Techni-Products, Inc. Named "Subcontractor Of The Year" By U.S. Small Business Administration, Region 1 Techni-Products Helps Improve NASA Astronaut Space Suit

EAST LONGMEADOW, MA -- Techni-Products, Inc. based in East Longmeadow, MA has been selected by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Region 1 (Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island) as "Subcontractor of the Year," announced Margery Morehardt, President. Techni-Products is a highly technically-proficient precision machine tool shop providing state of the art processes for a wide variety of commercial and government industries.

Covering the New England region, the Small Business Administration's Region 1 selected Techni-Products, Inc. for the honor because of its outstanding performance in an evaluation of ten critical areas of its business. These include management effectiveness, customer interface, technical capabilities and cost, delivery and quality performance. By winning this prestigious award, Techni-Products will be eligible to compete against the other nine regional winners for the National Award. All winners will be recognized in ceremonies during National Small Business Week in Washington D.C. on May 4th and 5th, 1994.

Hamilton Standard, United Technologies Division (Windsor Locks, CT), which nominated the company for the award, was impressed with the highly-advanced processes it employed in improving the component design for NASA's astronaut space suit hard torso shell (HTS). Utilizing the latest in CAD/CAM technology, Concurrent Engineering, Reverse Engineering and CNC Machining, the company was able to manufacture the HTS from a 1,300 pound forging of aluminum and machined it to 13 pounds at its completion. The complex surfaces of the HTS, which contours the astronaut's upper torso, were reverse engineered on Techni-Product's coordinate measuring machine, designed on Catia and machined on their 5-Axis machining centers.

A key element to Techni-Products success is the integration of its CAD/CAM system, CATIA. All of the services that Techni-Products offers; design, rapid prototyping, CNC machining and inspection are based on a common electronic part data base, affording customers various manufacturing options for development and production. As an IBM Applications Specialist for almost 7 years, Techni-Products sells, installs, trains users and tests new software.

Techni-Products also developed a strategic partnership with DTM corporation and established Mor-Tech, Inc. as a Rapid Prototyping Service Bureau using the Selective Laser Sintering Process. Various materials such as polycarbonate, nylon and investment casting wax, can be used to create visual models, functional parts, investment castings and rapid tooling. The 3-D surface and solid design engineering, models, castings, tooling and machining are all done at one facility. This allows Techni-Products and Mor-Tech the unique ability to be able to supply their customers with parts, tools and molds from concept to completion.

Techni-Products, Inc. has been in the precision machine business since 1959. Purchased by the late Robert Morehardt, Sr. and his wife Margery in 1979, the company has continually expanded its state of the art capabilities in their 33,000 square foot building, and serves the aerospace, machine manufacturing, and mold making industries for both the commercial and government marketplaces. The company specializes in complex precision machining, much of which requires specially designed cutting tools and fixtures, precision machinery, and advanced programming skills, enabling it to machine the toughest parts in the industry today.

Located at 126 Industrial Drive, East Longmeadow, MA., Techni-Products, Inc. is directed by Margery Morehardt, President, Robert Morehardt, Jr., VP of Sales and Bruce Morehardt, VP of Manufacturing. Telephone: (413) 525-6321, fax: (413) 525-8174.