GSA Technology Council

AmTrust Bank recently announced they have selected KeyMark Inc to execute their latest technology implementation: a fully integrated document capture and classification system. AmTrust has consistently been acknowledged by Mortgage Technology Magazine for their use of technology in the mortgage lending industry. Most recently they were selected as one of the magazine’s top 25 Tech-Savvy Lenders.

“We are very excited to embark on this relationship with KeyMark,” said Jon K. Baymiller, Executive Vice President of AmTrust Bank. “This decision is consistent with our strategic direction to streamline business processes, shorten cycle times, and further reduce our loan acquisition costs by deploying smart technology solutions across all major aspects of the mortgage banking business.”

In its nearly 120-year history, AmTrust has grown from a local savings and loan with an office in Cleveland, Ohio, to one of the 20 largest mortgage lenders in the country. As the preeminent leader in mortgage technology, AmTrust’s e-Vision began in 1999 with the deployment of Gemstone, the bank’s award-winning business-to-business website. Gemstone efficiently integrates most loan processes and offers the ultimate in control, speed and ease for the Correspondent/Broker. With KeyMark, a leader and innovator in document capture, management and workflow processes, AmTrust will have the ability to automatically identify and process mortgage loan documents as soon as they receive them. The KeyMark solution will improve efficiency, accuracy, reduce costs, and shorten the amount of time it takes to handle loan documents. Additionally, this technology will aid in mortgage fraud detection and prevention. KeyMark’s solution incorporates Kofax’s Advanced Capture technology for document classification and utilizes the Fujitsu 4099, 4097 and Kodak i610 scanners AmTrust already had for a fully automated end-to-end process.

“This is a testament to AmTrust’s strength,” commented Ed McQuiston, KeyMark’s VP of sales. “At a time when most banks are cutting spending, AmTrust is continuing its commitment to the progressive use of technology that will save them a significant amount of time and money associated with loan processing. This implementation will allow them to continue to grow their volumes, while avoiding hiring extra personnel as well as improving the speed and accuracy of their loan processing system. They will be servicing more customers more efficiently.”

via KeyMark

Clemson University, Fayetteville State University and Ohio State University have been awarded a $499,981 grant from the National Science Foundation to study online distance education in the science, technology, engineering and math fields.

Lamont Flowers of Clemson’s Charles H. Houston Center for the Study of the Black Experience in Education and Distinguished Professor of Educational Leadership, will serve as a co-principal investigator for the three-year study titled “Examining the Impact of Online Distance Education on Student Learning and Student Engagement in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Disciplines at Historically Black Colleges and Universities.”

“The purpose of this grant is to increase the general knowledge base regarding the impact of online distance education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines on student learning experiences and outcomes at historically black colleges and universities utilizing a mixed-methods research design,” Flowers said.

A survey regarding students’ involvement in online and traditional courses in the STEM disciplines at historically black colleges and universities will serve as a quantitative study of students’ learning styles, academic outcomes and learning experiences. There also will be a qualitative-research analysis using interviews of individuals and groups of students.

This project seeks to support student learning and engagement in online STEM courses, Flowers said. It also will identify student-centered teaching practices for online courses that will enhance students’ learning experiences, complement students’ learning styles and provide students with a strong foundation of knowledge in the STEM disciplines.

“It is my hope that the findings of the study will provide post-secondary institutions with research-based strategies for enhancing learning outcomes for students in online distance-education courses in the STEM disciplines,” Flowers said.

Due to a lack of research on online distance-education courses, despite increased enrollment in them, the project will provide noteworthy information needed to enhance the curriculum of online and traditional STEM courses at colleges and universities nationwide, Flowers said. The mixed-methods research design also will serve as a model for STEM educators to use when evaluating their online instruction techniques at historically black colleges and universities.

via Clemson

Vigilix has announced that now over 5,000 systems are currently being monitored by Help Desks using Vigilix’s POS health monitoring solution.

