South Carolina – Swanson Reed | Specialist R&D Tax Advisors

Cambio Roasters Unveils Recyclable Keurig Pods

Cambio Roasters, a South Carolina coffee firm, has unveiled their aluminum Keurig pods, bringing sustainability to coffee lovers.

The advent of the Keurig and Nespresso machines brought great tasting coffee to the mornings of people everywhere. Unfortunately, the pods are single use and contribute to landfills. Cambio Roasters’ aluminum pods are recyclable, moving pods from the landfill to a recycling facility and offering the material a second life.

“This innovative shift from plastic to aluminum represents a significant advancement in sustainability and coffee quality,” states Cambio. The company says its aluminum coffee pod design addresses an “environmental crisis caused by the 40 million plastic coffee pods that end up in landfills and oceans every day,” calling the aluminum pods “a more eco-friendly and high-quality alternative.”

Cambio Roasters launched in 2018 with the mission of bringing sustainability to the coffee industry. They conduct R&D to improve on both recyclability and coffee quality. This commitment has led to the 2024 launch of the world’s first and only aluminum pod for use in America’s most popular pod brewers.

Are you developing new technology for an existing application? Did you know your development work could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and you can receive up to 14% back on your expenses? Even if your development isn’t successful your work may still qualify for R&D credits (i.e. you don’t need to have a patent to qualify). To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today or check out our free online eligibility test.

Who We Are:

Swanson Reed is one of the U.S.’ largest Specialist R&D tax advisory firms. We manage all facets of the R&D tax credit program, from claim preparation and audit compliance to claim disputes.

Swanson Reed regularly hosts free webinars and provides free IRS CE and CPE credits for CPAs. For more information please visit us at www.swansonreed.com/webinars or contact your usual Swanson Reed representative.

MycoWorks: Pioneering Sustainable Materials with the Power of Mycelium

Biotechnology-startup, MycoWorks, Inc., has initiated production at their first industrial-scale plant in Union, South Carolina. Their research and development efforts are focused on harnessing the power of mycelium, the root structure of mushrooms, to revolutionize the materials industry.

Their new plant represents more than just a facility; it’s a testament to the potential of mycelium-based materials in shaping a more environmentally friendly world. The company is now working to scale up processes to meet luxury industry demand by growing millions of square meters of its leather-alternative material produced with the company’s proprietary technology, Fine Mycelium.

At the heart of MycoWorks’ innovation lies their patented technology, Fine Mycelium™. This cutting-edge process unlocks a new class of materials that seamlessly blend the wonders of nature with the demands of modern industry. These materials are not only sustainable but are also engineered for high performance, offering a glimpse into a resilient and eco-conscious future.

What sets MycoWorks apart is their unwavering commitment to future generations. Every step they take today is driven by the desire to leave a lasting positive impact. Their multidisciplinary team, comprising scientists, engineers, product experts, and artists, works tirelessly to push the boundaries of what’s possible in mycology and materials science.

MycoWorks’ dedication to innovation extends to their manufacturing processes. They are redefining industry standards by creating materials that are not just environmentally friendly but also excel in terms of quality and functionality. Their visionary approach is steering the materials industry towards a more sustainable path.

The use of mycelium-based materials has the potential to transform various sectors, from fashion and construction to packaging and beyond. As industries seek alternatives to traditional, often harmful materials, MycoWorks is providing a powerful solution.

Are you developing new technology for an existing application? Did you know your development work could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and you can receive up to 14% back on your expenses? Even if your development isn’t successful your work may still qualify for R&D credits (i.e. you don’t need to have a patent to qualify). To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today or check out our free online eligibility test.

Who We Are:

Swanson Reed is one of the U.S.’ largest Specialist R&D tax advisory firms. We manage all facets of the R&D tax credit program, from claim preparation and audit compliance to claim disputes.

Swanson Reed regularly hosts free webinars and provides free IRS CE and CPE credits for CPAs. For more information please visit us at www.swansonreed.com/webinars or contact your usual Swanson Reed representative.

Phlow Corp Secures $36M to Expand Domestic CDMO Operations

South Carolina-based medicine supply chain company, Phlow Corp, has secured $36 million in a Series B funding round. The funding will aid the company as they scale their contract manufacturing program. The funding’s primary focus will be on supporting the growth of cdmoX – the company’s manufacturing operations – to meet market demands for customized services.

The company refers to their U.S.-based,next generation contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) as cdmoX. This program provides R&D services for Advanced Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) and Key Starting Materials with the intention of streamlining supply and reducing the exorbitant costs associated with typical development.

