3 Bethlehem Companies Get Ben Franklin Funds

Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania has announced almost $622,000 in loans and investments to 13 companies, including three in Bethlehem and four others in the greater Lehigh Valley.

According to a news release, the Ben Franklin staff has concentrated on three areas:

Developing and growing early-stage, technology-oriented companies; helping established manufacturers "creatively apply" new technology and business practices to achieve industry leadership, and promoting "an innovative community-wide infrastructure that fosters a favorable business environment for high-growth companies.

Listed in the Ben Franklin release are the following area recipients and descriptions of their operations. The first three are receiving loans. They are:

—Colymer Industries, Ben Franklin TechVentures, Bethlehem, a $35,000 loan to complete a new financial model, strategic business plan, corporate operating agreement, and assignment of intellectual property for manufacturing proprietary non-asphalt roofing materials. Unlike asphalt, Colymer’s innovative roofing products are not water soluble and are environmentally beneficial. The materials are expected to outlast traditional asphalt-based roofs by a factor of four.

—Pivitec LLC, Ben Franklin TechVentures, Bethlehem, a $75,000 loan to continue commercialization and enhancement of hardware and software products for developing audio streaming and distribution products. Modern performances in theaters and houses of worship require a variety of approaches to provide performers the ability to hear their own performances as well as cues. Wired systems currently in use require extensive cabling, limiting performers’ movements, and have limited audio source reception. Pivitec uses wireless mobile devices as interactive controllers for its network devices to address problems in live professional audio productions.

—TSG Software, Ben Franklin TechVentures, Bethlehem, a $100,000 loan to support a focused sales and marketing effort in commercializing software for business cleaning services, property and facility managers, and building management contractors. TSG’s Accelerator CC® brings traditionally manual processes into cloud software with mobile solutions to automate mission-critical processes. This eliminates workflow disruption. Its innovative approach provides compelling value to a large market.

The following companies will receive "established manufacturer company investments." Ben Franklin provides one-to-one matching funding for work with a college or university partner on technology-based manufacturing innovation in established manufacturers.

The companies are:

—Applied Separations Inc., Allentown. University Partner: Philadelphia University. Ben Franklin Investment: $50,000. Develop and implement a new process and deploy equipment for the waterless dyeing of textiles for business-to-business sales to clothing manufacturers and textile companies. Current practices utilize large amounts of energy and water. With the developing worldwide water shortage, the industry is actively seeking means to significantly reduce its water usage. Applied Separations and its technical partner, Halide Group of Allentown, is employing its supercritical fluids expertise in this effort that has the potential of returning textile manufacturing jobs to the U.S.

—EcoTech Marine LLC, Hanover Township (Lehigh County). University Partner: Lehigh University’s Enterprise Systems Center. Ben Franklin Investment: $25,000. Implement a new Enterprise Resource Planning system with features to accommodate facility expansion and maintain quality. EcoTech’s patented VorTech™ propeller pump motor is located outside of hobby reef aquariums, providing better heat control and flow. EcoTech has enjoyed outstanding sales with the pump. Its new Radion™ LED lighting unit improves aquarium growth, coverage and energy efficiency, and provides a customizable spectral output.

—Georg Fischer Harvel, Forks Township. University Partner: Lehigh University’s Enterprise Systems Center. Ben Franklin Investment: $50,000. Complete a sustainability analysis to reduce energy consumption by 20 percent or more. GFH is an international leader in thermoplastic extrusions, primarily manufacturing PVC and CPVC piping for diverse target markets in high-end applications such as microelectronics and pharmaceuticals. Energy costs are one of the top drivers of manufacturing expenses in extruded plastic production. Work to date has identified approaches to reduce energy consumption by 15 percent, streamline warehouse operations, and optimize production planning.

—KME Kovatch, Nesquehoning (Carbon County). University Partner: Lehigh University’s Enterprise Systems Center. Ben Franklin Investment: $25,000. Develop new finishing processes associated with the pumper truck and tanker truck. KME Fire Apparatus is an industry leader in the design and manufacture of custom fire and fuel tanker vehicles and equipment, and the largest privately held manufacturer of fire trucks in the nation. Each new truck produced will create 1,200 hours of new work for U.S. employees.