Delivered as a software-as-a-service application, Vigilix provides Help Desks that support point-of-sale systems with an efficient way to proactively monitor and receive alerts on the “health” of the systems they support. By using the Vigilix Dashboard, Help Desk Technicians have access to real-time information on the status of the POS systems and the environments that they operate in. Technicians can better prioritize their work, support more systems and respond immediately to situations before they become problems that could impact financial transaction or customer experience.

“We are seeing a real increase in demand for our product” said Andrew Kurtz, Vigilix’s CEO. “In today’s economic environment companies are looking for ways to continue to provide world-class support for their POS systems, but in a more efficient, cost effective way. Our customers are finding that by using Vigilix’s Total Support Manger, they are able to be more proactive, better prioritize and manage their work, as well as, support more systems without increasing staff or infrastructure.”

via: Vigilix

VidiStar LLC will receive an investment today from SCRA affiliate SC Launch! VidiStar provides physicians with an affordable, easy to use solution for their clinical practice. VidiStar’s online reporting system conforms to the Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) structure reporting standard which auto-populates complex data from imaging devices, such as ultrasound machines, into customized reports for efficient processing and reporting. VidiStar’s cost-effective technology allows physicians and heath care providers to quickly review and interpret diagnostic studies, such as echocardiograms or fetal ultrasounds scans, from their office or anywhere in the world using a secure Internet connection – regardless of a physician’s location.

“We are very excited about becoming an SC Launch! Portfolio Company,” said Paul McHugh, managing partner of VidiStar.”The SC Launch! program is a catalyst for supporting the long-term growth of companies such as VidiStar,LLC. In addition to the funding, Vidistar sees this as a stamp of approval of their product and business plan, and our company has already benefited from working with SCLaunch!’s vetted network, which is enabling VidiStar to optimize its resources and focus on sales.”

The VidiStar management team has more than 15 years of expertise in medical imaging technology, regulatory affairs and government regulation, and includes board-certified medical professionals, including a practicing cardiologist with experience in echocardiography, nuclear cardiology and cardiovascular technology. The team brings more than 30 years of international and domestic sales experience to the venture.

“To SCRA and SC Launch, the VidiStar investment aligns closely with our multi-lateral efforts with Clemson University, The Medical University of South Carolina, The University of South Carolina and Health Sciences South Carolina to bring better patient care to South Carolina,” said Bill Mahoney, SCRA CEO. “The joint focus of these organizations in diagnostics, therapeutics and clinical applications leads directly to both improved care and leadership commercialization outcomes such as VidiStar.”

SC Launch! has identified VidiStar as a promising South Carolina start-up company and is assisting them with a seed-capital investment, ongoing mentoring and SC Launch! Resource Network services. Since its inception in April, 2006, SC Launch! has provided more than 118 companies with seed funding in the form of grants, loans or equity investments and provided counsel and support to more than 99 start-ups. The average salary of jobs created to date by these start-ups is $77,091. Additionally, SC Launch!-supported companies have secured more than $50 million in follow-on venture capital and private equity financing.

via: SC Launch!

Image Medical Corporation, parent of eRAD Inc., a company focused on workflow solutions through its native Web-based RIS/PACS and Diagnostic Imaging Information Management Systems, announced today that Robert S. Pryor has been appointed to Image Medical’s Board of Directors. Pryor had recently served as President of Agfa Healthcare, Americas with responsibility for Agfa’s Imaging and Informatics business throughout the Americas. He had previously held executive positions at Sterling Diagnostic Imaging and in E.I. Dupont’s medical businesses. Roy W. Miller, Image Medical Board member and CEO of eRAD Inc. stated: “Bob Pryor is an outstanding individual with a tremendous business acumen and an extensive knowledge of the diagnostic imaging industry. We are delighted to have him join us in a position of such strategic importance.”

via eRAD

The 4th Annual Biomedical Entrepreneurship Program in Upstate South Carolina is being held today at the historic Westin Poinsett Hotel in Greenville, SC. The program focuses on creation and growth of medical device and related biomedical business opportunities. Now in its fourth year, the meeting is the annual one-stop shop to meet and connect with biomedical, clinical and regulatory professionals including technical entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, academics and IP attorneys.

