Posts from — February 2010

Gorell Windows & Doors recently announced that its products have been approved for use in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Cooperative Purchasing Program (COSTARS). This program is designed to improve and maximize the energy efficiency of state and municipal buildings in Pennsylvania. The COSTARS approach to cooperative purchasing uses the purchasing power of municipal entities to obtain more competitive pricing and choice than individual purchasers might be able to obtain on their own.

Gorell vinyl windows are approved for the COSTARS program because they are engineered and made to be highly energy efficient and “green.” More than 99 percent of Gorell’s product line is ENERGY STAR® qualified, which means these windows help save energy—and money—on heating and cooling. In addition, five double-hung replacement window models made by Gorell have earned the prestigious Green Seal™ certification. The certification reflects the significantly high levels of performance and quality of these Gorell windows and identifies these products as environmentally preferable.

“We’re excited to be one of the few window manufacturers to have products approved for use in the COSTARS program,” says Brian Zimmerman, Gorell president and COO. “This approval is a testament to how energy-efficient and ‘green’ Gorell vinyl windows are. Our windows will help lower energy costs and improve the comfort of state and local buildings—as well as help protect the environment.”

Gorell is also known for designing and manufacturing strong, durable products that help deter intrusion. The National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) and McGruff the Crime Dog selected Gorell as the only window manufacturer in the country to partner with to help people be safer and more secure in their homes and communities.

Gorell—2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 ENERGY STAR® Sustained Excellence Award winner and Partner of the Year from 2004 to 2010—manufactures windows for replacement and new-construction applications, patio doors and aluminum storm windows and doors. The company markets its products through a network of dealers and distributors. Acknowledged as one of the most innovative and fastest growing manufacturers of windows and doors in North America, Gorell is consistently recognized for its high product quality and excellent customer service.

Ardiem Medical Inc. has obtained a non-exclusive license to make and sell neuromodulation devices based on intellectual property developed at Case Western Reserve University’s Department of Biomedical Engineering and the Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) Center in Cleveland.

The FES Center seeks restoring function for people with disabilities.

The agreement grants Ardiem Medical, a medical devices manufacturer based in Indiana, Pa., rights to intramuscular recording and stimulating electrodes, epimysysial recording and stimulating electrodes, spiral cuff peripheral nerve electrodes, and a universal external control unit. Additional details of the agreement were not disclosed.

The technologies, first developed for internal research at CWRU and the FES Center, will now be directly available through Ardiem to other researchers working in the neuoromodulation field.

Neuromodulation is among the fastest growing areas of medicine, involving many diverse specialties. The 2009 two-volume book “Neuromodulation” explains that the technology’s recent advancement has led to rapid growth of the neuromodulation device industry. P. Hunter Peckham, one of the book’s editors, is Donnell Institute Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Orthopaedics at CWRU. Peckham serves as the director of the FES Center.

Case Western Reserve University is among the nation’s leading research institutions. Founded in 1826 and shaped by the unique merger of the Case Institute of Technology and Western Reserve University, Case Western Reserve is distinguished by its strengths in education, research, service, and experiential learning. Located in Cleveland, Case Western Reserve offers nationally recognized programs in the Arts and Sciences, Dental Medicine, Engineering, Law, Management, Medicine, Nursing, and Social Work.
http://www.case.edu

Ardiem Medical, Inc., established in 2001, manufactures implantable products for customers and offers clean space for production and packaging. Employees have many years of’ experience in research, development and manufacture of medical devices, such as pacemakers, heart valves, injection ports, catheters, functional electrical stimulators, custom medical electrode leads and other prototype devices made to customers’ orders. Government research and development contracting work is performed in conjunction with major universities.
http://www.ardiemmedical.com
e-mail: info@ardiemmedical.com

The FES Center, established in 1991, includes three institutional partners: Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University and MetroHealth Medical Center. The FES Center focuses on the application of electrical currents to either generate or suppress activity in the nervous system.
http://www.FEScenter.org

On April 2, 2008 Homer City Automation took over the former FMC Parts Handling Business located in Indiana County, Pennsylvania provides material handling automation solutions. The Syntron® automation equipment manufactured in Homer City, PA consists of parts handling equipment, vibratory parts feeders, rotary parts feeders, storage, elevating and loading equipment. The company also produces linear parts feeders, and control systems for material handling applications.

Mrs. Stephanie DiLeo, President of Homer City Automation understands the importance of running a business in a rural area where job opportunities are limited in even the best of times. The skilled craftsmen at Homer City Automation have considerable experience in automation solutions and manufacturing parts handling equipment to meet customer requirements for use in a variety of manufacturing applications including food products, automotive products, pharmaceutical applications, metal parts fabrication and stamping applications to name a few. The company products are also used directly in machinery production, packaging applications and processing related equipment.

Mrs. DiLeo is interested in not only sustaining jobs; but, in learning about market opportunities on both a domestic and international basis. Homer City Automation is taking part in a specialized “International Plan to Market” program. The specialized program is being offered through the partnership of the U.S. Commercial Service in Pittsburgh and the SBDC’s Center for Global Competitiveness.

Homer City Automation has received market research for 32 distinct market sectors to identify best potential market opportunities for the company by continent, country, and market sector. Two company employees have attended the Export Basics, An Introduction to Exporting seminar.

The company will receive additional research work to determine market competition in the best potential target markets. Plans include participation in two additional educational programs, “Doing Business in Selected Markets” and “Export Essentials” to garner the information required to do business globally.

The “International Plan to Market” program will assist the company in selection of the target countries so they can then use the U.S. Commercial Service “Gold Key” service in combination with Pennsylvania’s Office of International Business services to set one-on-one meetings in the selected countries for the purpose of establishing business partnerships in line with their company’s strategic plan.

The goal of the program is implementation of the company’s strategic plan based upon the market research and international trade training provided over the next several years. The long term outcomes should result in establishing a presence in new markets, representation and/or distribution partnerships, increases in export sales, and sustainability or growth of jobs at the company as a result of international trade.

Monthly Minutes are from 7:30 to 9:00 a.m.

The Scheduled speaker for February 11th is Petra Mitchell, President of Catalyst Connection.