Franklin company Echo moves headquarters south
Franklin, MA
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"The success is driven by a great work force," plant manager Jim Clark said yesterday at an event celebrating the recognition.
In 2005, when General Cable purchased the plant, it was on the verge of closing. But plant officials, attracted to Franklin by its proximity to regional highways, improved efficiency without laying off any workers, Clark said.
The magazine noted plant leaders have transitioned to a flexible work force which has employees shift among several jobs and who are encouraged to come up with their own ideas for improvements.
The magazine praised the plant for developing charts at each workstation that provide step-by-step instructions for how to resolve common issues that may affect quality, such as properly measuring each cable to make sure it is the correct diameter.Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here
"There is no other community that has put on such an effort," said Jack Lank, president of the United Regional Chamber of Commerce. "People here in Franklin get it, they really do."
The summit highlighted the town's ability to offer tax incentives to businesses that expand within six so-called economic opportunity areas designated over the last two years.
The areas include Forge Park, Franklin Industrial Park, North Grove Street, South Grove Street and Pond Street. There are about 100 parcels available, totaling more than 900 acres.Read the full article about the economic summit held yesterday in Franklin:
Soldiers reported the netting-style armor, which was recently installed on their new all-terrain vehicles, worked exactly as advertised when they were ambushed by insurgents in the Ghazni province during a patrol.
The platoon's story was told in a newsletter article written by U.S. Army 1st Lt. R.J. Peek, which caught the attention of employees at the QinetiQ facility in Franklin where the protective net was manufactured.
"We were absolutely thrilled to get the news, seeing as this is one of our most exciting products," said Andrew Rogers, group director for QintiQ North America's survivability division.
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The United Regional Chamber of Commerce | 42 Union Street | Attleboro | MA | 02703 |
The 60,000-square-foot factory specializes in special metals, known as refractory metals, and precision machining. It produces parts for X-ray machines, light bulbs, flight-safety parts and more.
It moved from Holliston to the Franklin Industrial Park in 1996, where it continues to grow with the help of experienced workers who are required to have some related skills before starting the job.
"They have to be a (computer numerically controlled) machinist. ...They have to have a capability with the machines," Okorn said.
"They have to be able to read blueprints and interpret technical drawings," added Sontgerath.
While machining skills are important, Sontgerath said training is also available.
FRANKLIN, Mass., May 28 /CNW/ -- Echo Therapeutics, Inc. (OTC Bulletin
Board: ECTE) announced today that it has signed a license agreement with
Ferndale Pharma Group ("Ferndale"), under which Echo granted Ferndale the
right to develop, market, sell and distribute Echo's Prelude(TM) SkinPrep
System ("Prelude") for painless, needle-free skin preparation prior to the
application of topical 4% lidocaine cream for fast-acting, local dermal
anesthesia prior to a wide-range of needle-based medical procedures in North
America and the United Kingdom. Echo's non-invasive Prelude SkinPrep System
incorporates patented skin permeation control technology which allows for
quick and painless removal of the outermost layer of the skin for both
transdermal drug delivery and glucose measurement.
"Completing this first Prelude licensing agreement was one of our top
priorities," stated Patrick T. Mooney, M.D., Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer of Echo Therapeutics. "Ferndale is a market leader specializing in
advanced skincare and topical therapeutic products. This collaboration
combines our skin permeation technology platform and Ferndale's leadership in
the fast-growing topical anesthetic market based on LMX4, its topical 4%
lidocaine cream."
Dr. Mooney continued, "Importantly, this licensing transaction
demonstrates the drug delivery capabilities of Prelude. We believe that there
are numerous additional partnering opportunities for both Prelude and our
Symphony(TM) tCGM System for needle-free, transdermal continuous glucose
monitoring. We are actively engaged with and interested in finding additional
partners as we leverage the use of Prelude as a transdermal drug delivery
platform and Symphony for continuous glucose monitoring in the many
territories around the world."
Michael Burns, Ph.D., President of Ferndale added, "We are extremely
excited about using Prelude to expand our presence in the important topical
dermal anesthesia market in hospitals, clinics and with plastic surgeons and
dermatologists. We expect Prelude to allow much more rapid onset of
effectiveness for our topical anesthetic product, thereby significantly
increasing the size of our market opportunity."
