products, testing interoperability and real-world performance.
The new automation center accelerates time to market by using automated scripts that perform a testing program much faster and more accurately than a human. Once those tests are complete, hands-on work begins testing use cases, resolving bugs, and ensuring all issues are addressed.
While most lab areas are located on a fairly open floor plan, the new insulated sound test room has sound insulation on the walls, ceiling, and doors to create ideal conditions for testing amplifier and speaker products.
The company has several quality and innovation labs in North America and is in the midst of a multi-year initiative to invest in multiple labs and offer new capabilities that enable even greater responsiveness and support for partners.
