Discover some of the latest product launches and innovations happening within our region’s manufacturing companies.
Foreign Trade Zone No. 176, which operates at Chicago Rockford International Airport, received more than $100 million in product and helped to export more than $10 million of goods during 2015, according to the latest report from the trade zone’s oversight board.
Midwest Aero Support Inc., a Machesney Park, Ill., provider of repair and electronic manufacturing for commercial aircraft, recently received a Governor’s Export Award for Service Exporting. Illinois Lt. Governor Evelyn Sanguinetti and the Illinois Department of Commerce recognized 16 exporters this year.
The Rockford region led the state of Illinois in percent job growth during September, according to Illinois Department of Employment Security data gathered by Rockford Area Economic Development Council. The region experienced a 2.2 percent gain in September, adding nearly 3,400 new jobs. The Elgin area also added about 3,400 jobs (1.3 percent growth), while the Lake/Kenosha county region gained 6,300 jobs (1.5 percent growth) and Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights area netted 46,800 new jobs (about 1.3 percent growth).
Rockford-based Alpine Bank has opened its new bank branch at 1401 N. Main St., in Rockford. The 16th location for Alpine Bank is a 2,700 square-foot building with three drive-through lanes and an ATM.
An Illinois tax credit program, designed to help companies locate to or remain within the state, has supported 42 area projects since its creation in 2003, according to RAEDC. The EDGE program infused an estimated $2 billion into the region and impacted 4,300 jobs. It expired Dec. 31, 2016, but some legislators hope to revive it.
Ipsen, a Cherry Valley, Ill., specialist in thermal processing technologies, has shipped five of its MetalMaster vacuum furnaces for use in the heat treating and aerospace industries. The customized equipment was shipped to Washington state, South Carolina, Mexico and China. The firm also sent two of its Titan vacuum furnaces to clients in Japan.
Beloit-based Broaster Co., a manufacturer of pressure fryers and purveyor of a branded food program, has introduced Genuine Broaster Chicken Spicy, a line of spicy-flavored chicken products.
ABC Supply, a Beloit-based distributor of external building products, has acquired the assets of Trumbull Vinyl Products Inc., an Ohio-based distributor of roofing, siding and other building products. ABC Supply now maintains more than 700 locations around the U.S.
Comply365, a Beloit-based mobile software company, has introduced a joint communications solution that connects flight attendants and pilots in the air with ground-based medical providers. The new program uses chat, images, video and voice through MedAire’s MedLink service to advise flight crews when responding to in-flight medical events.
Textron company Greenlee, located in Rockford, won two awards from Electrical Contractor Magazine, during the 2016 National Electrical Contractors Association conference. Showstopper Awards were given to Greenlee’s new Intellipunch 11-ton tool, which is a battery-powered knockout driver, and the G-Series Smart Pull, which measures pulling force, distance and speed during a cable pull.
Bergstrom Inc., a Rockford-based manufacturer of climate control systems for the cabins of commercial vehicles, is introducing its No-Idle Thermal Environment technology to law enforcement vehicles, thanks to an agreement with Phoenix-based Specialty Vehicle Solutions, which specializes in custom law enforcement vehicles.
Aqua-Aerobic Systems, a Loves Park, Ill., designer and manufacturer of wastewater treatment solutions, has become the exclusive provider of the Nereda Aerobic Granular Sludge System in the U.S. market. The Nereda system uses no chemicals to treat wastewater, instead using a reduced carbon footprint and low-energy solution for treating sludge. Aqua-Aerobic plans to build a full-scale Nereda system at Rockford’s Rock River Water Reclamation District.
The capital campaign to support a joint partnership engineering program between Rock Valley College and Northern Illinois University has obtained $4.5 million of its $6 million goal. About $2 million came from aerospace specialist Woodward. Through the program, launched this fall, RVC students earn an associate’s degree in engineering before earning their bachelor’s at NIU.