Under the terms of the agreement, Echo will receive an up-front licensing
fee of US $750,000. Echo will also receive $750,000 upon FDA clearance of the
product and additional milestone payments based on the achievement of certain
net sales targets and guaranteed minimum royalties totaling an additional
$12.6 million. Echo will also receive an escalating royalty on net sales of
the product. Ferndale will also be responsible for all product development
and regulatory costs for the final development of the Prelude SkinPrep System
for topical analgesic/anesthetic drug delivery applications.
About Echo Therapeutics
Echo Therapeutics is focused on medical devices and specialty
pharmaceuticals. Echo is developing a non-invasive, wireless, transdermal
continuous glucose monitoring (tCGM) system for patients with diabetes and for
use in hospital critical care units. Echo is utilizing its Prelude SkinPrep
platform technology for transdermal drug delivery and is developing a wide
range of novel topical reformulations of widely-used, FDA-approved products.
About Ferndale Pharma Group
The Ferndale Pharma Group of companies specializes in the development,
manufacture, distribution and marketing of various dermatologic products
including prescription topical drugs for the treatment of several acute and
chronic dermatoses, medical devices that support and maintain wound closures
and an extensive line of proprietary cosmeceutical products. Ferndale's LMX 4
topical analgesic cream uses advanced formulation know how that significantly
enhances product performance. LMX 4 is the leading brand in its class and is
widely recognized for its fast onset of analgesic action, wide margin of
safety and superior ease of use.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Statements
The statements in this press release that are not historical facts may
constitute forward-looking statements that are based on current expectations
and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual future
results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such
statements. Those risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to,
risks related to regulatory approvals and the success of Echo's ongoing
studies, including the efficacy of Echo's Symphony tCGM System, the failure of
future development and preliminary marketing efforts related to Echo's Prelude
SkinPrep System, risks and uncertainties relating to Echo's ability to
develop, market and sell diagnostic products based on its skin permeation
platform technologies, including the Prelude SkinPrep System, the availability
of substantial additional equity or debt capital to support its research,
development and product commercialization activities, and the success of its
research, development, regulatory approval, marketing and distribution plans
and strategies, including those plans and strategies related to its Prelude
SkinPrep System. These and other risks and uncertainties are identified and
described in more detail in Echo's filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, including, without limitation, its annual report on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 2008, its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and its
current reports on Form 8-K. Echo Therapeutics, Inc. undertakes no obligation
to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements.
For More Information:
Patrick T. Mooney, MD
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
(856) 429-8778
10 Forge Parkway
Franklin, MA 02038, USA
Tel: 1+ 877-476-6878
Fax: 1+ 508-553-8760
www.echotx.comFor further information: Patrick T. Mooney, MD, Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer of Echo Therapeutics, Inc., +1-856-429-8778 Web Site:
http://www.echotx.com
VocalEZ voice-enabled transcription software-as-a-service converts dictation to clinical documents in minutes at half the cost of traditional transcription.
LAS VEGAS, Apr 16, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- At the National Association of Broadcasters Show, Winchester Electronics takes the wraps off its EL Series(TM) of optical fiber broadcast cable connectors and components.
According to Jerome Farnan, Director of Fiber Optic Technology at Winchester Electronics, the EL Series optical fiber video jacks and patch cords are based on an expanded light beam connection technology that replaces existing coaxial copper components or traditional ferrule-based fiber connectors.
In addition to lower costs, smaller diameter fibers, larger carrying capacity, lower signal degradation and lower power requirement, the new EL Series connector components eliminate reliability issues associated with dirt and scratches common with traditional fiber connectors.
The expanded beam fiber connector technology is based on a non-contact method of mating optical fibers that reduces the possibility of handling damage, as well as making blind mating of components simple to do.
In this new approach, when the light beam carrying the video/audio/data enters the connector a spherical optical lens converts the light beam into a series of parallel rays that pass through a mechanical gap. The transmitted beam is then focused down on the receiving fiber end of the connector.
"The advantage of this design is that the optical fiber ends are easily maintained and more resistant to contamination in harsh environments than standard fiber optic interfaces," said Farnan. "Also, the large diameter of the light beam at the separable interface minimizes the effect of any dirt or debris on the optic surface."
Totally signal agnostic, the EL Series is equally adept at carrying HD SDI, Ethernet IP, Analog Video or any other data format traveling along the fiber.
