Centers and Facilities
students researching
SBIO faculty and student researchers cross disciplinary and global boundaries
Across Virginia Tech, there are hundreds of Centers that provide support, structure, and organization for faculty-led research efforts that cross disciplinary and college boundaries.
Within the SBIO department, Centers also offer opportunities for expanded faculty research and collaboration, in Blacksburg, nationally, and around the world.
student researching
Center supported research
Some of our research is done in concert with our faculty-directed research centers and is supported by these Centers and their external cooperating partners.
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Center for Forest Products Business , redirectThe forest products industry is an important industry for the United States. Competition within the forest products industry has become fierce. Marketing as well as management of production and people have become integral to remaining competitive. The Center for Forest Products Business strives to help firms improve the management of their operations and the marketing of their products.
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The Center for Packaging and Unit Load Design , redirectVirginia Tech’s Center for Packaging & Unit Load Design leads U.S. research and testing in pallet and packaging systems—from primary packaging to full unit-load optimization. Explore cutting-edge lab services, academic programs, member resources, and industry collaboration.
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Wood-Based Composites Center , redirectThe Wood-Based Composites Center (WBC) is Cooperative Research Center driven by an industry-scientific community that develops research related to composites and renewable materials. The WBC is a leading source for fundamental research and education in wood-based composites.
SBIO's Facilities and Laboratories
Cold Chain Packaging Laboratory
Equipped with state-of-the-art sensors and analytical tools, the lab evaluates thermal performance, optimizes container designs, and supports the industry’s transition to more sustainable cold chain packaging systems.
Brooks Forest Products Center
Corrugated Materials Testing Laboratory
This lab focuses on evaluating the performance of packaging materials. We evaluate properties of corrugated fiberboard such as Edge Crush Resistance, Flat Crush Resistance, Box Compression Strength, Bending Stiffness, Water Absorption, Bursting Strength, and Friction.
Brooks Forest Products Center
Distribution Packaging Laboratory
This lab provides testing/research services for the physical and structural properties of packaging systems and materials. Packaging materials include the diverse synthetic, natural materials, and composites that make up the functional components of packaging.
Brooks Forest Products Center
Unit Load & Pallet Testing Laboratory
Equipment in this lab focuses on understanding how packaging, pallets, and distribution equipment interact in order to optimize unit load storage and distribution system design.
Brooks Forest Products Center
IKEA Certified Testing Lab
We have one of only four certified IKEA labs in the world, and the only one in the Americas. We have the ability to evaluate and compare material characteristics of corrugated fiberboard, pallet feet, and load bearers according to IKEA test methods which are based on the specifications of IOS-P-0010.
Brooks Forest Products Center
Amazon APASS Testing Lab
We have the only facility in Virginia that is APASS and ISTA certified. We are certified to conduct all of ISTA's Amazon tests including Project 6: Amazon – SIOC (A-G) and Project 6: Over-boxing. Due to our extensive experience in distribution and protective packaging, we are also qualified to help improve your packaging so that it will pass all applicable Amazon requirements!
Brooks Forest Products Center
Packaging Design and Prototyping Laboratory
This large space has work benches and various types of equipment for the design and fabrication of packaging and other items developed by students. Students make different types of packaging and hand-crafted projects, and also work on collaborative projects from laser engraved designs to basic tooling of wood.
Brooks Forest Products Center
Sustainable Packaging Materials Laboratory
This lab studies sustainable packaging materials and their applications; including manufacturing processes, food packaging systems, smart packaging, and biosensor systems using chemiluminescent technology.
Cheatham Hall
Thermal Analysis Laboratory
An instrumentation lab used to determine how molecular structure impacts physical properties in sustainable biomaterials.
225 Cheatham Hall
Plant Polymer Laboratory
Sustainable biomaterials are prepared here and/or analyzed using wet chemical methods.
235 Cheatham Hall
246 Cheatham Hall Laboratory
A shared materials characterization laboratory for analysis using FT-IR spectrometry, rheometric, and x-ray diffraction instruments.
246 Cheatham Hall
Microtechniques Laboratory
The study of the macroscopic and microscopic structure and basic chemical composition of biomaterials including wood, grasses, bamboo and bagasse is done in this lab.
224 Cheatham Hall
Quantitative Biomaterials Anatomy Laboratory
This lab focuses on determining the crushing strength of small wood columns using the new micromechanics test system developed specifically for this lab.
200 Cheatham Hall
Bio-Based Composites Laboratory
This lab services the Sustainable Engineered Materials Institute and the Wood-Based Composites Center. It houses a pilot plant for the manufacture of flat-pressed composites, wet-lab, raw material preparation and material testing.
Brooks Forest Products Center
Wood Drying Laboratory
This purpose of this lab is to discover ways to improve wood drying methods and incorporate newly developed concepts into industrial practice.
Brooks Forest Products Center
Machining & Design Laboratory
Heavy-duty stationary machinery is maintained here where it supports teaching, research and outreach activities of the department.
Brooks Forest Products Center
Engineering Renewable Materials Structures Lab
This lab functions as a flexible testing laboratory and is used by faculty and students for research, graduate student research, demonstrations and short courses.
Brooks Forest Products Center
Metals & Machining Laboratory
The department maintains this lab for the purpose of fabricating jigs, fixtures and test equipment used in our wood research, teaching and outreach programs.
Brooks Forest Products Center
240 ICTAS I - Laboratory
The lab has six fume hoods (all used by Edgar's students), with two separate analytical rooms totaling 602 sq. ft. and separate solid (81 sq. ft.) and liquid (144 sq. ft.) chemical storage rooms. It has accommodations for four students at desks well-separated from the experimental area.
2nd floor ICTAS I