A first for this year’s program is the conference Company Showcase, in which eleven South Carolina medical device companies who actively research, manufacture and sell products in the medical device supply chain will be featured. “The Showcase creates semi-structured networking opportunity in response to demand,” said Dr. Matt Gevaert, the program chair. “We’ve always featured formal presentations from one or two local companies each year, but with the rapid growth in activity in the local and in-state medical device space, there was a need to incorporate many more.” A list of the participating companies can be found on the conference website.

In addition, Friday’s conference marks the first year of participation from all three of South Carolina’s major research universities . Four of the leading medical device technology licensing opportunities from Clemson University, the University of South Carolina and The Medical University of South Carolina will be presented.

The program boasts regional and national experts in the biomedical and medical device industries. Members of the media may attend the conference free of charge. Speakers include:

Keynote address by Dr. Marc Long, Director of Research at Stryker Orthopedics, a global leader in medical technology. Dr. Long will discuss early intervention opportunities for medical device companies – an area of anticipated growth in the field in which devices introduced earlier in patient treatment improve the outcome of later surgeries.

Overview of the Medical Device Industry: Andrew T. Calhoun, Associate Vice President, AdvaMed (the Advanced Medical Technology Association). His topic will be “The View from Washington: The New President, Medical Devices and You”, discussing the implications of our recent Presidential election on the med-tech industry.

“This year marks the 4th Biomed conference in the Upstate – the first three were a great success and proving to be more and more dynamic every year. Not only are we attracting distinguished speakers from across the country whose topics resonate with the medical device and biomedical communities, but we are also attracting attendees from around the Southeast region and beyond,” said Gevaert, a Commercialization Officer for CURF, Clemson’s Research Foundation. “This is a wonderful vehicle for our South Carolina companies to communicate with each other and to grow and prosper as a result”.

The Biomedical conference is hosted by Clemson University Research Foundation (CURF), The Clemson University Department of Bioengineering, SCRA’s SC Launch! and the Arthur M Spiro Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership at Clemson University.

via: SC Launch! Biomedical Showcase

BP Barber, one of the oldest and largest civil engineering firms in the Southeast, announced today its plans to double the size of its Upstate base of operations in Greenville County in order to better serve its expanding client base in the Upstate. The growing firm had moved into the existing space in June of this year, when it announced its plans to add 25-35 full-time employees at the Greenville County location over the next three to five years.

The company is upfitting an additional 5,000 square feet of office space at 128 Millport Circle in Mauldin, doubling its current usable square footage, and expects the expanded space to be fully operational by late December, said Erica Huggins, regional manager of BP Barber’s Upstate operations.

“Despite the soft economy, we’ve found our Upstate clients and this base of operations to be exceeding our own aggressive expectations,” said Huggins in announcing the expansion. “Along with increasing our physical space, we expect to bring on new associates more rapidly than we had projected, particularly in our water services and urban development service groups. Business has been quite good across the board, and we are particularly looking to add top talent in those areas.”

With more than 200 employees across its six-office network already, BP Barber offers a broad range of engineering services, primarily focused in the water services, environmental, urban development, and surveying/GIS arenas. Founded in 1916, the firm provides civil and environmental engineering services to counties, municipalities, special purpose districts, industry, and private developers across its service area footprint. In addition to the new Greenville-based Upstate operations, BP Barber operates regional offices in Charleston, Florence, and Columbia, South Carolina; Savannah, Georgia; and Charlotte, North Carolina.

The firm was recently ranked number 469 among the Top 500 engineering firms nationwide, based on total revenue for design services performed in 2007, by Engineering News-Record (ENR), a weekly trade newspaper for the engineering industry. Just three weeks ago, the firm was also named “Mayor’s Corporate Citizen of the Year” by the City of Columbia for its contributions, which include the design and development of much of the City’s water and wastewater infrastructure, along with its efforts to help transform the City center and foster the growth of a knowledge economy in the Columbia area. BP Barber is one of a number of leading engineering firms with a significant presence or headquarters operations in Greenville County.