This mission addresses a growing pain point in the medical industry. Economic drivers moved the manufacturing of APIs abroad, while recent global events have made the global supply chain unstable. Phlow’s approach brings stability back by creating a resilient and domestic supply chain capable of manufacturing critical medicines and medical countermeasures. The boost in funding from this Series B round will aid in this mission, expanding the company’s reach and improving resilience.

Are you developing new technology for an existing application? Did you know your development work could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and you can receive up to 14% back on your expenses? Even if your development isn’t successful your work may still qualify for R&D credits (i.e. you don’t need to have a patent to qualify). To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today or check out our free online eligibility test.

Who We Are:

Swanson Reed is one of the U.S.’ largest Specialist R&D tax advisory firms. We manage all facets of the R&D tax credit program, from claim preparation and audit compliance to claim disputes.

Swanson Reed regularly hosts free webinars and provides free IRS CE and CPE credits for CPAs. For more information please visit us at www.swansonreed.com/webinars or contact your usual Swanson Reed representative.

Argo AI is Bringing Autonomous Vehicle Research in South Carolina Tech & Aviation Center

Argo AI, a global autonomy products and services company, has recently planted roots at South Carolina Technology & Aviation Center. This plan comes with Argo AI’s $2.6 million investment and the plans for 40 new jobs in the Upstate.

Argo AI will have access to SCTAC’s automotive test track system called the International Transportation Innovation Center (ITIC). The ITIC will benefit from Argo AI’s rapid growth and impressive holding in their industry. Despite being relatively young, Argo AI has grown significantly in their six years. Two of their largest investors include Volkswagen and Ford.

Argo’s Greenville operations will be dedicated to highway-speed testing as the company advances toward commercial autonomous operations across multiple cities, according to a press release. The company has spent their six years developing, testing, and advancing their autonomy platform. The platform is designed to provide autonomous vehicle technology to support a wide variety of business needs.

Are you developing new technology for an existing application? Did you know your development work could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and you can receive up to 14% back on your expenses? Even if your development isn’t successful your work may still qualify for R&D credits (i.e. you don’t need to have a patent to qualify). To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today or check out our free online eligibility test.

Who We Are:

Swanson Reed is one of the U.S.’ largest Specialist R&D tax advisory firms. We manage all facets of the R&D tax credit program, from claim preparation and audit compliance to claim disputes.

Swanson Reed regularly hosts free webinars and provides free IRS CE and CPE credits for CPAs. For more information please visit us at www.swansonreed.com/webinars or contact your usual Swanson Reed representative.

Nutramax Laboratories Set to Expand in Lancaster

Nutramax Laboratories has been researching and developing high-quality nutritional supplements for over 30 years. In an effort to continue this work, the company has announced their plans to expand operations in Lancaster County. This expansion – and the $30 million investment that goes with it – will create approximately 200 new jobs.

In addition to three existing locations in Lancaster, Nutramax Laboratories’ new facility will be located at 785 Fort Mill Highway in Indian Land and will house additional warehousing, distribution and future manufacturing capabilities.

“We are pleased to continue to grow in Lancaster County. With this newest expansion to the Indian Land area, we will continue providing a positive impact that goes beyond our economic development commitments. For 30 years, we have been blessed with a fantastic team of employees committed to delivering the very best to our consumers. Our values of glorifying God, serving our people, supporting our community and pursuing excellence have created an unwavering guide to fulfilling our mission.” said Nutramax Laboratories President and CEO Todd Henderson, DVM.

Nutramax develops and provides safe, effective, quality products meant to improve the user’s quality of life. They have formulated supplements for both humans and pets and quickly grew as an industry leader in setting and adhering to high standards in manufacturing and quality control. In fact every supplement is tested by 80 quality checks backed by scientific studies. Their product line includes supplements to promote joint health, digestive health, and overall wellness.

Are you developing new technology for an existing application? Did you know your development work could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and you can receive up to 14% back on your expenses? Even if your development isn’t successful your work may still qualify for R&D credits (i.e. you don’t need to have a patent to qualify). To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today or check out our free online eligibility test.

Who We Are:

Swanson Reed is one of the U.S.’ largest Specialist R&D tax advisory firms. We manage all facets of the R&D tax credit program, from claim preparation and audit compliance to claim disputes.

Swanson Reed regularly hosts free webinars and provides free IRS CE and CPE credits for CPAs. For more information please visit us at www.swansonreed.com/webinars or contact your usual Swanson Reed representative.

