Pittards laboratory was officially opened by Titleist FootJoy in 1998.

The project was completed on time and to budget, with the testing service operational from the very first day. The facilities encompass twice the original ground square footage.

The laboratory design and operations embrace Pittards Total Quality culture. Open plan furniture and inclusion of natural and recessed lighting provide a feeling of space. The lab personnel serve the four production teams (sport, dress, shoe and military) while the Research and Development team of seven members is responsible for ongoing projects.

Leathers are tested for various technical properties such as water resistance, colour fastness, oil and stain resistance and strength, depending on the specifications of each product. European (CEN and BS) and International (ISO) test methods are used, and Pittards staff are included in the committees who establish these tests for the whole leather industry.

The research and development team is committed to innovation, development and understanding of new technical properties. For example, a specially designed hand that can breathe has been purchased to enable Pittards to measure insulation, heat loss and breathability of both leathers and glove constructions.

Work in the laboratory is carried out on a project basis, with a written brief. Progress is monitored and controlled with networked databases. Information gathering is facilitated by the company's own technical library and the use of the Internet link to search worldwide databases in industrial and academic institutions. A report is issued for each project, ensuring that the benefits of the work are communicated to all parts of the business.