Ohio’s Shepherd Chemical Expands European Manufacturing and R&D Capacity in Mirecourt, France

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Over the past century, the global chemical industry has witnessed a considerable transformation and innovation in terms of high-performance polymers, additives, adhesives, and catalysts as well as sustainable operational processes. One of the major stakeholders in the chemical industry is Ohio-based Shepherd Chemical Company which manufactures and develops technologically advanced, environment-friendly metal-based chemical products. Since its foundation in 1916, the company has been committed to adopt operational excellence and follow customer-based approach that offers direct relations to the clients.

Shepherd Chemical has three main strategic goals: to introduce high performing additives, catalysts and adhesion promoters keeping in view the needs of global customer base; to grow collectively by enhancing and expanding the capabilities of partner firms and to stick to the principles of sustainable development and safe working environment by promoting eco-friendly supply chain as envisioned in United Nations’ 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The investment by the company in research and development (R&D) and the expansion of different areas, e.g. optimizing Ohio operations and the current determination to capitalize 8.5 million USD for the proposed business expansions in Mirecourt site in France, signify the commitment to these goals. The site was previously acquired in 1994 to provide cobalt based rubber adhesion products.

It is significant to highlight that the company invests from a long-term perspective to support the growth of its customers, while also updating the existing product range and bringing innovation to the metal chemical industry. This can be justified by the fact how the company invested in two of its reactors in 2016, and how it is determined to make continuous improvements at Mirecourt as well as Ohio facilities. The installation of the new reactor at Mirecourt is expected to double the production in 2019.

Through providing sustainable and innovative metal chemical products to its customers, the Shepard Company has maintained a leading position in the global chemical industry. The recently proposed investment will help the company to not only increase its production capacity at the global level but also to maintain robust and longstanding relations with its clients and partners.

Innovate Ohio Project To Attract Businesses To The State

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Incoming Lt Governor Jon Husted will oversee the Innovate Ohio project, a new agency that aims to entice companies to the state and create jobs. It also plans to develop high tech products to improve government efficiency, stating that those who do not adapt to technological changes will fall behind. It hopes to transform the government by improving customer service, saving tax dollars and moving to paperless systems with new technologies.

One of the technologies in the works is the SmartOhio Operating System, an analytics and data-sharing program for government departments. Ohio business and technology leaders will come together to develop the technologies. Private business and government collaboration will help to bring the government up to scratch on modern technological solutions to improve its services.

The project also aims to increase innovative research and enhance Ohio’s reputation as a leader in computer science. Classroom coding and technology training will be provided to students from K-12 schools to make Ohio’s citizens work-ready for the jobs of the future.

Businesses in Ohio creating technological improvements may qualify for the Ohio R&D Investment Tax Credit. The credit rate is 7% of qualifying expenditures. Contact Swanson Reed for more information or take our online eligibility test.

Honda R&D to Boost Ohio’s Job Count By 175

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According to a recent press release by The Columbus Dispatch reports, JobsOhio and Honda R&D Americas, Inc. announced a grant partnership intended to support and promote a growing, high tech workforce at the company’s Ohio Center in Union County.

This scheduled expansion is projected to create around 175 new high tech jobs. Contacts at the Ohio Center (which is also Honda’s 2nd largest Research and Development Center in the world) have been trusted with the task of crafting the advanced technologies, Powersports, and automobile products that can bring value to the clients of Acura and Honda in North America and beyond.

Frank Paluch, the president of Honda R&D Americas said in the news release, “We have been building our team of innovative Honda engineers in the state of Ohio for more than three decades.” “And as Honda takes on these new challenges to meet the future needs of our clients, we continue to fashion a next-generation labor force through investing in our communities, our operations, and our associates to promote the growing high tech presence here in Raymond, Ohio”.

JobsOhio will assist the operation with a JobsOhio R&D Center Grant, a $1.2 Million Workforce Grant, and JobsOhio’s Talent Acquisition services.

JobsOhio’s senior managing director for automotive, Kristi Tanner pointed out that “Honda R&D America’s investment in Raymond, Ohio is an imperative step forward in building the next generation of mobility.”

