Discover some of the latest product launches and innovations happening within our region’s manufacturing companies.
Comply365, a Beloit specialist in mobile software for aerospace firms, announced three new product launches at its annual conference in Nashville, Tenn. Releases include electronic flight plan delivery and maintenance manuals for aviation technicians.
Freeport Art Museum has received $250,000 from an anonymous donor to support the creation of a new Arts Plaza to be located in downtown Freeport. Located at the corner of Douglas Street and Chicago Avenue, the space is expected to become a hotspot for community events, concerts and festivals. The new donation comes in addition to a $100,000 grant FAM received earlier this year from the National Endowment for the Arts.
Dr. Trevor Gibbs has won the 2017 FastPitch Competition for area entrepreneurs, hosted by NIU EIGERlab, a Rockford-based business incubator. Gibbs received the top prize for his Anestand, a device that holds an anesthesiologist’s supplies in a hygienic way and attaches to multiple locations around a hospital setting. More than 30 entrepreneurs competed at FastPitch for $7,500 in prizes.
Rock Valley College has opened enrollment for a mobile application developer certificate, with classes set to begin in the Spring 2018 semester. Students will learn about programming Apple and Google Android devices, working with emerging technologies and marketing mobile apps.
NIU EIGERlab is seeking experts in business development who can contribute to a new chapter of SCORE, the Service Core of Retired Executives. Contributing members of this national organization lend their expertise to local entrepreneurs seeking to grow their business ideas.
Pretzel City Kitchens, a community kitchen aimed at food entrepreneurs, is expected to open soon at Wagner House in downtown Freeport. The kitchen provides commercial equipment, processing space and support services for startup and established ventures and has been funded through organizations including the University of Illinois Extension, Career TEC, Highland Community College and the City of Freeport.
Natural Choice Corporation, a Rockford-based designer, manufacturer and distributor of drinking water appliances, bottleless water coolers and filtration equipment, has broken ground on a 50,000-square-foot development on 10 acres at Spring Creek Lakes Business Park, in Loves Park, Ill. The project is expected to cost about $6 million.
Ipsen, a Cherry Valley, Ill., producer of heat-treating equipment, has launched new aftermarket services including equipment calibration, system accuracy tests, and data reporting that adheres to NADCAP requirements. The company reports it shipped 14 vacuum furnaces to seven states and two countries during the third quarter and early fourth quarter of 2017.
ABC Supply Co., a Beloit-based wholesale distributor of exterior building supplies, has opened a new branch in Antioch, Calif. The firm now maintains more than 30 locations across the state and more than 700 nationwide.
Astro-Physics, a Machesney Park, Ill., designer and manufacturer of astronomical observation equipment, has introduced a software update and released several new telescope add-ons, including an adapter for refractor telescopes and a counterweight for balancing telescopes.
Woodward Inc., a designer, manufacturer and servicer of control system solutions with two locations in Loves Park, Ill., has agreed to supply Thrust Reverser Actuation System for the engines of Airbus A320neo aircraft. The system will include locking and feedback actuators, flex shafts and tertiary locks.
PBC Linear, a Rockford-based specialist in linear motion equipment, has launched online configurators for several of its mechatronics products. The systems allow users to visualize multiple options and variations in order to estimate pricing.
Aqua-Aerobic Systems, a Loves Park, Ill., specialist in applied engineering for water management solutions, has been named the exclusive distributor of Florida-based Pinnacle Ozone Solutions’ ozone generation systems. The product will be marketed as Aqua ElectrOzone M-Series.
RegalBeloit, a Beloit-based manufacturer of electric motors, motion controls, power generation and power transmission products has launched the DATAMAX line of generators for powering data centers. Also, the firm’s Genteq Evergreen InTune Wi-Fi programmer, aimed at retrofitting indoor blower motors, recently received a Dealer Design award from ACHR News.