An alignment apparatus for aligning a test panel with a testing machine, comprising: a laser measuring system including at least one laser measuring device coupled to a test fixture and/or a testing machine and configured to generate laser measurement data representative of an orientation of a test panel relative to an upper platen and/or a loading axis of the testing machine; and an adjustment mechanism configured to adjust, based on the laser measurement data, a location and/or orientation of the test panel relative to the platen and/or the loading axis in a manner such that the test panel is moved into substantially alignment with the platen and/or the loading axis such that a compressive test load is substantially uniformly distributed across a panel edge of the test panel; further comprising: a load transmitting interface configured to be positioned on a panel edge of a test panel; wherein the laser measuring system includes a first and a second laser measuring device disposed on a respective first and second end portion (208, 210) of the load transmitting interface, the first and second laser measuring device being configured to determine a value indicative of a respective first and second distance (212, 214) between the platen and the respective first and second end portion (208, 210); and wherein the adjustment mechanism is configured to adjust an orientation of the test panel by raising or lowering a first end portion and/or the second end portion (208, 210) of the load transmitting interface to substantially equalize the first and second distances (212, 214) in a manner such that the load transmitting interface is aligned with the panel edge such that a compressive test load is uniformly distributed across a first side edge of the test panel. a laser measuring system including at least one laser measuring device coupled to a test fixture and/or a testing machine and configured to generate laser measurement data representative of an orientation of a test panel relative to an upper platen and/or a loading axis of the testing machine; and an adjustment mechanism configured to adjust, based on the laser measurement data, a location and/or orientation of the test panel relative to the platen and/or the loading axis in a manner such that the test panel is moved into substantially alignment with the platen and/or the loading axis such that a compressive test load is substantially uniformly distributed across a panel edge of the test panel; further comprising: a load transmitting interface configured to be positioned on a panel edge of a test panel; wherein the laser measuring system includes a first and a second laser measuring device disposed on a respective first and second end portion (208, 210) of the load transmitting interface, the first and second laser measuring device being configured to determine a value indicative of a respective first and second distance (212, 214) between the platen and the respective first and second end portion (208, 210); and wherein the adjustment mechanism is configured to adjust an orientation of the test panel by raising or lowering a first end portion and/or the second end portion (208, 210) of the load transmitting interface to substantially equalize the first and second distances (212, 214) in a manner such that the load transmitting interface is aligned with the panel edge such that a compressive test load is uniformly distributed across a first side edge of the test panel. a load transmitting interface configured to be positioned on a panel edge of a test panel; wherein the laser measuring system includes a first and a second laser measuring device disposed on a respective first and second end portion (208, 210) of the load transmitting interface, the first and second laser measuring device being configured to determine a value indicative of a respective first and second distance (212, 214) between the platen and the respective first and second end portion (208, 210); and wherein the adjustment mechanism is configured to adjust an orientation of the test panel by raising or lowering a first end portion and/or the second end portion (208, 210) of the load transmitting interface to substantially equalize the first and second distances (212, 214) in a manner such that the load transmitting interface is aligned with the panel edge such that a compressive test load is uniformly distributed across a first side edge of the test panel.