Message from Matco's President

When pondering the key to building a successful enterprise, terms such as hard work, perseverance, determination and drive initially come to mind. But, after considerable thought, I believe that the pursuit of knowledge is one of the key building blocks to success.

There are two types of knowledge. The first type of knowledge can be easily acquired through books, technical articles or other written sources, which is usually taught at the local college or university. This type of knowledge (academic knowledge) can be classified, codified and communicated easily to other people.

While this type of knowledge is both invaluable and necessary, it cannot stand alone. The type of knowledge necessary to successfully build a consulting and engineering firm is obtained on a level that is gained through education, work experience, know-how, intuition and creativity. Matco Associates utilizes this type of knowledge to distinguish itself from competitors through the abilities of our people who have a higher understanding and insightful knowledge of materials.

The process of acquiring insightful knowledge is an ongoing, lifelong activity that is not limited to merely reading books, using the internet, going to college or even obtaining a Ph.D. The acquisition of insightful knowledge cannot be defined by any one process; rather it is a culmination of these processes that enables one to solve problems, to see the "big picture" and to develop the intuition required to resolve complex engineering problems.

Finding solutions to complicated materials problems cannot be achieved in an environment that is not conducive to the acquisition of higher knowledge. I am proud to say that Matco offers an environment that fosters the pursuit of knowledge, and provides employees with the opportunity to cultivate and develop insightful knowledge. This environment enables employees to respond intelligently to a client's technical needs, and provides the basis for which Matco's competitive edge ultimately stems.

The human factor is, of course, significant. And, it occurs to me that the true edge at Matco also stems from the unique experiences, insightful knowledge, and the ability of each of Matco's employees to work as a team to reach a common goal.

In closing, I believe Matco is, and will be for many years to come, a progressive organization comprised of dedicated people that work individually and collectively as a team to acquire knowledge and create, as well as implement, new and innovative ideas well into the new millennium.

Knowledge, when combined with teamwork, is indeed the determining factor as to whether a consulting firm will succeed and whether it will ever acquire and maintain the edge.

- M. Zamanzadeh, Ph.D.

Why Choose Matco Associates?

As one of the premier testing and inspection facilities featuring state of the art equipment, Matco Associates is able to provide a unique and diverse blend of services. Virtually thousands of investigations have been performed at Matco Associates, which range from jet engines and boiler tubes, to computer components and implants. Projects are not only conducted from initiation to completion with competent and experienced personnel, but conducted in a discrete manner that ensures confidentiality as well.

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Main Office Address:
MATCO Associates, Inc.
4640 Campbells Run Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15205

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Materials Forum

MATCO CLIENTS IN THE PUBLIC EYE, MATCO BEHIND THE SCENES

Although Matco's work is vital to its clients, it is rarely seen by the public. Here are some examples of recent jobs in which Matco provided the timely, competent, customer-oriented engineering analysis that made the difference.

Failure Analysis:
Metallurgical support for a major commercial airline fleet that includes failure analysis investigations, corrosion investigations, and quality control testing.

Corrosion Engineering:
Cathodic protection system design and installation for a submerged ocean tunnel for the off-loading facility of the largest liquified natural gas (LNG) process facility in the United States.

Paint Analysis:
On-site and laboratory investigation of paint delamination failures (flaking and peeling) on galvanized structural members of several major stadiums in the United States.

Enviromental Testing:
Comparative testing of the resistance of pharmaceutical labels to environmental stresses (MFG, Humidity, and QUV testing) for a major drug company to determine what labels held up the best.

Fire Investigation:
Same-day analysis of the effects of a truck fire on the superstructure of a major highway bridge to determine whether or not the highway could remain open.

Explosion Invesgitagtion:
Failure analysis of a gas main explosion that caused casualities.

Power Plants:
Failure analysis and remaining life determination of boiler componets in the power industry.

New Materials:
Electrochemical corrosion evaluation of implant materials such as hips, knees, stents, etc. to improve products and performance.

R&D:
Research & Development of coatings and sensors for the construction industry.