A coal and water laboratory was purchased by Std Labs in 1981 from a Mr. Robert Speech. The lab performed coal sampling and analysis as well as water analysis for the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles and was certified by the state of California.
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In the Corbin, KY area Std Labs had encountered a competitor, Environmental Technology, which was owned by Jimmy Wadkins and his wife. This entity supplied coal testing and some environmental test (mainly water testing). After several years of competition, Jimmy approached Std Labs and suggested a merger which actually ended up after negotiations as an acquisition for Std Labs.
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A sense of normality returned to the country, world, as the Covid 19 virus slowed down. The coal industry production leveled off at 600 million tons, but coal exports actually increased. The Russian war in Ukraine increased the value of coal worldwide as NATO and other Western Nations stopped purchasing Russian fossil fuel, particularly Russian
2021 was a difficult year as the Covid 19 pandemic enveloped the entire world. Standard Labs was not excluded. Many of our employees across the nation contracted the illness. Standard Labs lost Mike Kulow, a lab manager in the Western Division. Cheryl Gardner from the NARM lab was put on a ventilator. The pandemic caused
In 2020 the company sold its holdings in Appalachian States Analytical (see ASA in the Partnerships section) to Pace Analytical Services, LLC, one one the largest full service laboratories in the United States. This sale marked Std Labs departure from the eastern Kentucky coal fields after becoming established there over 71 years ago. This was
2019 marked a new era in the company’s top management as Rick Flesher retired September 1 after many years of loyal service. Rick lead the company to its highest point in revenues and number of employees. He moved Std Labs from being an important participant in the industry to being the dominant factor in coal
During this year NARM1 was combined with NARM North and Steve Johnson was made manager the new combination.
In 2017 Tim Hutchinson became the manager of the Freeburg, IL lab. QAR was certified to ISO 17043 and ISO 17034 in February.
In 2015 the company opened and then closed Mountain Coal Lab which was supervised from the Jacksboro facility.
In 2014 Std won a major contract with PEABODY COAL COMPANY and five new labs were added to company’s locations. They included: NARM of Wright, WYO headed by Jeremy Burks NARM North of Wright, WYO headed by Kathy Holt Caballo of Gillette, WYO headed by Mike Just Rawhide of Gillette, WYO headed by Ronda Godfrey