A key design decision made early in the development of this new family, said Farnan, was to incorporate the push/pull style of mating used in previous Winchester copper connectors to allow technicians to connect and disconnect in a simple, quick, three-step process. Because the EL Series Quickconnect scheme is similar in function to that used in Winchester's copper interconnect components, the shift to optical connections is virtually transparent.
Most HD capable professional broadcast equipment is now available with optical transceivers, so the ability to switch fiber optic signals directly eliminates the need for electrical to optical conversion for long distance runs. Using fiber frames designed for telecommunications does not fit with the workflow of the broadcast environment. When there is a problem with a live-to-air signal, the technician wants to route the signal immediately, with no concern for a scratched fiber end, or fiber cable bent too tightly. The EL system allows routing in a passive manner using a fiber jackfield with the look and feel of a copper jackfield using rugged fiber patch cords made from bend insensitive fiber with expanded beam connectors.
"Just like a copper jack, when inserted into the front of the EL Series optical fiber jack, the EL Series connector will automatically switch the optical signal being routed through the back of the video jack to the front connectors," said Farnan.
In a broadcast studio environment, the EL Series DINconnect patch cord is similar in function to the traditional BNC to BNC copper wiring terminated to the rear of a copper jackfield. The patch cord has an EL Series connector on one end and an industry standard LC, SC, FC, ST, (or any single or multi-mode) fiber connector on the other end.
The EL Series Optical Fiber Video Jack's small 1.85 by 1.62 by 0.38 form factor allows easy integration into existing patch bays, up to 32 per jackfield. It uses a rear DIN 1.0/2.3 style mechanical latching for security of the Normal path. Because it is an optical rather than copper mechanical switch, the connector components require no power and are designed for 10,000 mate/unmate cycles. Customer termination of installed fiber is possible with the splice-on version of the EL connector, where a factory terminated expanded beam insert is attached to the fiber using fusion splice technology.
The EL Series Patch Cords are made from nickel plated brass, while its optical alignment pin is made of gold-plated stainless steel capable of 10,000 cycle performance without any signal degradation. The optical insertion loss is 1.5 dB typical for either a patched or a normal connection. Return loss is 55 dB typical and 45 dB minimum. Mechanical withdrawal force on the patch cord is 0.5 pounds minimum, while the pull force on the rear side is 20 lb. minimum.
Available in sample quantities, the EL Series evaluation kits contain optical fiber video jacks with associated patch cords.
Winchester Electronics Corporation, a 68-year old Connecticut-based company, is a leader in designing and manufacturing electronic connectors and interconnect solutions. In addition to its headquarters in Wallingford, the company maintains a global manufacturing and engineering network, and operates manufacturing facilities in Wallingford, CT; Franklin, MA; Rock Hill, SC; Nogales, Mexico; Suzhou, China; and Penang, Malaysia.
SOURCE: Winchester Electronics Corporation
New HR & Benefits Advisory Group to Help Employers Reduce Costs by Streamlining HR, Benefits and Payroll Processes
Newly-launched national organization of human resources and benefits advisors offers integrated local market expertise, technology services and outsourced solutions
Franklin, MA (PRWEB) March 23, 2009 -- The HR & Benefits Advisory Group (http://www.hrbagroup.com) (HRBA Group), a national group of affiliated independent Human Resources and Benefits Advisors, announced the successful launch of their organization dedicated to delivering integrated solutions that reduce employers’ operational costs and simplify the administration of human resources, benefits and payroll.
By joining forces, HRBA Group participants can better satisfy the complex and changing requirements of employers. Those who leverage the HRBA Group’s extensive set of integrated local market expertise, technology, services and outsourced solutions will yield higher returns on investment and solve the tough problems faced each day.
"Because of the changing environment and economy, our clients and prospects are not only asking us to provide them with competitive products, but to also help integrate and streamline their entire HR, benefits and payroll process, so it’s as efficient as possible," said Johnny Angelone, Principal of Benefit Commerce group (http://www.benefitcommerce.com), a division of Angelone & Associates in Scottsdale, Arizona. "As an HRBA Group Broker, we can deliver an expanded array of national, best-of-breed HR & benefit products, services and technologies at economies-of-scale costs, while still providing personalized service that employers and their employees need and appreciate."