Generac to Further their Expansion with $53M Investment

California Patent of the Month - August 2021

Generac Holdings Inc. is an American manufacturer of backup power generation products for residential, light commercial, and industrial markets. Based in Waukesha, Generac has plans to expand their presence in Wisconsin by adding 700 new jobs and investing $53 million in its operations as the company seeks to meet the ever rising demand for their power products.

Generac also has operations in South Carolina, Vermont, and Maine. The planned expansion will rely on $19 million in state tax credits obtained by meeting certain hiring and capital investment goals. As long as these goals are met by 2024, Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. will supply the $19 million in enterprise zone tax credits.

“Generac is experiencing phenomenal demand and growth as the combination of an aging (electricity) grid and extreme weather are resulting in more frequent and longer-lasting power outages,” said Aaron Jagdfeld, president and CEO of Generac. “We are proud to continue to expand our presence in Wisconsin as we work to meet the incredible market demand.

Tom Pettit, COO of Generac, said of the 700 new jobs, 300 will be in sales, marketing and customer service at their new facility in Pewaukee.

“That is going to free up space in our corporate headquarters to move some people here and to add more in research and development and corporate staff,” Pettit said. “That research and development will continue to ideate and develop more new products to continue that amazing growth and investment in our community.”

This move comes shortly after Generac announced the opening of a large manufacturing and distribution facility in South Carolina. This 421,000 sqft. Facility was needed to support increased demand for standby generators and associated energy technologies while serving as a distribution center to consumers.

Aside from the energy infrastructure and extreme weather events, Pettit mentioned the trend of more people working from home as another factor behind the increased demand for energy.

“If you can’t charge your phone, you don’t have the ability to have contact,” Pettit said. “This is an essential appliance, not just a suggested appliance.”

As work from home continues to expand, we may see even more expansions from Generac in the future.

Are you developing new software for an existing application? Did you know your development work could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and you can receive up to 14% back on your expenses? Even if your development isn’t successful your work may still qualify for R&D credits (i.e. you don’t need to have a patent to qualify). To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today or check out our free online eligibility test.

Who We Are:

Swanson Reed is one of the U.S.’ largest Specialist R&D tax advisory firms. We manage all facets of the R&D tax credit program, from claim preparation and audit compliance to claim disputes.

Swanson Reed regularly hosts free webinars and provides free IRS CE and CPE credits for CPAs. For more information please visit us at www.swansonreed.com/webinars or contact your usual Swanson Reed representative.

Soloinsight Opens New Workflow Innovation Center

Soloinsight has announced the opening of their new Workflow Innovation Center in Charleston, South Carolina. This new center signifies the companies commitment to growth of their innovative workflow automation solutions. They utilize cloud based software developments to revolutionize existing work spaces.

Developments of programs like CloudGate help to address operational efficiency. They have focused on the security and automation of a company’s interaction with the life cycles of each employee, visitor, and contractor. This new innovation center will help bring key technology functions together under a single roof. These technologies will help to further the convergence of physical and logical security infrastructures and contribute to their mobile first approaches.

Are you developing new software for an existing application? Did you know your development work could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and you can receive up to 14% back on your expenses? Even if your development isn’t successful your work may still qualify for R&D credits (i.e. you don’t need to have a patent to qualify). To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today or check out our free online eligibility test.

Who We Are:

Swanson Reed is one of the U.S.’ largest Specialist R&D tax advisory firms. We manage all facets of the R&D tax credit program, from claim preparation and audit compliance to claim disputes.

Swanson Reed regularly hosts free webinars and provides free IRS CE and CPE credits for CPAs. For more information please visit us at www.swansonreed.com/webinars or contact your usual Swanson Reed representative.

ScopeStack Receives $250K in Funding from SC Launch

Montana Patent of the Month - February 2021

ScopeStack, Inc. is the latest recipient of funding from SC Launch Inc., an affiliate of the South Carolina Research Authority which aims to increase R&D and innovation in the SC region. ScopeStack is set to receive $250, 000 in funding to help expand both its operations and workforce.

ScopeStack developed a software-as-a-service solution for developing presales statements of work. After spending years scoping projects and meticulously copying information between platforms and manually updating documents to create proposals, they decided it needed a complete overhaul. They reworked the entire scoping process to automate it into an easy method for delivering quick and accurate statements of work. It successfully allows engineers to accurately price professional services which reduces the scoping time of a project. This increased turnaround time improves workflow in all ways.