“This decision to continue to grow our Upstate operations in Greenville County is about being able to better serve our clients in the region, and to continue to position our firm for future growth,” said Keith McLeod, President and Chairman of BP Barber. “This expansion is indicative of the robust business opportunity we see in the Upstate, and the quality of life which is pivotal in recruiting and retaining top talent.”

“The positive market reception we expected due to our long-established client relationships across the region has been helpful in accelerating our growth plans here,” noted Ms. Huggins. “With the talented team we have in place, and those individuals yet to join our team, we anticipate rapid growth for all service areas – including water services, environmental, urban development and surveying/GIS. There appears to be no shortage of demand and opportunity for high-quality, high-value engineering services providers.”

McLeod noted that Greenville County is an ideal and strategic location for BP Barber to expand into, partially due to the wealth of engineering and architectural talent in the market, and its accessibility to the Southeastern growth corridor.

“We greatly appreciate the help of the Greenville Area Development Corporation, the City of Mauldin and Greenville County for their assistance in making this expansion a reality,” McLeod added.

“We’re pleased that BP Barber is already benefiting from the opportunity and advantages that Greenville County offers their organization,” said Jay Rogers, Chairman of the Greenville Area Development Corporation Board. “The company’s commitment to providing high quality, environmentally sensitive engineering services that benefit clients, employees and communities makes them valued citizens among Greenville County’s business community.”

via BP Barber 

Michelin has developed a new lunar wheel for the next generation of NASA moon rover vehicles. The structurally supported tire and wheel assembly, made of breakthrough composite materials, was jointly developed at Michelin’s European and North American research centers. This unique innovation will help Michelin meet NASA’s mobility challenges for manned and un-manned moon missions planned for the coming decade.

“Michelin has partnered with NASA for more than 20 years to provide tires for the space shuttle, and now we are taking our involvement a step further in support of the next generation of space exploration,” said David Stafford, chief operating officer of Michelin Americas Research Company. “This project demonstrates Michelin’s ability to engineer advanced technology that meets the mobility needs of the world’s most demanding customers, including NASA.”

Based on the award-winning MICHELIN TWEEL(R) assembly, the MICHELIN Lunar Wheel maintains flexibility and constant ground contact pressure that enables moon rovers to traverse loose soil and lunar craters. The MICHELIN Lunar Wheel has a low mass yet maintains a high load capacity that is 3.3 times more efficient than the original Apollo Lunar Rover wheels. The wheel structure, developed by Michelin, employs Michelin-patented composite materials. Its textile tread, developed in conjunction with Clemson University and Milliken & Company, enables moon rovers to maintain traction at very low temperatures.

“This new technology not only applies to lunar missions, but may also be directly leveraged into other mobility applications requiring light-weight and low rolling resistance,” said Stafford. “It’s an exciting advance for mobility in space and here on Earth.”

Funded in part by a grant from NASA’s Innovative Partnership Program, the MICHELIN Lunar Wheel will be featured on the Scarab Rover, a lunar robot designed by Carnegie Mellon University, in cooperation with NASA’s Exploration Technology Development Program for its In-Situ Resource Utilization project. Equipped with a drill designed to cut through layers of lunar soil, the Scarab Rover is capable of operating in continual darkness and extremely cold temperatures with little power. Michelin has also developed a lunar wheel for the ATHLETE Rover, a six-limbed lunar rover capable of transporting cargo over any terrain to aid NASA in the assembly of the lunar outpost.

“Michelin’s team of scientists and engineers worked closely with our design team to create a solution that addresses the unique challenges of lunar exploration,” said Jaret B. Matthews, NASA’s principal investigator for the development of the MICHELIN Lunar Wheel. “The MICHELIN Lunar Wheel successfully exceeds our initial design targets.”

The MICHELIN Lunar Wheel underwent field-testing on the Scarab Rover in Hawaii from Oct. 31 through Nov. 13, 2008 as part of a NASA Lunar Analogs testing and evaluation event. The terrain, rock distribution and soil materials of Hawaii’s Big Island provide high-quality simulation of the lunar polar region.

