Coating and Ink Research Institute Awarded Grant

The Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania has awarded a $75,000 one-year grant to NCC’s Coating and Ink Research Institute (CIRI), which is part of the Electrotechnology Applications Center (ETAC) and is now located at the NCC Fowler Family Southside Center on East Third Street, Bethlehem.

CIRI was created to provide a center of excellence for printing and coating technology to implement industrial growth opportunities for the graphic arts and wood and metal coating industries. CIRI’s goal is to assist these industries meet challenges from offshore competition, regulations for energy conservation and elimination of VOCs, decreasing the carbon footprint, and reducing dependence on oil by utilizing rapidly renewable resources like vegetable oils. “The Ben Franklin grant will provide resources to extend our mission in reaching more suppliers and manufacturers of inks and coatings, equipment manufacturers, graphic arts agencies, trade associations and research organizations,” says Al Fuchs, key chemist at the Institute. A key focus is utilization of the Institute’s coating expertise and its equipment to do research on energy conservation, pollution control, drying by forced air, heating and curing with IR, RF, microwave, and UV/EB energy.

For more information, please contact Al Fuchs, senior chemist, at 610-861-5326 or fuchs@etctr.com.

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