PENNTAP Wins Two National Awards for Helping PA Businesses
November 18, 2003
University Park, Pa. --- Penn State's Pennsylvania Technical Assistance Program (PENNTAP) has won two 2003 Outstanding Project of the Year awards from the National Association of Management and Technical Assistance Centers (NAMTAC) for helping Cornell Iron Works in Mountaintop and Nature's Blend Wood Products in Ford City.
Mark D. Toda, PENNTAP's senior technical specialist in northeastern Pennsylvania, helped Cornell Iron Works implement an internal process for developing new products. Cornell, a leading manufacturer of rolling door products, says $2 million in increased sales and five new jobs were created as the result of the PENNTAP assistance.
John Pletcher, PENNTAP forest products specialist, helped Nature's Blend, a cabinet door manufacturer, use a rough mill simulation program to justify new equipment to increase efficiencies and performed a materials balance analysis to identify further opportunities to enhance yields. The company estimates that after implementing PENNTAP recommendations they saved $124,000 the first year and an additional $157,000 after the second.
The two PENNTAP technical specialists accepted their award plaques at NAMTAC's annual awards banquet in Albany, N.Y.
Toda's project was honored as the best in NAMTAC's Business Assistance category. Cornell Iron Works needed a formal, structured, process for evaluating the viability of new products and a management process for developing those products. The assistance started with Toda inviting Cornell Iron Works to participate in a seminar sponsored by Penn State's Institute for the Study of Business Markets. Toda, working in partnership with the Northeastern Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center (NEPIRC), then helped the company implement the Stage-Gate™ process for new product development.
Pletcher's project was honored as best in the Technology Transfer category. He used ROMI-RIP software, developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, to assess the company's rough mill operation and recommended that they purchase a longer arbor gang saw. The new equipment increased ripping yield by six percent and saved $124,000 the first year in material and labor. The new equipment was paid off in six months. The materials balance analysis resulted in further yield savings and new product lines for an additional $157,000 a year for a total annual economic impact of $281,000. Nature's Blend expects to obtain additional savings as further improvements are made.
PENNTAP helps Pennsylvania businesses improve their competitiveness by providing a limited amount of free technology assistance and information to help resolve specific technical questions or needs. 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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