News
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Toner Plastics Inc. develops alternative to PVC
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
RTC member organization, Toner Plastics of Agawam, has developed a compound that is suitable for replacing PVC plastic.
Toner Plastics of Agawam, MA and S&E Specialty Polymers, an affiliated company, have recently developed a compound that is suitable for replacing PVC plastic.
It is very difficult to replace flexible PVC due to its attractive properties such as strength, gloss and flexibility. The new compound does just that and is 100% free of PVC (polyvinyl chloride).
PVC is an extremely versatile plastic that has been used in many industries for years. Toys, intravenous blood bags, packaging and many other applications are manufactured with PVC. Retailers like Wal-Mart, Toys R Us and Target along with manufacturers such as Apple Computer, IBM, Honda, and others are all looking to replace PVC used in their packaging and products with a non-PVC alternative.
Their concerns are both environmental and health related. Some argue the chlorine, a basic building bloc for PVC is bad for the environment, dioxins which potentially cause cancer are released during production, it is not as easy to recycle as other plastics, and some additives that may be used such as phthalates have been shown to affect rodents in lab tests. Independent studies may refute the concerns but it is clear the public perception of PVC has been affected to the point where the market may be ready for an alternative.
Many companies are working on alternatives but few have hit the market with anything to date. Toner is one of the first to have a commercial application and with only 25 people it is quite a feat.
The company has been shipping a special extruded cord used in the Safety Industry and is planning on introducing it to others as well.
Toner has been making craft products for years selling to such companies as AC Moore, Hobby Lobby, Michaels Crafts, JoAnns and Wal-Mart. It is the only US manufacturer of the age old product known by some as Gimp and others as Lanyard or Boondoggle. The new compound will give it an opportunity to supply the craft industry and many others with a product that meets all current “Green” initiatives without sacrificing performance.
For additional information please contact:
David Race at 413-789-1300;
dr@tonerplastics.com
Al Gore Visits FloDesign
Monday, June 16, 2008
FORMER VP, AL GORE, VISITS WILBRAHAM AND RTC MEMBER, FLODESIGN
FloDesign of Wilbraham recently had a major guest at their Main Street, Wilbraham facility. Former US Vice President, Al Gore, came to see what the excitement was all about regarding FloDesign’s new wind turbine technology. CEO Stan Kowalski proudly showed off the new turbine that can be driven by various currents including wind, river, and tidal currents. Using the company’s strong expertise in jet propulsion, the MIT & WNEC graduates at FloDesign developed this unique form of alternative energy and it continues to make the news nationally. Gore is allegedly interested from an investment stand point.
Veritech Corporation Hosts Russian Officials
Monday, June 16, 2008
RTC Member, Veritech Corporation, in discussions with Russian officials to license their product.
Last week, two Russian officials came to East Longmeadow to meet with key personnel from Patient EDU and Veritech Corporation to discuss an agreement that would translate Patient EDU’s patient education product into Russian and allow the Russian officials to license the product throughout the Russian Federation and territory of former Soviet republics.
For more than 30 years, Veritech has been a leader in creating innovative and effective communication solutions, especially in the health care sector. From education and training to marketing communications, Veritech has produced effective programs that have the ability to be tracked, helping to easily establish return on investment.
For more information about Veritech Corporation, visit www.veritechmedia.com.
National Award Goes to MassExport
Monday, June 9, 2008
PRESTIGIOUS NATIONAL AWARDS GOES TO RTC MEMBER, MASS EXPORT CENTER
The Massachusetts Export Center recently received two national awards.
Last week, the Export Center received the Presidential ‘E’ Award for excellence in exporting. Earlier in the month, the Export Center received the the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Service Center Excellence and Innovation Award. Both awards were presented in Washington, D.C. The ‘E’ Award is the highest honor the federal government can give to American people, firms or organizations that have made significant contributions to the increase of American exports. The Massachusetts Export Center was presented this award by President George W. Bush and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez at a formal ceremony in Washington DC.
The SBDC Service Center Excellence and Innovation Award honors Small Business Development Centers for their innovation and excellence in assisting entrepreneurs and small business owners achieve their business goals. There are over 1,000 SBDCs in the United States, and the Massachusetts Export Center was the nation-wide winner of this award, which was presented by Steven Preston, Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Mass Export has offices locally at Holyoke Community College. In winning, Western Massachusetts Program Director, Ann Pieroway, also an RTC and MMTN Steering Committee member went to the White House to accept the award from President George W. Bush. US Senator John Kerry also joined in this important ceremony. Congratulations to our Mass Export team! They have worked with the RTC for many years and have made valuable contributions which have been greatly appreciated. Congratulations Ann, Paula and this great team!
