BFTP/NEP is a state-funded economic development organization that links early stage technology companies and established manufacturers with experts, universities, funding, and other resources to help them prosper through innovation.
BETHLEHEM, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania’s (BFTP/NEP) Board of Directors has approved the investment of $642,045 in support of regional economic development. BFTP/NEP is a state-funded economic development organization that links early stage technology companies and established manufacturers with experts, universities, funding, and other resources to help them prosper through innovation.
BFTP/NEP plans to invest in the following Pennsylvania early stage companies:
Infinity Access, Hazleton - $150,000
Complete final design
and UL approval of an innovative new fire door controller and motor
operator. Infinity Access develops and commercializes proprietary
products including controllers, operators, clutch drives, and power
supplies for the door and gate markets. These next-generation products
meet newly mandated safety requirements and will be manufactured in
Hazleton.
Keystone
Automation, Inc., Duryea - $125,000
Implement manufacturing
and financial reporting processes for this designer and contract
manufacturer of specialized automated equipment. The company has
machining and fabrication capabilities as well as innovative design and
engineering resources that allow it to respond to clients’ needs for
unique equipment in various industries.
RantNetwork,
Inc., Bloomsburg - $34,995
Expand the marketing and
development initiatives of the RantNetwork’s “Communilator” application
for language translation in mobile phones. These applications will
facilitate cell phone communication among people speaking different
languages. RantNetwork’s Communilator provides both text-to-text and
text-to-speech translation for over 20 different language pairs. It also
offers image text translation; a cell phone’s camera can capture an
image and translate the image to text and/or speech.
Snake
Creek Lasers, Hallstead - $32,050
Develop a new strategic
business plan and improve the quality control and inventory/order
control processes for this supplier of miniaturized and cryogenic
lasers. Snake Creek Lasers has achieved worldwide recognition as the
provider of the world’s smallest green laser products for both
commercial and military applications, including laser-based projectors,
heads-up displays, laser flashlights, missile defense, and bio-warfare
agent detection. The company has set records in its industry for output
power and cryogenic laser output.
SPINACT,
LLC, Bethlehem - $150,000
Launch SPINACT’s “Knowledge as a
Service™” platform to provide an on-demand marketplace for knowledge and
skill acquisition for professionals in all
disciplines. SPINACT’s knowledge marketplace contains content libraries
of varying styles and formats including written documents, video and
audio, flash media, and interactive modules. The content, created by
knowledge producers, is sold to knowledge seekers through subscription
to SPINACT content libraries or purchased on an as-needed basis. The
company’s first focus is support of the vast SAP eco-system, and will
expand into other enterprise applications later on.
XiGo
Nanotools, Bethlehem - $150,000
Complete beta testing of a
newly patented, shoebox-size device called the Acorn Area™
that rapidly measures the surface area of nano-particles. Nano-particles
are minute; they typically have diameters that are 1/1,000th
the diameter of a human hair. Measuring nano-particle properties is
significant in many industrial applications including energy,
electronics, ceramics, and pharmaceuticals. Nanoparticle properties are
key predictors of material performance, and currently there are no
efficient methods to measure nano-particle surface area.
