---
title: "Instron accessories"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-0778f7"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0778f7"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0778f7.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0778f7.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "Aston University"
published: "2026-09-23"
---

# Instron accessories

Buyer: Aston University  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0778f7

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## Summary

Aston University bought accessories for an Instron Universal Testing System used for tensile, compression and flexure testing. The accessories support teaching across different construction materials and testing methods, enabling civil engineering students to carry out independent tests on a wider range of samples rather than only observing demonstrations. The educational purpose is to build practical skills relevant to professional construction and engineering work. This is a goods procurement for testing and measuring equipment and accessories (CPV 38540000). The buyer is Aston University, based in Birmingham. The procurement description concerns use of the university’s existing testing system; the accessories are intended to support teaching activities.

The procurement is complete and was awarded to ITW Limited. Aston University used a direct award, described as below threshold and without competition. There was one lot. The contract was signed on 18 September 2026 and runs from 31 October 2026 to 31 October 2027. Its gross value is £178,464. The process is recorded as complete, while the contract is active. The award is active. The evaluation basis is not described in the available procurement information. The contract includes an agreed order accuracy and fulfilment rate metric. The purchase was supported by external research funding, and the contract covers accessories for the testing system used in teaching civil engineering students.

For suppliers of materials-testing equipment and compatible accessories, this award demonstrates Aston University’s demand for equipment that extends the teaching use of an existing universal testing system. A credible competitor when this requirement returns would need to supply accessories that support tensile, compression and flexure testing across construction materials and testing methods, and enable students to conduct tests independently. The requirement is focused on practical compatibility with the installed Instron system and the university’s teaching purposes, rather than supply of a complete testing system. The selected supplier was ITW Limited. The contract’s order accuracy and fulfilment measure also indicates that reliable order processing and delivery matter to the buyer. Suppliers with relevant product knowledge and the capacity to provide a broad accessory range for education and engineering applications are best placed to meet a similar requirement.

## Notice

Aston recently ordered a Universal Testing System for tensile, compression and flexure testing, secured through external research funding. The accessories required to support teaching across multiple construction materials and testing methodologies are currently unavailable. The funding available is to purchase a range of accessories to allow us to make full use of the machine in teaching activities. This purchase will unlock the educational use of the Universal Testing System for teaching civil engineering students and move students from observing demonstrations to undertaking independent testing of a wide variety of samples, developing skills directly applicable to professional construction and engineering practice.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/090302-2026 |
| Notice type | UK7 - Contract Details Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Goods |
| Procurement method | Direct |
| Procurement method details | Below threshold - without competition |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 23 Sep 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 31 Oct 2026 - 31 Oct 2027 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £178,464 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | Aston University |
| Locality | BIRMINGHAM |
| Postcode area | Birmingham |
| Postcode | B4 7ET |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLG West Midlands (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLG3 West Midlands |
| ITL 3 | TLG31 Birmingham |
| Local authority | Birmingham |
| Electoral ward | Nechells |
| Westminster constituency | Birmingham Ladywood |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | ITW Ltd |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 38 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

### Codes

- 38540000 - Machines and apparatus for testing and measuring

## Release History

- 23 Sep 2026 at 16:22 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/090302-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/090302-2026
  23rd September 2026 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- http://www.aston.ac.uk
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0778f7. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0778f7.json.