Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern PA Approves More Than $476,500 in New Investments
Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern PA announces the following early-stage company investments:
Element ID
Ben Franklin TechVentures, Bethlehem, Northampton County
Approved investment: $150,000
Begin commercializing, with a full-scale sales launch, a new type of radio frequency identification tag reader for use in the materials handling environment. Unlike competitors’ systems, Element ID’s systems provide better read rates; seamless interaction with other automation equipment; intelligent, multi-reader systems designed to work over conveyors; and readers that are not sensitive to interference and can withstand harsh industrial environments.
Pinpoint Strategies
Bloomsburg, Columbia County
Approved investment: $50,000
Commercialize the services of this e-recruiting company that uses sophisticated software, video and animation tools to recruit hard-to-find physicians and health care professionals for various health care markets. Pinpoint’s template-driven, computer-based products enable clients to easily use their employment marketing assets repeatedly, while quickly developing a customized, targeted recruiting campaign. The health care recruiting industry is experiencing nationwide shortages. Traditional recruitment solutions do not provide a cost-effective solution to this growing need.
Wine Gadgets
Allentown, Lehigh County
Approved investment: $24,900
Complete and implement a strategic plan to market patented systems for preserving wines once the wine bottles are opened. The system inserts argon gas in the opened bottle, stopping oxygen from entering. This allows wine to stay fresh for more than two weeks, meaning restaurant owners can greatly increase their wine-by-the-glass offerings, and home consumers can enjoy a bottle of wine over several days. Wine Gadgets’ systems are significantly less expensive and more portable than competitors’ systems and offer a technologically superior approach to preserving the wine.
Xbio Systems
Ben Franklin TechVentures, Bethlehem, Northampton County
Approved investment: $50,000
Support the U.S. summer launch of Xbio’s “Software-as-a-Service” suite of information technology management solution products for small-to-medium-size companies in the life sciences. Xbio’s platform is provided as a browser-based software service that supports the majority of activities undertaken by participants in the drug and medical device development process, including study management, trial and site finance, clinical supplies, lab specimens, web training, trial intelligence and support for regulatory activities among others. Target customers include discovery companies engaged in developing and commercializing biologics, pharmaceuticals, medical devices and new diagnostics, small clinical research organizations and a wide range of research institutions. Already successful in Australia, the company will leverage its experience for a U.S. launch.
Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern PA announces the following established manufacturer company investments:
Alcon Research
Sinking Spring, Berks County
Approved Investment: $22,500
College Partner: Northampton Community College’s Electrotechnology Applications Center (ETAC)
Evaluate potential ways to improve manufacturing technology at this division of Alcon, Inc., where a wide range of ophthalmic surgical products such as precision cutting instruments, sutures and needles are produced. These items are manufactured to exacting specifications with precise material characteristics. Ben Franklin, with assistance from ETAC, will collaborate with Alcon engineers to modify the company’s heat treating system to increase operational flexibility while maintaining or even further enhancing product quality.
Appeeling Fruit
Reading, Berks County
Approved investment: $14,000
University Partner: Enterprise Systems Center at Lehigh University
Plan and coordinate the relocation, setup and testing of equipment and other infrastructure and the initiation of production at Appeeling’s new facility. Appeeling Fruit produces packaged fruit products for food service and retail customers and bulk apples for bakeries. It is moving to a newly purchased and renovated facility to keep up with increasing product demand.
Custom Processing Services
Reading, Berks County
Approved investment: $25,000
College Partner: Electrotechnology Applications Center at Northampton Community College
Identify and specify a combined heat and power system for a co-generation plant that will utilize non-polluting waste products that are typically sent to landfills as fuel. Custom Processing will examine system and fuel options for the plant that will provide for the company’s electricity needs and possibly generate surplus electricity. Electricity is a significant cost for Custom Processing, a toll manufacturer that specializes in the micronizing of materials in order to produce ultra-fine particle sizes for use in a wide range of products.
Eckman Building Components
Lehighton, Carbon County
Approved investment: $12,615
University Partner: Enterprise Systems Center at Lehigh University
Optimize the manufacturing process and reduce production costs for a new product called “SpaceJoist.” SpaceJoist is revolutionary in the building industry because it comes in standard heights and lengths, is trimmable in the field, is lightweight and has large smooth openings, which together reduce labor costs by up to 15 percent. SpaceJoist is a green product, utilizing less wood fiber and recycled steel and outperforms traditional I-Joists both in span and fire ratings. It allows electricians and plumbers to run wire and piping through the joists without drilling and cutting. Eckman Building Components is currently producing SpaceJoist in small orders and after this project will sell in 15 northeastern U.S. states.
R.M. Palmer Company
Reading, Berks County
Approved investment: $17,500
University Partner: Enterprise Systems Center at Lehigh University
Reduce changeovers and setup times through enhanced scheduling and other improvements on packaging lines. This will reduce product cost and increase manufacturing efficiency. R.M. Palmer produces seasonal chocolate novelties and confections.
Springs Window Fashions
Montgomery, Lycoming County
Approved investment: $50,000
College Partner: Pennsylvania College of Technology
Reduce manufacturing costs and increase output of Springs’ window blind product line. This effort will focus on improving the efficiency of Springs’ slat machines. Springs Window Fashions manufactures innovative blinds, shades and drapery hardware.
Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern PA also plans to invest in two Keystone Innovation Zones (KIZs) within its service area.
KIZs provide tax credits and technology transfer grants to early-stage companies that start or relocate in their designated zones. KIZs are typically located near colleges and universities. The anticipated outcome is that companies benefit from the facilities, equipment and expertise of colleges and universities and the schools benefit from high-value, real-world opportunities for students and faculty as they work with the companies.
Greater Susquehanna KIZ
Columbia, Montour, Union and Snyder counties
Approved investment: $40,000
University and Organizational Partners:
- Bloomsburg University, Bloomsburg
- Bucknell University, Lewisburg
- Geisinger Health System, Danville
- Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove
Williamsport/Lycoming KIZ
Lycoming County
Approved investment: $20,000
University and Organizational Partners:
- Industrial Modernization Center, Williamsport
- Lycoming College, Williamsport
- Pennsylvania College of Technology, Williamsport
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