With over 20 participant locations across the United States, and expansion plans to include 100 regional participant firms nationally by year-end, HRBA Group brokers and consultants have served thousands of employers across the country while delivering both simple and complex HR and benefits solutions. The strategy to share ideas, best practices, and local intelligence with peers around the country to ensure quality, implementation, and price brings measurable value to employers of all sizes.
"Employers are demanding more services due to the increasing complexity of managing HR and Benefits and a dynamically changing work environment," said Mark Van Den Branden, Principal of Advanced Insurance (http://www.advancedinsurance.net) of Warren Michigan. "The HRBA Group aligns us with firms in different geographic markets and with complimentary services. Our HRBA Group participation allows us to extend our commitment to provide superior local knowledge and customer service and gives us access to state-of the-art products, services and technologies at below market prices."
The HRBA Group also launched their website at http://www.hrbagroup.com. The site includes a list of service offerings and a simple way for employers to find HRBA Group Participants in their area.
About The HRBA Group
The HR & Benefits Advisory Group (HRBA Group) is a national group of affiliated independent Human Resources and Benefits Advisors. HRBA Group Participants are relentlessly dedicated to helping employers lower operational costs and solve the tough problems faced each day by delivering integrated solutions that simplify the administration of human resources, benefits and payroll. By joining forces, participants offer local market expertise and an extensive set of technology, services and outsourced solutions. Participants also share ideas, best practices, and local intelligence with peers around the country to ensure quality, implementation, and price. For more information, please visit www.hrbagroup.com (http://www.hrbagroup.com).
This press release was distributed through eMediawire by Human Resources Marketer (HR Marketer: www.HRmarketer.com) on behalf of the company listed above.
HR & Benefits Advisory Group is headquartered at 9 Summer St here in Franklin.
Franklin, MA – March 17, 2009 – The pro bono healthcare injury prevention website Safe Lifting Portal (http://www.safeliftingportal.com/), has announced that its newly instituted Safe Lifting Leadership Award has been presented to Gundersen Lutheran Health System of La Crosse, Wisconsin. The award was given in recognition of Gundersen Lutheran’s outstanding accomplishments in safe patient handling, safe lifting, and caregiver injury prevention.A DVD describing the hospital’s accomplishments can be ordered from http://www.safeliftingportal.com/gundersen-lutheran/
Gundersen Lutheran Health System includes a 325-bed teaching hospital and a Level II Trauma Center. As one of the leading medical facilities in the mid-west, the health system has received eleven top 100 designations in as many years. It serves patients throughout western Wisconsin, northeastern Iowa, and southeastern Minnesota, providing care in 19 counties.
In 2003, Gundersen Lutheran Health System initiated a patient and staff injury prevention program. Key components of the program included installation of ceiling lifts to transfer patients, an extensive staff orientation and training program, and on-going monitoring of usage compliance. The ceiling lifts were installed in units hospital-wide, including intensive care, coronary care, rehabilitation and PT, pediatrics, morgue, diagnostic areas, and the OB/GYN water birth room.
Among the more significant results of the program have been substantial decreases in injury rates, reduced workers’ compensation costs, and less employee lost time and restricted time. The program has also increased staff retention rates and proved to be an excellent staff recruitment tool.
Emphasizing Gundersen Lutheran’s firm commitment to patient and employee safety, Gary Brunslik, Manager of Safety, commented, “Preventing staff injury is good business from the financial standpoint, but also, it is the right thing to do."Kathy Weitekamp, RN, BSN, Care Manager, went on to say, “We’ve been able to show a 57% decrease in the number of patient handling claims, which we feel is pretty significant. Lost time has gone down 78% and restricted time has gone down 81%, so we’re very pleased. Our ceiling lift return on investment has been less than three years."Dr. William Scorby, Medical Director for Employee Health, added, "We also see the safe lifting program as playing an important role in staff retention and recruiting - keeping our experienced nurses safe and injury free while attracting new nurses trained in safe lifting techniques to Gundersen Lutheran." The objective of the Safe Lifting Leadership Award is to encourage other institutions to follow the lead of “best practices” institutions in their attempts to instill permanent, sustainable culture change – a so-called “culture of safety” – within their organizations. Patient safety, advocacy for healthcare excellence, successful implementation of safe lifting initiatives, and willingness to share results and assist other institutions are among key evaluation criteria for the award.
