Participating in the successful launch of Howard/McCracy's new refrigerated curved-glass display case are (left to right): Al Taubenberger, president, Greater Northeast Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce; Dorothy H. Friel, administrative coordinator, Greater Northeast Chamber of Commerce; Jim Woods, field agent, Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern PA (BFTP/SEP); Sue Evatt, senior director, Technology Commercialization Group, BFTP/SEP; Chris Scott, president, Howard/McCray; Brian Tyndall, general manager, Howard/McCray; Dolly Tyndall, vice president, Howard/McCray; Mike Delpha, director, Business Development, Delaware Valley Industrial Resource Center; Donald Paterson, vice president and senior business advisor, PNC Bank; RoseAnn B. Rosenthal, president & CEO, BFTP/SEP.

The new curved glass product line can be used for deli products, red meat, fish or poultry and bakery. The case is a versatile design that will allow it to be joined together for supermarket-style applications, and is also designed and built with a laminate exterior for use in specialty and coffee shops.

The product was developed through collaboration among Howard/McCray, BFTP and the Delaware Valley Industrial Resource Center (DVIRC), with support from the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA).

Howard/McCray estimates that the new product line will increase its sales, currently at $6 million per year, by $1 million by 2008. The new product is expected to increase its market vitality by allowing the company to penetrate new markets, such as specialty shops and small supermarkets.

Howard/McCray was introduced to BFTP's Technology Commercialization Group (TCG) through a partnership for manufacturing innovation and new product development with the DVIRC. TCG, which is funded by the Economic Development Administration, administers grants that support the implementation of a product development and commercialization network and assists businesses with strategic product planning, development and funding access.

TCG provided Howard/McCray matching funds for industrial, structural, and prototype design of the display case, as well as for testing and analysis. These services were delivered by Triumph Engineering Group, a member of the BFTP and DVIRC provider network.

Howard/McCray employees 50 workers in its factory. Its administrative offices have been located at its Grant Avenue facility since 1961.

 From the September/October 2005 issue