Included within the bill is funding for local defense programs.

Indiana County:

• Large numbers of wounded service personnel returning from Iraq and Afghanistan are amputees. The bill includes $1,600,000 for Ardiem Medical, Inc. to research and develop advanced prosthetic solutions for military members suffering traumatic limb loss. Ardiem’s goal is to produce advanced prosthetic technologies that eventually allow amputees to simply visualize moving their prosthetics and those brain signals will operate an electrically driven prosthetic arm, at a much higher lever of function than is currently available. In addition, that same system would include micro-transducers imbedded in the prosthetic limbs to give touch-like sensory feedback that is currently unavailable in any prosthetic.

Synergy Contracting Services will provide cable assemblies, adapters, brackets, and wire harnesses for the team’s vehicle. “We are thrilled and honored to be a major contributor to the development of the Northrop Grumman-Oshkosh JLTV, a next-generation tactical vehicle that will provide a critical capability to our nation’s soldiers and Marines,” said Nancy J. Saxman, president and CEO of Synergy Contracting Services. “Our team believes we have a superior approach and design. If we’re right, we’ll be building the vehicles used by our armed forces for the next 30 years.”

The Defense Department is expected to decide late this month which industry competitors will continue into the next development phase of the $40 billion program.

The JLTV must be stronger and more survivable than the Humvee and more mobile and maneuverable than the mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicle, or MRAP, now being deployed in Iraq. This “family of vehicles” must be capable of performing a full range of military missions, including reconnaissance and cargo hauling or used as a mobile command center.

The JLTV offered by Northrop Grumman-Oshkosh team features diesel-electric drive, a unique but proven approach that provides more power, enables high performance, provides better protection and is easier to maintain. Although no vehicles in the military’s fleet use diesel-electric drive today, railroads and mining equipment have been powered by the technology for decades.

Diesel electric not only provides greater amounts of power to increase vehicle performance but also generates enough exportable power to run a field hospital, tactical operations center or any number of battlefield systems.
Northrop Grumman Corporation and Oshkosh Corporation joined forces to compete for the JLTV program on Jan. 8. If selected, Northrop Grumman would be the prime contractor and systems integrator, and Oshkosh would design, engineer and manufacture the vehicle.

Synergy Contracting Services LLC, a small, women-owned business located in a HUBZone, produces technically advanced, mission-critical cables, wire harnesses and electromechanical assemblies for original equipment manufacturers and the U.S. Department of Defense. Its products are used around the world in U.S. tactical aircraft and ground vehicles, smart weapons, and secure communication systems. The business was formed in 2001 to use the skill and experience of its members in performing services to assist other organizations with their manufacturing needs.

April 4, 2008, Homer City, PA - Homer City Automation, Inc. announced today that it is the new and official corporate entity of the former FMC Parts Handling Business located in Homer City, Pennsylvania. Purchase of the company, which has been trading and doing business as Homer City Automation since April, 2007, was finally completed by new owner, president and CEO, Stephanie DiLeo, who stepped in after the planned sale to another buyer fell through.

According to DiLeo who is also the former business manager, “The change in ownership has occurred without disruption to our business, which has been in continuous operation at this location for over 70 years. Homer City Automation will continue to offer and manufacture original Syntron® parts handling equipment, and to serve both new and long-standing customers who want to automate their processes.”

Sale of the business brings closure to the transition the Syntron® parts handling business faced when its former owner, FMC Technologies, consolidated and transferred its Pennsylvania-based manufacturing to Mississippi in April, 2007 and simultaneously announced its intent to divest the parts handling business, which no longer fit the company’s portfolio of energy services and products. Throughout this transition, the Syntron® parts handling business, doing business as Homer City Automation, continued to operate and service its customers with the help of long-time employees who had the knowledge and expertise to maintain and grow the business.

“It has been a long year”, acknowledged DiLeo, “but also a good year. I believe strongly in this business and its future. I am also very proud that we have been able to focus on our customers and products without missing a beat throughout this process. I look forward to recognizing the dedication of our employees and customers, as well as the various business agencies and entities that have worked so diligently to make this happen.”

About Homer City Automation

As the original manufacturer of Syntron® Parts Handling Equipment, Homer City Automation, Inc. is theindustry-recognized leader in process automation. Homer City Automation manufactures standard and custom vibratory and centrifugal parts feeders, drives, and auxiliary equipment, and offers a full range of services including engineering and application expertise, training, implementation and acclaimed customer support.

www.syntronpartsfeeders.com

Clark Metal was recognized for the achievements of its VOICE program. The VOICE program (Valuable Outcomes Implemented by Clark Employees) empowers employees to suggest and implement ideas for better work processes, which increase productivity, profitability, and efficiency. The program also affords employees with a greater sense of empowerment and involvement in the daily operations of Clark Metal Products.