Liko – A Hill-Rom Company,
122 Grove Street,
Franklin, MA 02038;
telephone (888) 545-6671 or (508) 553-3993;
fax (508) 528-6642;
visit the Liko website at http://www.liko.com/
or visit http://www.safeliftingportal.com/
Cumberland Farms, the well‐known convenience store throughout the Northeast, takes on a new look this week with the help of The Moseley Group, a leading food and beverage consulting firm in Franklin, Massachusetts.The Moseley Group is based in Franklin, MA.
The grand opening of Cumberland Farms’s new concept store Friday in Farmington, CT, celebrated the family‐owned company’s farm heritage with a new identity and décor package, and new made‐to‐order food offerings.
The Moseley Group was hired by Cumberland Farms a year ago to help reimage the 71‐year old company and reinvigorate the business model for its 600 stores in 11 states.
“We updated the concept with new identity, new décor, new food and new packaging,” said Tom Moseley, president. “Yet we were careful to remain true to the core of the brand. There is tremendous loyalty within the Cumberland Farms customer base, and we worked to extend the brand assets to reach new customers, too. It is not well known that Cumberland Farms is a family‐owned business in its third‐generation of leadership. We wanted to highlight this story to create a more personal connection between the stores and their customers, which we did through identity and packaging.”
The new identity includes a timeless expression of the company name, refined tree icon and new color palette; the elements work together to convey a commitment to freshness. Packaging design highlights the founding family, depicting images from circa 1930, and expresses the company’s principle commitment to good quality and value.
Moseley’s culinary team led the development of a new menu featuring hot flatbread, ciabatta and breakfast sandwiches. “This offering is what the New England convenience‐store customer is seeking – on‐trend flavor profiles delivered in a ready‐to‐eat format,” said Chris Milloff, managing partner. “Cumberland’s program is new for New England, and we expect they’ll see tremendous success with it.”
The new concept store features Merrychef accelerated ovens, which deliver sandwiches 10–15 times faster than conventional convection ovens, with perfectly toasted breads, caramelized meat flavors, and melted cheeses. Farmington, CT is the first reimaging of a Cumberland Farms store, to be followed by a store in Deep River, CT slated for opening later this month. The new design and culinary principles will be rolled out in many markets over the coming 18–24 months.
FRANKLIN, MA – The Moseley Group, a leading food and beverage industry consulting firm, was chosen Thursday by the Governor’s Task Force on the Economic Sustainability of Maine’s Lobster Industry to help strengthen and improve the state’s leading fishery.For more about the Moseley Group check out their web site here.
The Task Force, formed last fall after a sharp decline in lobster prices, chose The Moseley Group following a thorough review of more than a dozen proposals from marketing and consulting firms from across the country. Task Force members cited Moseley’s depth of experience in working with internationally known brands and products, such as Coca-Cola, Ocean Spray, Juan Valdez, McCain, Nestle and others, as a key factor in their choice.
Kristen Bailey, a vice-president at Moseley, will be the lead consultant on the project. A Maine native, Bailey is the former executive director of the Maine Lobster Promotion Council and was the architect of the Certified Maine Lobster program that was aimed at preserving markets and strengthening the Maine lobster brand. She operates offices in Portland, Maine and Franklin, Massachusetts.
“Working with Maine’s lobster industry is very rewarding and meaningful to me,” she said. “Our firm looks forward to utilizing our experience with other industries to help strengthen and improve the economic model of Maine’s lobster industry.”
The initial discovery phase of the project will begin with an industry panel meeting in Portland, scheduled for February 26.
Benjamin Franklin Bancorp's proposed merger with Rockland Trust, one of the state's largest community banks, is nearing completion.
Shareholders of Benjamin Franklin approved the deal yesterday, while their counterparts at Rockland Trust's parent company, Independent Bank Corp., are scheduled to vote tomorrow. State regulators held a hearing this week and will likely decide in the near future on approving the deal. If all is approved, Benjamin Franklin Bancorp's name would be changed to Rockland Trust.
The all-stock deal is a rarity in the financial sector these days, the banks merging by choice rather than necessity. It would create a 72-branch company with about $4.5 billion in assets.
Read the full article about the merger of Ben Franklin Banking in the Milford Daily News here.