News Release

July 7, 2006

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Bill Mullane, Marketing/Public Relations Manager, TechHelp
208-426-2266 or williammullane@boisestate.edu
www.techhelp.org

For immediate release

TechHelp Lab at BSU Adds New Prototyping Capabilities

Thanks to the Idaho Legislature and the leadership of Sen. Shawn Keough of Sandpoint and Rep. Shirley Ringo of Moscow, TechHelp received additional 2006 funding to enhance the prototyping capabilities at the TechHelp New Product Development (NPD) Lab at Boise State University. The funds were used to purchase, test and put into service two new prototyping materials that will allow the lab to make prototypes and production parts with a wider range of material properties. “Our NPD clients throughout the state have been clamoring for a wider variety of prototyping materials for some time, and we are very thankful that the legislature made it possible for us to meet their needs,” said Steve Hatten, NPD lab manager.

“Being able to design, create and take new products to market in a timely manner is critical to the ability of Idaho companies to compete in a global market,” said Keough. "I was impressed by the work the TechHelp Lab at BSU had done with leading technology companies across Idaho and am glad the legislature was able to help further the mission of the lab.”

The new prototyping materials offer properties of strength, flexibility and heat resistance not available in other materials used at the lab. DSM Somos 14120 is a low viscosity liquid photopolymer that produces strong, tough, water-resistant parts. DSM Somos 15120 is a nanoparticle-filled liquid material that produces strong, stiff, temperature-resistant, composite parts. The TechHelp NPD crew is already using the new materials to meet the needs of Idaho companies. Boise-based OX-GEN is using prototypes made of temperature-resistant Somos 15120 to conduct testing on the company’s portable oxygen generation system. Toymaker Ugobe is taking advantage of the flexibility characteristics of Somos 14120 to make prototypes for the company’s new interactive dinosaur, Pleo. Inventor Caleb Chung of Boise (co-inventor of the Furby) is a regular at the TechHelp NPD Lab at Boise State where he and the NPD team have worked hard to put a body around the soul of Pleo.

TechHelp will hold an open house at the lab beginning at 8:45 a.m. Wednesday, July 26, to discuss the new prototyping capabilities and to give companies the opportunity to visit the lab and meet with the TechHelp NPD staff. (See agenda below.) The lab features a diverse team of professionals, including BSU engineering professors, BSU engineering student interns and two full-time TechHelp NPD specialists. The NPD team has a diverse blend of experience and talent and is able to address NPD issues from a variety of perspectives and in a cost-effective manner. During the open house, TechHelp NPD clients, OX-GEN and Ugobe, will describe their NPD processes and how they are making use of the new prototyping materials to develop and test new products.

Thanks to the support of the Idaho Legislature, Boise State, the National Institute of Standards and Technology Manufacturing Extension Partnership and the U.S. Economic Development Agency, the TechHelp NPD lab has been assisting Idaho companies since 2000. The lab serves about 40 companies per year from throughout the state and acts as an important bridge between Idaho’s university and business sectors. Idaho businesses gain affordable access to university talent and resources and BSU staff and interns gain valuable experience and contacts with innovative Idaho businesses.

The NPD open house is free of charge and is open to anyone interested in NPD services at Boise State. Attendees are asked to RSVP by contacting TechHelp at 208-426-3767 or techhelp@boisestate.edu. Additional information is available at www.techhelp.org. 

TechHelp NPD Open House Agenda:

Wednesday, July 26, 2006
8:45 a.m. Meet in Room MEC 309 on the 3rd Floor of BSU’s Micron Engineering Building at Belmont and Manitou – Food & Beverages Served
9:00 - 9:15 Welcome, Introductions & Special Guest Recognition – Gary Thompson, Director, TechHelp
9:15 - 9:30 Introduce NPD Staff, Lab History & Overview – Steve Hatten, NPD Manager, TechHelp
9:30 - 10:00 Case Studies:
OX-GEN – Oxygen Generation System – Frank Fosella & Team, OX-GEN
Meet Pleo the Ugobe Dinosaur – Caleb Chung, Ugobe (Co-inventor of Furby)
10:00 - 10:15 Break and Move to NPD Lab Room MEC 413 on 4th floor
10:15 - 10:30 Explanation of NPD equipment, new lab materials and capabilities - Hatten
10:30 - 11:00 Questions, hands-on demonstrations and lab tours – NPD Lab Staff

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About TechHelp: TechHelp specialists provide technical and professional assistance, training and information to Idaho manufacturers, food processors and inventors to strengthen their global competitiveness through product and process improvements. TechHelp is a partnership of Idaho's three state universities and an affiliate of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, through the not-for-profit Manufacturing Extension Partnership. It is also Idaho's Economic Development Administration University Center, targeting economically distressed areas of Idaho.

 

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Last reviewed on Wednesday, January 03, 2007