Are you developing new software for an existing application? Did you know your development work could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and you can receive up to 14% back on your expenses? Even if your development isn’t successful your work may still qualify for R&D credits (i.e. you don’t need to have a patent to qualify). To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today or check out our free online eligibility test.

Who We Are:

Swanson Reed is one of the U.S.’ largest Specialist R&D tax advisory firms. We manage all facets of the R&D tax credit program, from claim preparation and audit compliance to claim disputes.

Swanson Reed regularly hosts free webinars and provides free IRS CE and CPE credits for CPAs. For more information please visit us at www.swansonreed.com/webinars or contact your usual Swanson Reed representative.

Women’s-Only Ridesharing Service Offers Worry-Free Rides

Ride options like Uber and Lyft are great options for those who don’t have cars, or even for getting home after a few drinks. But for some, it can be daunting to get into another person’s car; especially if you’re a solo woman getting into a strange man’s car. That’s where the idea for Just Her Rideshare came from. From research, founder Kimberly Evans discovered that every year, 52-million women use ride share apps. This was a significant number and after surveying women, most said they felt some level of discomfort and said they would choose to have a woman driver if it was an option.

Drivers will be interviewed and undergo background checks to guarantee the safety of all riders. Drivers will also be considered in this safety protocol as men will still be able to use the app as long as the driver feels safe transporting them. Just Her Rideshare is focused on creating a safe community of drivers and riders for women in order to offer a safe and comfortable space for those who are cautious or wary of other ridesharing.

Are you adapting existing technology for a new application? Did you know your development work could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and you can receive up to 14% back on your expenses? Even if your development isn’t successful your work may still qualify for R&D credits (i.e. you don’t need to have a patent to qualify). To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today or check out our free online eligibility test.

Who We Are:

Swanson Reed is one of the U.S.’ largest Specialist R&D tax advisory firms. We manage all facets of the R&D tax credit program, from claim preparation and audit compliance to claim disputes.

Swanson Reed regularly hosts free webinars and provides free IRS CE and CPE credits for CPAs. For more information please visit us at www.swansonreed.com/webinars or contact your usual Swanson Reed representative.

South Carolina Patent of the Month – August 2020

Smartphones and smart devices have become increasingly popular ways to scan images, like barcodes, because of their highly functional camera technology and ubiquity. However, there are issues with focus and lighting; often, what should be a 5 second scan takes much longer. So, Honeywell, of Fort Mill, South Carolina, developed a system that can read barcodes while tracking the user’s eyes to identify what they may be looking for.

The Invention

The invention involves a processor coupled to two imaging systems: (1) to scan and provide visual display, and (2) for detecting a gaze of a user. It determines a gaze coordinate location (on the screen) and uses this location to start decoding a region of interest within the image.

So, the front facing camera is configured to find the user’s pupils, which are then tracked and used to calculate gaze coordinates. An eye gaze cursor graphic or “gaze zone coordinate” displays as a dot on the screen. The rear facing camera shows the image, and the processor maps this so that it may be separated into small locations/zones. The gaze zone coordinate is used as a starting point for the processor to decode the image, and also alerts the autofocus and autoexposure. As the gaze zone coordinate changes, the automatic focus area is updated, as is the auto-exposure/contrast of the image.

If there’s multiple barcodes, the system shows screen graphics to allow users to select a barcode. For each barcode there is an associated “gaze selection zone” (i.e. a graphic in each corner of the screen). The user’s gaze is monitored to see if it stays on the graphic or on the bounds of barcodes for a number of milliseconds. If so, that barcode is selected and returned to the processor. The user also has the option of selecting the barcode with their finger or via voice.

The eye-gaze tracking will be available in the Honeywell SwiftDecoder.TM, a mobile barcode scanning application. The app provides a feature/plug-in where users can control the look and function of a scanning operation. This plug-in would have the ability to access the camera feeds from both the rear and front facing cameras.

Are you developing a new product or process? Did you know your R&D experiments could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and you can receive up to 14% back on your expenses? Even if your development isn’t successful your work may still qualify for R&D credits (i.e. you don’t need to have a patent to qualify). To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today or check out our free online eligibility test.

Who We Are:

Swanson Reed is one of the U.S.’ largest Specialist R&D tax advisory firms. We manage all facets of the R&D tax credit program, from claim preparation and audit compliance to claim disputes.

Swanson Reed regularly hosts free webinars and provides free IRS CE and CPE credits for CPAs. For more information please visit us at www.swansonreed.com/webinars or contact your usual Swanson Reed representative.