About Wallace Instruments

Precision testing since the 1950s

For over 75 years we have designed, manufactured and supplied materials testing equipment trusted by the global rubber and polymer industry — from natural rubber plantations to high-tech aerospace manufacturers.

What sets us apart

Our four pillars

The principles behind every Wallace instrument — ensuring quality you can measure, repeat, and rely on.

Traceability

Software allows for ease of data capture and analyses.

Operation and daily verification of the instruments require minimal training.

Repeatability

Doing the same thing over and over expecting the same result.

We have completed a Gage R&R study which gives system repeatability and reliability of 99%.

Productivity

Our Hardness Testers are simple to operate with one-time set up and simple one finger operation.

Operation and daily verification of the instruments require minimal training.

Accessories like the O-ring table and ability to use barcode scanners improve productivity.

Flexibility

We realise that different customers have different needs. Our instruments are designed to favour stability, reliability and repeatability which some customers may perceive as inflexibility.

Our research shows that customers also favour these attributes but often need to do more.

A standard set of easily interchangeable sample tables provide for specific applications.

Our story

Precision testing since the 1950s

From our headquarters in Dorking, Surrey we design, manufacture and export to over 60 countries worldwide.

H.W. Wallace & Co Limited — trading as Wallace Instruments — has reliably designed and supplied materials testing equipment to the rubber and polymer industry since the early 1950s. From our headquarters in Dorking, Surrey we export to over 60 countries worldwide.

Our thousands of customers extend across the entire rubber supply chain: from natural rubber producers in equatorial countries to high-tech aerospace manufacturers demanding the tightest tolerances.

Manufacturing and design is done entirely in-house through our sister company Tenon Engineering Limited, giving us excellent quality control and a depth of engineering know-how that few competitors can match.

Wallace Instruments headquarters and distribution

Our heritage

Over 75 years of innovation

Key milestones in the Wallace Instruments story.

1950s

Founded in Dorking

H.W. Wallace & Co Limited begins designing and manufacturing rubber testing equipment in Surrey.

1960s

International expansion

Wallace instruments reach rubber-growing nations, building a distributor network spanning 60+ countries.

1970s

Industry-standard testing

The product range becomes the reference for IRHD hardness and rapid plasticity measurement.

1980s

Digital revolution

Microprocessor-controlled testers with automated test cycles revolutionise repeatability and productivity.

1990s

Tenon Engineering

In-house manufacturing consolidates under sister company Tenon Engineering for full design-to-delivery control.

2000s

Full product portfolio

Nine product families: Hardness, Plasticity, Viscosity, Compression, Density, Flex, Ovens and more.

2010s

Software-integrated testing

PC-connected instruments with data logging, statistical analysis and real-time reporting.

Today

Trusted worldwide

Thousands of active customers across the entire rubber supply chain, delivering precision and reliability.

In-house manufacturing

Designed & built in the UK

Unlike many instrument suppliers, Wallace controls every stage of the product lifecycle. Our sister company Tenon Engineering Limited handles all mechanical design, precision machining, electronic assembly and final calibration under one roof.

Excellent quality control

Every component is manufactured, inspected and tested on site.

Deep engineering know-how

Decades of accumulated expertise in precision instrument design.

Full design-to-delivery control

Concept, prototyping, manufacture and calibration — all in Dorking.

Who we serve

Industries & applications

Our instruments are deployed across the entire rubber and polymer supply chain.

Natural rubber production

Plasticity and viscosity testing for rubber plantations, processing factories and commodity trading houses across Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and beyond.

Aerospace & defence

Precision hardness and compression-set testing for seals, O-rings and elastomeric components used in critical aerospace and defence applications.

Automotive

Testing rubber compounds, seals, bushings and anti-vibration mounts against ISO and ASTM standards for automotive OEMs and tier-one suppliers.

Research & academia

Universities and research institutes worldwide rely on Wallace equipment for polymer science research, material characterisation and standards development.

Medical & pharmaceutical

Testing elastomers used in medical devices, pharmaceutical closures and healthcare products where material consistency is safety-critical.

Construction & industrial

Verifying the performance of rubber compounds in bearings, bridge pads, conveyor belts, pipe seals and industrial mouldings.

Standards & accreditation

Built to international standards

Wallace instruments are designed to comply with the world’s most widely recognised materials testing standards. Whether you test to ISO, ASTM or BS methods, our equipment delivers the accuracy, repeatability and traceability your quality system demands.

ISO

International Organization for Standardization

ASTM

American Society for Testing & Materials

British Standards Institution

DIN

Deutsches Institut für Normung

Common test methods include IRHD hardness (ISO 48), Shore hardness, rapid plasticity (ISO 2007), Mooney viscosity (ISO 289), compression set (ISO 815) and many more.

Precision testing instruments in a Wallace laboratory

After-sales support

Service, calibration & training

Customer after-sales support is critical. We back every instrument with comprehensive service throughout its lifetime.

Service & repair

Our UK service team and trained distributors provide repairs, refurbishment and preventive maintenance to keep your instruments performing at their best.

Calibration

Traceable calibration services ensure your instruments meet the accuracy requirements of your quality system and the relevant international standards.