|
Maine
MEP helps Kenway Corporation obtain R&D funding
Maine Manufacturing Extension Partnership
July 18, 2002
AUGUSTA, Maine – The Maine Manufacturing Extension Partnership
(Maine MEP) recently assisted officials of the Kenway
Corporation of Augusta in their preparation and filing
of an application to obtain a grant of $100,000 from
the Maine Technology Institute.
"The
relationship between the Maine MEP and the Maine Technology
Institute (MTI) certainly is a worthwhile one," said
Kenneth Priest, CEO of Kenway. "The advice we received
from the Maine MEP while preparing the application certainly
helped us obtain the grant for research and development
of a new product for our company."
"This
is just one of the many ways in which the Maine MEP
has assisted us during the past several years," Priest
said, "and without MEP's help, our project would not
have developed as rapidly."
Kenway
Corporation has developed a product that ultimately
could save paper mills and chemical plants millions
of dollars. This 55-year-old company, a fiberglass fabricator
specializing in the custom design and manufacture of
industrial pipe, hoods, tanks, ductwork and related
components employs 32 people.
As
developed, Kenway's new product will utilize a sensor
system within a double-walled pipe used to transfer
hazardous materials. Presently, pulp and paper mills
run underground pipes to carry hazardous waste away
from the plants and, periodically, those pipes must
be inspected throughout to determine if there is a leak.
In order to facilitate this process, plants must shut
down, resulting in revenue loss.
Kenway
Corporation's product would eliminate those problems.
"The new sensor will detect a leak in the inner pipe
and determine the location. There will be no environmental
impact because the second pipe will contain the hazardous
waste material," said Priest.
Kenway
Corporation's newest product is undergoing testing at
a paper mill in Old Town.
"Without
the MTI grant, there is no way we could have conducted
the research and development of this product with monies
coming from our bottom line," Priest said.
"From
the outset, the Maine MEP has been instrumental in initiating
the development process. Maine MEP personnel facilitated
meetings, worked out details and introduced the company
to appropriate people, including an intellectual property
attorney," he said.
"Businesses
in Maine require all types of assistance, and our expertise
and the knowledge of our project managers allows us
to help just when help is needed the most," said Rod
Rodrigue, executive director of the Maine MEP.
"That
is the kind of help that is invaluable when time is
of the essence and problems need to be solved," Priest
added. "Maine MEP's project managers continue to be
there when we need them and our relationship is working
out great."
The
Maine MEP is an affiliate of the NIST under the U.S.
Department of Commerce. The national MEP is a network
of manufacturing extension centers that provide business
and technical assistance to smaller manufacturers in
all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
Through MEP, manufacturers have access to more than
2000 manufacturing and business "coaches" whose job
is to help firms make changes that lead to greater productivity,
increased profits, and enhanced global competitiveness.
For more information on the Maine MEP program call (800)
637-4634.
|
