Everything Material in Material Science

This year marks a significant achievement for NSL Analytical Services, Inc., as we celebrate our 80th year in business!  

From new technologies, emerging markets and investing in new facilities, NSL has evolved a lot over the past eight decades – all while staying true to our core mission.  

“Like many legacy companies, ours began with a commitment to serving a need,” said Chris Keith, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for NSL Analytical. “But most importantly, we strove to earn our customers’ trust through the approachability of our team, providing confidence in accurate materials test results and consistently delivering fast turnarounds. All of which remain pillars of our philosophy.”  

Building a Foundation for Growth 

Beginning in 1945, the chemical laboratory industry experienced significant change and growth, necessitating the use of advanced spectrographic instruments and other specialized chemical testing equipment. That was when National Spectrographic Laboratories, the precursor to today’s NSL, was founded.  

During our first 18 years, we pioneered several industry achievements, including the introduction of the first spectrograph for trace elemental testing. We also developed initial testing methods for ceramic materials in electronics, Zircaloy for the nuclear industry, and high-temperature Ni alloys for the aerospace industry. 

In 1963, the company sold off the instrument manufacturing side of the business to the Bard Corporation, as our customers had a growing need for materials testing. 

Many successful years followed for NSL, during which we fully transitioned from a producer of chemical testing equipment and standards to a facility specializing in materials and environmental products testing. During those years, we continued to build on our strong foundation, becoming a highly regarded organization that consistently meets the evolving needs of the materials testing market.  

Advancing Our Legacy 

While our technology, capabilities and facilities have expanded over the years, the founding principles of the organization remain steadfast. 

“We’ve always believed that to be a world-class testing laboratory for customers in mission-critical industries, we have to earn their trust and confidence in us,” Keith added. “We accomplish that by listening to our customers and delivering the most accurate and highest-quality results possible. That has been the touchstone of our business since its inception and will continue to carry us far into the future.”  

As we celebrate and reflect on our 80 years in business, we look forward to continuing our legacy of excellence and upholding the unparalleled integrity and reliability for which we’re proud to be known. 

NSL Analytical’s 80-Year Journey: 

1945: Founded as National Spectrographic Laboratories, manufacturing instruments 

1963: Sold the instrument manufacturing to Bard Corp 

1986-1999: Entered the Environmental Testing Industry 

1993: NSL was sold to a group of private investors and NSL employees 

2002: Expanded to include Metallurgical Microscopy with the purchase of a Scanning Electron Microscope 

2007: Created new 31,500 sq. ft. chemistry laboratory 

2008: Partnered with the Vision Council and entered the Ophthalmic industry  

2009: Acquired Central Testing Laboratory to expand Metallurgical & Mechanical testing capabilities 

2011: Added Thermal Analysis to the Organic lab 

2012: Acquired new 11,500 sq. ft. building for Metallurgical & Mechanical testing 

2014: Added powder lab and launched Additive Manufacturing testing services 

2020: Ownership changed to May River Capital 

2024: Expanded into high-temperature testing 

2024: Acquired new 20,000 sq. ft. facility for Metallurgical laboratory 

2024: Ownership changed to Levine Leichtman Capital Partners 

2025: Celebrating 80 years in business 

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Looking to explore how third-party testing can support your unique material needs? Check out NSL’s resources below: 

Materials Matter: This educational hub page is a trusted resource for material science information. 

Webinars and White Papers: Dive into specific topics in this library of educational webinars and white papers.  

Video Library: View these helpful videos about everything from additive manufacturing to spectroscopy and more.  

NSL Analytical Services, Inc. is an independent materials testing lab that specializes in metallurgical, mechanical, chemical, and optical testing for mission-critical industries.  

Contact our experienced, accredited team to discover how we can deliver accurate, repeatable testing results with lightning-fast turnarounds, giving you confidence in your material performance and adherence to quality standards and regulations.