Dedicated to the improvement of sustainable mobility, Michelin designs, manufactures and sells tires for every type of vehicle, including airplanes, automobiles, bicycles, earthmovers, farm equipment, heavy-duty trucks, motorcycles and the space shuttle. The company also publishes travel guides, hotel and restaurant guides, maps and road atlases. Headquartered in Greenville, S.C., Michelin North America ( www.michelin-us.com ) employs more than 22,300 and operates 19 major manufacturing plants in 17 locations.

via: Michelin

Gov. Mark Sanford and Thomas Sax, CEO of American Titanium Works (ATW), have announced that ATW will build a, world-class titanium mini-mill in Laurens County, South Carolina.  American Titanium Works LLC, headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, will invest an estimated $422 million and plans to employ 320 people at its new facility in Laurens County.
 
Under one roof, uniquely efficient manufacturing processes will include raw material preparation and blending equipment, plasma arc melting (PAM) and vacuum arc melting (VAR) furnaces and a best-in-class 4-high rolling mill designed and purpose-built for rolling of alloyed and commercially pure titanium plate.  A wide range of titanium conditioning, finishing non-destructive testing and laboratory equipment will also be on site to ensure quality.
 
“Thanks to Governor Sanford’s strong leadership and the work of the Department of Commerce, Duke Energy and local officials, ATW is pleased to select South Carolina for its titanium manufacturing facility and Tech Center.  The attentiveness and assistance from government and local businesses, including Senator Graham, Senator DeMint and Congressman Barrett, helped us conclude that South Carolina was not only a good choice, but the best choice for our business.  This titanium facility will mark a breakthrough in the evolution of the titanium industry with the co-location of state-of-the-art equipment and technologies that will lower costs and delivery lead times.  The combination of lower costs and reliable delivery will create new market opportunities throughout the world.  ATW is confident in the ability of the state’s workforce to execute our production needs and we look forward to establishing and growing our business in South Carolina,” said Mr. Sax. 
 
ATW also announced today that it will establish its applications development and engineering technical center inGreenville County at the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) campus.  ATW’s Tech Center will create 40 applied engineering jobs that will specialize in prototype development and fabrication techniques for multiple industry sectors.
 
“At the suggestion of Commerce officials, we chose to look at CU-ICAR for our research and development facility.  Commerce officials recognized the synergies that existed between our product and CU-ICAR.  Additionally, it was important that we locate the Tech Center in close proximity to the manufacturing facility and we are pleased to accomplish this goal with the selection of Laurens and Greenville Counties,” added Mr. Sax. 
 
Titanium has twice the strength-to-weight ratio of steel, is resistant to corrosion and can be worked like other metals. 
 
By producing melted and rolled titanium products through innovative processes, ATW will reduce the costs and lead times associated with traditional titanium production, thus making the product desirable to a broader range of industries including defense, industrial, commercial, consumer and emerging markets.  Specific market drivers for titanium include chemical processing, high-performance machinery including racing, aerospace, biomedical, power generation and energy efficiency.
 
“As South Carolina works to compete in a global economy, it is critical that we make strategic decisions when working to recruit large investors.  By focusing our efforts on improving the business climate here with fundamental reforms that attract entrepreneurship and innovation, we have yielded substantial dividends.  As well, our state’s focus on regulatory reform, like workers’ comp reform, tort reform and lower taxes, creates an environment that allows our existing businesses to be more competitive and successful while rewarding entrepreneurs like ATW.  ATW is not only a start-up company, but it is also an innovator in its field and we believe production of rolled titanium in South Carolina will attract major titanium users throughout North America and the world to our state,” said Gov. Mark Sanford
 
“By working together, Laurens County Corporation and Greenville Area Development Corporation were able to bring a substantial investment with advanced manufacturing technology that will not only benefit Laurens and Greenville Counties, but will also positively impact the entire state,” said Jim Coleman, Laurens County Council Chairman and Butch Kirven, Greenville County Council Chairman.
 
