PENNTAP Wins National Award for Technology Assistance

November 26, 2002

University Park, Pa. --- Penn State’s Pennsylvania Technical Assistance Program (PENNTAP) has won national recognition for helping Harman Stove of Halifax, Pa., initiate a cost-effective modification of their coatings operations to be compliant with state air quality regulations.

Harman Stove reported economic benefits from the PENNTAP assistance totaling several hundred thousand dollars, including 25 person-days saved. They also reported that 80 jobs were saved and that the plant was kept open to satisfy their customers’ needs with durable, attractive wood and coal stoves.

The project was selected as an Outstanding Project of the Year in the technology assistance category in the National Association of Management and Technical Assistance Centers (NAMTAC) awards competition. The award, a plaque, was presented at the NAMTAC Fall awards banquet held in Asheville, N.C.

Warren Weaver, PENNTAP senior technical specialist, led the project. This is the fifth NAMTAC award that Weaver has won.

“Harman Stove’s supplier could not supply them with a high-gloss, low-solvent content coating for their wood and coal stoves without using a non-ozone forming ‘exempt’ solvent that had potential health and safety risks,” Weaver says. “Others in their industry would soon be facing the same restrictions, creating an industry problem, not just a company problem.”

The Penn State technical specialist worked with Harman Stove’s plant manager to understand their options and to help identify a solution. He facilitated a meeting with the Pennsylvania Department of Environment Protection regulators and then identified potential solution providers. He also assisted Harman Stove to obtain an Air-quality Plan Approval.

PENNTAP helps Pennsylvania business improve their competitiveness by providing free technical assistance and information to help resolve specific technical questions or needs that can be addressed within a limited amount of time.

NAMTAC is a not-for-profit association that provides information and a forum to enhance the performance of organizations providing business, economic development and technical assistance to businesses and communities.

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Contacts:

Barbara Hale (814) 865-9481 bah@psu.edu

Vicki Fong (814) 865-9481 vfong@psu.edu

EDITORS: Warren Weaver is located in York and serves most of central Pennsylvania. He is at wjw@psu.edu via email or (717) 848- 6669 by phone.