University Engagement
Penn State graduate student helping PennTAP report on positive economic and environmental impact
Graduate student Aditya Krishnaswamy is complementing his supply chain and logistics-focused industrial engineering studies with a graduate assistantship at Penn State’s Pennsylvania Technical Assistance Program (PennTAP).
Graduate student researching ways small businesses can adapt to environmental requirements
Penn State graduate student Amanda Enns is creating an action plan for small to medium-sized businesses to best approach ESG considerations.
PennTAP connects Blair County paper mill to Penn State student engineering talent
PennTAP Advisor Amy Jorden connected AEPM with the Penn State College of Engineering Bernard M. Gordon Learning Factory, which provides engineering students with practical hands-on experience through industry-sponsored and client-based capstone design projects.
PennTAP Helps Blair County Meat Manufacturer Secure Funding, Upgrade Compressor
Based on PennTAP’s recommendations, Kunzler was able to upgrade their compressor, saving them 307,662 kWh and $92,000 annually. PennTAP also helped Kunzler obtain a $24,000 rebate from Penelec to help offset the cost of the project.
PennTAP Connects 3D Printer Company to Entrepreneurial Resources
Verde Mantis is located in Reading, PA and manufactures one of the easiest to use 3D printers called the Mantis 3D printer. PennTAP connected Verde Mantis with Penn State’s Bernard M. Gordon Learning Factory student capstone teams to work on initial prototyping and testing of the product.
Student Teams to Compete on WPSU’s “The Investment” for $30,000
The top six student startup teams have been selected for the 2021 Inc.U Competition. The following startups will compete on WPSU’s Shark Tank-style TV show “The Investment” for a chance at a share of up to $30,000 in funding for their startup.
Penn State Learning Factory Students Help Local Soup Manufacturer Make Process Improvements
Happy Valley Soup Company (HVS) creates and manufactures homemade gourmet dried soup mixes. As their business continues to expand, they are looking for ways to increase their operational productivity and attract new customers.
Where Are They Now? Q&A With Vitable Health Founder Joseph Kitonga
Since the Inc.U Competition officially launched in 2015, it has produced 10 winning teams and provided $120,000 in prize money. Those 10 startups have since grown, shifted, and encountered new challenges and successes. This is the third in an article series which will explore where some of the winning teams are now, how the pandemic has impacted their businesses, and what the next big steps for their companies are. CastPak is a portable turnkey high-quality livestreaming solution.
PennTAP Helps Construction Tool Manufacturer Make Process Improvements
Bon Tool is a professional hand tool manufacturer and supplier in Allegheny County, PA.
While planning for process improvement projects, Bon Tool reached out to PennTAP for energy assistance.
PennTAP Helps Beverage Bottling Plant Save Over $85,000 in Water Costs
In 2015, a large beverage bottling plant in northeastern Pennsylvania planned to reduce its overall water usage by 25% over a ten-year period, ending in 2025. The plant’s goal was to increase profitability while reducing energy and environmental costs.
Based on the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the plant also identified six focus areas for improvement: agriculture, water, packaging, product, climate, and people. These were considered during PennTAP’s assessment.