“ATW’s production of rolled titanium in South Carolina presents tremendous opportunity to grow existing industries in our state and attract new industries and investors from throughout the world.  ATW’s production efficiencies are unique and the company’s focus to target a broad industrial base including defense, energy, automotive and aerospace is an incredible complement to the diversity and skill of our workforce, business community and research and development capacity.  This investment will truly benefit the entire state.  We welcome ATW to South Carolina and look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship with them in the years ahead,” said Joe Taylor, South Carolina Secretary of Commerce.
 
Erigo Technologies LLC of Enfield, New Hampshire initiated the formation of ATW and recruited the ATW management team.  “We look forward to beginning ATW’s research and development operations in Greenville.South Carolina has numerous resources to meet our Tech Center’s needs, including a deep pool of engineering talent and extensive innovation occurring throughout the state.  We are thrilled to be coming to an area where university researchers are actively involved with the industrial community,” said Nabil Elkouh, Ph.D. President of Erigo Technologies LLC and Chief Technology Officer of ATW.  Dr. Elkouh will lead the ATWTech Center in Greenville.
 
The ATW team includes, Gordon Willett, Chief Operating Officer; Scott Jackson, Executive Vice President of Melting Operations and Sales; Richard Dykast, Executive Vice President of Mill Operations; and Stuart E. Schwartz, Chief Financial Officer.
 
“It is pleasing to witness the state and community where one resides experience prosperity and success.  The impact that this project will have on the entire region in terms of jobs, research and economic development opportunities in other industries is especially gratifying.  This was a very competitive project that South Carolina won, not because our firm is located in Greenville, S.C., but because the Department of Commerce, the Governor, Laurens County, Greenville County, Duke Energy and CU-ICAR pursued this project aggressively and with purpose,” said Ed McCallum, senior principal, McCallum Sweeny Consulting Inc.
 
In addition to state officials, American Titanium Works would like to thank the following parties for their efforts: Marvin Moss, Laurens County Development Corporation; Ernie Segers, Laurens County Administrator; Kevin Landmesser, Greenville Area Development Corporation; Tony Almeida, Duke Energy; Bob Geolas, CU-ICAR and many others.
 
Construction is scheduled to begin by 2010.  A ground-breaking ceremony will be held at both locations at a future date.

Via SC Department of Commerce

Nikon Instruments Inc. has provided an in-kind donation of microscopy equipment to help Clemson University’s College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences biological sciences department start a new core microscopy facility. The facility will be the first of its kind in the Southeast, equipped with one of the most technologically advanced systems Nikon Instruments Inc. has installed anywhere in the United States.

Nikon recognizes Clemson as a top-tier research university in the Southeast, capable of bringing together its science and technology with industry needs and applications. Nikon plans to take advantage of the diverse research capabilities at Clemson to develop new products and applications, as well as establish the facility as a premier training facility in these top crossover instrumentation uses.

“Nikon chose to provide this donation to Clemson University’s biological sciences department because of Clemson’s unique commitment and blending of biological and material science imaging studies,” said Stan Schwartz, vice president of product and marketing at Nikon Instruments Inc. “Today’s microscopy tools allow for multi-modality imaging techniques to complement each other. Whether the specimens to observe are large or small, transparent or opaque, the interchangeability and compatibility of the optical instrumentation and analysis software will provide for superb crossover applications to be conducted.”

“The donation by Nikon dramatically expands microscopy capability and enhances the development of new imaging techniques on campus,” said Hap Wheeler, chairman of the biological sciences department. “Combined with another partnership in the university’s electron microscope facility, Clemson is positioned to be a leader in advanced-imaging analysis. This is an excellent example of a public-private collaboration that will benefit Clemson students, facilitate state-of-the-art research and generate economic growth in the state, region and global economy.”

Andrew Mount, Ph.D., was instrumental in developing the project in collaboration with Nikon and will lead a six-member research group at the facility.

The microscope package is valued at $620,000, toward which Nikon made an in-kind donation. Clemson University entities supporting the center with funds include the Office of Research and Economic Development; Public Service Activities; the College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences; the biological sciences department and individual research faculty.

via Nikon