Al Gore Eyeing FloDesign
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
It’s been a big week for FloDesign Wind Turbine of Wilbraham, Massachusetts.
On Monday the company placed first in the MIT Enterprise Forum’s Ignite Clean Energy Competition, winning $100,000 in cash and services.
On Tuesday, the company netted an additional $200,000 in cash by winning the MIT Clean Energy Entrepreneurship Prize Competition.
Which means that the company, a spinoff of aerospace technology consultancy FloDesign in Wilbraham, MA, earned a total of $300,000 in a little more than 24 hours.
And there are hints of much more money to come. Xconomy has learned from a source with insight into the company that Al Gore, the former vice president and Nobel Peace Prize winner who is now a partner at Silicon Valley venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, has offered FloDesign venture financing totaling as much as $10 million.
Click here to read more
MMTN Chair featured on MasterCard promo
Monday, April 28, 2008
Ann Latham, President of Uncommon Clarity, Inc. and Chair of our MMTN network is currently featured on the MasterCard Small Business website
in a podcast interview addressing techniques for improving employee productivity. Uncommon Clarity is a western Massachusetts consulting firm specializing in improving individual and organizational performance. To hear the interview, Click Here
RTC featured in Business West
Monday, April 7, 2008
“All Access Pass: The Regional Technology Corporation Keeps the Welcome Mat Out” is the article about RTC in the current issue of BusinessWest and can be found here:www.businesswest.com/details.asp?id=1515.
Welcome New RTC Members
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Please join us in welcoming our two newest members: Concept Telecom and Point Software, both of East Longmeadow, Massachusetts.
FloDesign Finds Better Way to Capture Wind Energy
Thursday, March 27, 2008
FloDesign of Wilbraham gets approval for new wind turbine concept and $500,000 in funding!
The Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MTC) has approved a new energy-producing wind turbine that has been conceptualized by FloDesign Corporation. The new design breaks power-producing limits previously set by conventional propeller-based wind turbines. FloDesign has developed a turbine capable of harnessing Nor’easter gale-force winds in sub-zero conditions. To read the full press release, visit http://www.flodesignwindturbine.org
Knowledge Corridor Jobs goes live March 1
Monday, February 25, 2008
Masslive.com and RTCs Knowledge Corridor Jobs will go live
March 1 at http://www.masslive.com/jobs/rtc/. Are you ready? Our employees are!
Airgas acquires Merriam-Graves
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Airgas, Inc., announced it has acquired Merriam-Graves Corporation, an independent distributor of industrial, medical, and specialty gases and related supplies operating in 25 locations in New England and New York.
The acquired business generated $47 million in revenues in 2007.Effective February 1, 2008, the acquired operations have been integrated into Airgas East, one of the regional companies within Airgas. To view the full press release, visit www.airgas.com.
Welcome Airgas!
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Airgas East has recently joined RTC. Airgas is a producer and the largest distributor of Medical, Specialty and Industrial gases in North America.
They are also the largest producer of Dry Ice in North America. Airgas is structured where every product group has a specialist working along side the local account managers; this is unique to the industry. Airgas is 25 yeas old starting with the acquisition of Connecticut Oxygen; today they have over 11,000 associates and 900 locations. For more information, visit www.airgas.com.
BellHawk Systems Corp is new member!
Thursday, January 17, 2008
BellHawk Systems, located in Millbury, MA, is one of RTCs newest member organizations.
BellHawk Systems is a software products company offering an integrated suite of operations management software for industrial companies. BellHawk uses the latest in barcode, RFID and wireless mobile technology so its customers can track inventory and production, help prevent mistakes, get orders out on time, and provide accurate costs—all in real-time. BellHawk pays for itself in less than six months through savings in decreased inventory and improved operational efficiency. For more information, visit www.BellHawk.com.
IBS Featured in BusinessWest
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Innovative Business Systems (IBS) was recently featured in an article in BusinessWest magazine titled, “Group Think: IBS Charges Ahead with a Unique Management Model Focused on the Future”. The full article can be found by following this link http://businesswest.com/details.asp?id=1391.
United Personnel, Top 100 Woman Led Business in Mass
Friday, December 7, 2007
United Personnel has been named to Top 100 Woman-Led Business in Massachusetts. A major research study released by Babson College and The Commonwealth Institute finds that woman-led businesses in Massachusetts are strong engines of economic growth, consistently outperforming national and state growth rates for each of the six years that the study was conducted. United Personnel ranked #43 this year, moving up from #55 from 2006. “It is an honor to be a part of this prestigious group,” says Mary Ellen Scott, President and owner of United Personnel Services, Inc. For more information, visit www.unitedpersonnel.com.
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