Therm-O-Disc gets $1M Ohio Tech Grant

BY LOU WHITMIRE • News Journal • April 28, 2010

MANSFIELD -- Emerson Therm-O-Disc and its technology partner, NexTech, will receive a $1 million grant Friday through the Ohio Third Frontier initiative. Eric Fingerhut, Chancellor of the Ohio Board of Regents and chairman of Ohio's Third Frontier Program, will be at the 1320 S. Main St. company at noon Friday to announce the grant. Therm-O-Disc was founded in 1947. The company
manufactures temperature sensors and controls for the appliance, automotive, power tool and electrical switch markets. The Ohio Third Frontier program represents a bipartisan commitment to expand Ohio's technological strengths and promote commercialization to boost prosperity. Designed to build world-class research programs, nurture earlystage companies and foster technology development, Third Frontier aims to create opportunity through innovation. The program targets investment in high-tech, high-growth companies. The partnership Therm-O-Disc has with NexTech will leverage research and development for sensor related products for environmental emissions and alternative energy applications.

NexTech Materials Ltd., in Lewis Center, and Therm-O-Disc won the grant for the Hydrogen Sensor Manufacturing Technology project, according to the Ohio Department of Development. The hydrogen sensor was developed to monitor battery function in data centers and telecom sites, such as back-up power systems for data storage, wireless base stations and cell towers. "I want to commend Therm-O-Disc and the company's president, John Rhodes, for their forward thinking and for receiving the grant and focusing on new innovative products," said state Rep. Jay Goyal, D-Mansfield. "This is another example of how the Third Frontier Program is helping to create jobs now in the north central Ohio area. "In March, Fingerhut said, the sensors industry in Ohio steadily added jobs and attracted private investment. "The program symbolizes how Ohio's historic strengths can be converted into new, innovative, and successful opportunities for economic growth", he said.

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it 419-521-7223