LEROY, N.Y. (July 28, 2003) – The Space Alliance Technology Outreach Program (SATOP), a NASA-funded outreach program, has helped an industrial packaging company increase its overall production speed.
     SATOP provides free engineering assistance to small businesses with technical challenges through the donations of time and expertise from 40 Space Alliance Partners, such as space program contractors, NASA centers and universities.
Using newspaper, or a corrugated cardboard base, Orcon Industries creates pulp, which is molded into 100 percent recyclable packaging. Seeking to increase productivity and reduce costs, Orcon purchased an advanced pulp processing machine in 1998.
     “We spent a great deal of money on this elaborate machine only to find out that the pulp drying cycle was not as fast as promised,” said Gale Hastings, Orcon vice president. “We wanted to seek the advice of the machine manufacturer, but they have since gone out of business.”
     This situation not only impacted Orcon’s sales estimates, but it also led to lost revenue because the company was not producing its anticipated volume.
In search of an inexpensive solution, Hastings contacted SATOP, which he heard about through the Genesse County Industrial Development Association.
     After Hastings completed a Request for Technical Assistance (RTA), SATOP arranged for Ray Puffer, co-director of the Flexible Manufacturing Center at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) to assist Orcon with its predicament.
“We carefully analyzed the problem and determined that there were several approaches Orcon could take,” said Puffer. “I prepared a final report with six detailed solutions to consider. The machine will probably work more efficiently if Orcon implements a combination of my recommendations.”
     Orcon is currently testing Puffer’s suggestions until they find the method that produces the most efficient result. Presently, they are testing two of his ideas – removing the product from the press before it is completely dry and pre-heating the slurry before it enters the machine.
     “I can see why SATOP appeals to so many small businesses,” said Hastings. “For a free service, there was very little red tape, and the cooperation and communication between SATOP, the engineer and my company was incredible.”