She was glad Honda decided to work on its cutting-edge innovations at the State Capital, where they can also partner with other firms including 33 Smart Mobility Corridor, Connected Marysville, and TRC.

Through advancing its human interface and driver assisted systems, Honda R&D Americas will finally introduce highly automated driving capabilities and bring us a step closer to a collision-free society. In addition, this new goal builds upon the earlier broadcasted plans for Acura and Honda Vehicles to feature highly automated freeway driving abilities by 2020.

Route 33 To Be Used for Autonomous Car Research

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An area of Route 33 will be used for vehicle-to-infrastructure communication tests for autonomous car research. $15 million is being invested in the Smart Mobility Corridor that will run between East Liberty and Dublin. The communication tests will allow autonomous vehicles to talk to highway systems and each other, which could help ease congestion.

Optic cable wiring will occur during the Summer of 2017, although there is no official launch date as yet. The wiring will allow researchers to obtain data from sensors placed along the road, where testing can begin. A partnership between Intel subsidiary Wind River and Ohio State University, the city of Dublin and the Transportation Research Center will be among the first to use the 35-mile section of Route 33 as a test area for self-driving cars. The area is ideal for many US manufacturers, who would prefer not to travel abroad for testing.

The research could be fundamental to the future of autonomous vehicles. A PR statement claimed that the project will aim to “increase the pace, quality and development, testing and deployment of self-driving and other connected vehicle technologies.” As well as testing communication between vehicles and infrastructures, tests will be carried out for related technologies including smart mapping and smart sensing.

The region around the Transportation Research Center has quickly grown into an emerging center for high-tech automotive research. Ohio is clearly emerging as a hub for smart vehicles. “Ohio is in a good position to capitalize on the research and development dollars being invested in future mobility initiatives,” said Michelle Krebs from Autotrader. “It already has a strong automotive base with Fiat Chrysler’s Jeep complex near Toledo and Honda’s significant research, development and manufacturing operations around Marysville.” Honda’s Ohio-based R&D Center is working on introducing autonomous vehicles by 2020 and aim to release a model that is almost completely autonomous by 2025.

If your company is participating in R&D, you may benefit from a state and federal tax credit. Ohio’s R&D Investment Tax Credit is 7% of the qualifying expenditures. Contact a Swanson Reed specialist for more information.

BeeHex Move R&D Operations to Ohio

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BeeHex is a 3D food production company, best known for their 3D printed pizzas. The company started as a NASA project to produce the first 3D printer to create food for astronauts (3D printing material can be stored for much longer periods than perishable and processed foods.)

Now the company is adapting to sell their printer technology commercially. BeeHex will develop production models of the 3D printers in its new Gahanna lab, which should be available to certain pilot customers by the end of 2017. Co-founder Jordan French believes that “a lot of industries are looking for solutions like this, giving employees tools to do things more efficiently.” Potential targets could include sports arenas, theme parks, restaurants or even the military.

BeeHex uses fresh ingredients to make fresh and freezable, oven-ready pizzas, which is an ideal food for 3D printing as it is constructed in layers.

The company aims to create printers that can take the customer’s preferences into account and make food on-the-spot. They have built an app that allows the customer to choose their preferred pizza size and type of dough, topping and cheese.  A conveyor belt that allows robots to then add toppings is also being developed. The technology could make it faster and easier to produce food for consumers with special requirements, without a chef having to learn specialized skills.

Like normal 3D printers, the pizza printer receives instructions from a computer and creates the pizza using layers. However, BeeHex printers use pneumatic systems instead of additive technology to move ingredients around. Initially taking six minutes to print, it now takes only a minute for a 12” pizza. A small sized pizza can then take just two minutes to cook.

Worried about the taste? BeeHex has partnered with Pasquale Cozzolino, a renowned pizza chef, who uses only the best Italian ingredients at his pizzeria, Ribalta. He stated, “I am looking forward to using my experience in the culinary industry to create a pizza that can be 3D printed without sacrificing quality ingredients and taste.”

If your company is using 3D printing, you may be eligible for the federal and Ohio R&D Tax Credit.  Contact a Swanson Reed specialist to see if you qualify.