Our Team

About Us

Two Brands. One Misison.

In the world of materials testing, precision is not optional — it is foundational. Accurate data drives safer products, stronger structures, and smarter engineering decisions. Behind that data must be a partner that understands both the science of testing and the real-world demands of modern laboratories and manufacturing environments.

Universal Grip Company and Universal Test Machine Co. operate as sister companies with a shared mission: to deliver reliable, high-performance testing solutions that engineers trust.

Together, the two organizations provide a complete ecosystem for mechanical testing — supporting everything from force generation to specimen interface technology.


Universal Grip Company

The Authority on "In-stock" Grips and Fixtures

Founded in 2015, Universal Grip Company has grown into one of the most recognized names in the materials testing space, known for its deep specialization in grips, fixtures, adapters, and specimen interface solutions.

The company was built on a simple but critical understanding: even the most advanced testing machine cannot produce accurate results without proper specimen holding and alignment.

Universal Grip focuses exclusively on the components that connect the specimen to the testing system, offering solutions engineered for repeatability, durability, and ASTM/ISO compliance.

Their extensive library of testing fixtures supports a wide range of industries, including:

  • Aerospace

  • Automotive

  • Medical device manufacturing

  • Packaging

  • Plastics and polymers

  • Metals

  • Textiles

  • Adhesives and composites

From wedge grips and hydraulic fixtures to specialized peel, shear, flexural, and fatigue test setups, Universal Grip Company has become a trusted resource for laboratories seeking both standard and highly customized solutions.

Just as importantly, the organization approaches customization as a core competency — not an exception — allowing customers to solve complex testing challenges with confidence.


Universal Test Machine Co.

The Complete Testing Solution

Universal Test Machine Co. was established to expand beyond specimen interface technology and deliver fully integrated testing systems.

While Universal Grip Company concentrates on how the specimen is secured during testing, Universal Test Machine Co. focuses on how force is generated, measured, and controlled.

The result is a natural evolution: a company dedicated to providing complete, turnkey materials testing environments.

Universal Test Machine Co. offers:

  • Universal testing machines (electromechanical and servo-hydraulic)

  • Dynamic and fatigue testing systems

  • Load cells and force transducers

  • Extensometers and strain measurement technologies

  • Controllers and software platforms

  • Calibration services

  • Machine retrofits and modernization

  • Integrated testing packages

By partnering with globally respected manufacturers such as Galdabini, LiTeM, Mark-10, and Imetrum, the company brings world-class technology to laboratories that demand accuracy, repeatability, and long-term reliability.

Whether supporting research institutions, production quality labs, or high-capacity industrial environments, Universal Test Machine Co. delivers systems designed for measurable performance.


Built for Engineers. Driven by Application Knowledge.

What differentiates these sister companies is not simply the equipment — it is the depth of application understanding behind it.

Both teams work closely with customers to evaluate:

  • Applicable ASTM and ISO standards

  • Specimen geometry

  • Required force ranges

  • Environmental conditions

  • Data requirements

  • Throughput expectations

This consultative approach ensures that solutions are not only technically correct, but operationally effective.

Because in professional testing environments, reliability is measured over thousands — sometimes millions — of cycles.


Supporting the Future of Materials Testing

As materials evolve, so do the demands placed on testing laboratories. Lightweight composites, advanced polymers, biomedical components, and high-performance alloys require increasingly sophisticated evaluation methods.

Universal Grip Company and Universal Test Machine Co. remain committed to supporting this progression through continual innovation, expanded capabilities, and strategic global partnerships.

The objective is straightforward:

Help customers test with greater confidence.


Stronger Together

Dual brands serve a distinct purpose, their relationship is intentionally seamless.

Customers often discover that the most efficient path forward is a coordinated solution — a testing system paired with precision instrumentation and application-specific gripping technology.

Two companies.
Shared expertise.
Unified support.

Because when testing systems perform exactly as intended, engineers can focus on what matters most: advancing design, improving safety, and pushing materials further than ever before.

FRANK C. BERTINI, JR.

FRANK C. BERTINI, JR.

Founder, CEO and Chief SEO Architect

Born and raised on the North Shore, Frank is a manufacturing and sales veteran, previously holding positions at ADMET, Axcelis, Keyence, SICK, and VDC Research. Frank holds a BS in Physics and Mathematics from Villanova University. Drawing from a wealth of sales and marketing experience, Frank identified a market opportunity and founded the company based on 2 principles - Efficiency and Honesty.

The Universal Grip Company was created in order to provide the world with increased access to material testing knowledge and products. Through this increased access, UGC hopes to make a lasting contribution to science and technology.

CHRISTOPHER THOMAS BERTINI

CHRISTOPHER THOMAS BERTINI

COO

Chris earned his Mechanical Engineering degree at Fairfield University and handles the day to day operations at UGC. Using a multi-disciplinary approach, Chris is the conflagrant engine behind the business. Through the use of unconventional metric tracking, such as Actions Per Minute (APM) and Tasks per Hour (TPH), Chris delivers immense value both to UGC and our Customers.

CT approaches each day like a game of speed chess. If you can click faster, type more accurately, and complete more actions in a set period of time, you will win. He fondly refers to this approach as a HEAD game (High Efficiency Analytical Decision making). If you have a question or need, Chris has you covered, times 5.

JULIANA BERTINI

JULIANA BERTINI

CMO, Creative Director

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