Since the March 2002 groundbreaking ceremony in the Center for Research and Technology, Novozymes Biologicals has continued an amazing growth trend including four acquisitions in a year's time.

• In June, the company acquired G. A. Jeffrey's of Salem, VA  
• Interbio of Woodlands, TX, was acquired in July   
• In February of 2003, Novozymes acquired Semco Bioscience of  Milwaukee, WI
• Roots, Inc of Kansas City, was acquired on June 19th 

The company completed and occupied the $3.2 million administration/R&D facility which is Phase One of a three-phase expansion plan.  Novozymes has doubled its workforce from 65 jobs to 132 positions in Salem, 186 worldwide, and is in the process of constructing a 7,000 square foot expansion to their new administration building.  In February of 2003, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) granted full registration for EcoGuardTM biofungicide, a natural fungicide that provides effective dollar spot control that is also good for the environment.  

Most recently Novozymes announced plans to utilize a 20,000 square footfactory in Shenyang, China to support expansion in the Asia Pacific region.

For more information, please click on http://www.novozymes.com/.

Marvin Windows and Doors, a Minnesota-based corporation, has announced that it has chosen Roanoke County's Valley Gateway Business Park as the site of a new manufacturing facility for its line of Integrity Windows and Doors. Marvin, the largest made-to-order window and door manufacturer in the world is known for its high-quality craftsmanship, and has been recognized among industry leaders for producing superior products for 60 years. The Integrity facility is expected to create 150 jobs within the next 30 months, and 350 by the end of 2008.  Integrity plans to invest $32 million within the next five years, $15 million in Phase I and $17 million in Phase II.

Integrity Windows and Doors was introduced in 1994 as a new line from Marvin.  Integrity products feature exteriors made with Ultrex - an advanced, state-of-the-art pultruded fiberglass material that offers superior durability and performance.  Integrity’s product line includes a wide range of standard-size windows and doors, including double hungs, casements, gliders, and swinging and sliding patio doors.

Integrity is the first company to locate in Valley Gateway, a mixed-use business park in eastern Roanoke County jointly developed by the county and F&W Properties, Inc. Integrity considered a number of sites in the mid-Atlantic region, as well as in North Dakota. The company will benefit from a state and local incentive package of more than $2 million, which includes a $500,000 Governor’s Opportunity Fund grant and approximately $600,000 in job training funds from Workforce Services, as well as Virginia Department of Transportation Access Road funds (requested). Roanoke County will provide off-site infrastructure improvements and an economic development grant to assist with their site preparation and start up costs.

About Marvin

The Marvin family has been in business for 100 years. Created by the people at Marvin Windows and Doors, Integrity Windows and Doors is the world's exclusive manufacturer of windows and doors made with Ultrex ® -- a state-of-the-art pultruded fiberglass material.

For more information visit http://www.marvin.com/ or http://www.integritywindows.com/

Atlas Cold Storage (servicing Kroger Distribution in County of Roanoke) is in the process of currently constructing a $9 million dry grocery and dock expansion.   This expansion will improve the overall efficiency and allow Atlas Cold Storage to eliminate dry outside storage facilities.

In addition, Atlas is utilizing new technology in converting to a radio frequency voice picking system, which is the latest state-of-the-art method in order selection.  This totally computerized process provides improved efficiency, order accuracy and increased security for safeguarding products.   Each order selector makes a computerized template of their voice, is fitted with a headset and assigned a very compact RF computer, which fits on their belts.   The customer’s orders are selected from the various locations throughout the warehouse through a series of computerized voice commands utilizing a combination of letters and numbers. 

This process has enhanced the ability in training/converting a bilingual workforce.As a result of the expansion investment and the installation of new technology, Atlas inquired about financial assistance from the Commonwealth.  Workforce Services under the Department of Business Assistance in Richmond has approved training funds in the amount of $68,229 to retrain 173 employee positions on the new equipment and technology.       

The former Kroger Warehouse facility in West County officially became Atlas Cold Storage in October of 2002.  Atlas is headquartered in Toronto, Canada and has three additional retail distribution centers in the US - Phoenix, Atlanta, and Indianapolis.  The Roanoke Center services 137 stores in 6 states and currently has 240 employees.   In addition, Atlas Cold Storage has other facilities in all the major distribution hubs of North America from St. Johns to Vancouver and New York to Arizona.  Atlas operates the 2nd largest temperature-controlled distribution network in North America, having 5,000 employees and over 54 facilities.

Closet & Storage Concepts is a franchise which has been blended with an existing woodwork manufacturing business in Southwest Industrial Park.  Operating out of the same facilities as Architectural Wood, which has been in the Roanoke Valley for 17 years, Closet & Storage Concepts opened in April utilizing the same manufacturing equipment.  Bruce Cody, President of Architectural Wood, believes that new equipment purchases helped the company find additional capacity and to use that capacity to start another business utilizing the same technology.

Closet & Storage Concepts is a home organization and storage products company headquartered in Southern New Jersey, just outside of Philadelphia. Founded in 1987, the company has enjoyed over a decade of growth, serving customers in every part of their home by designing, manufacturing and installing custom closet and storage organizing systems.   The  mission of this company is to maximize and manage your space, along with organizing your wardrobe.  The website is http://www.closetandstorageconcepts.com/or http://www.archwoodonline.com/.

Architectural Wood was recently awarded the contract to renovate a section of Secretary of State Colin Powell's office suite at The Pentagon.  In addition, Architectural Wood was selected to design and build the doors for the Pentagon's Memorial Chapel for the victims of September 11, 2001.   

Precision Fabrics Group (PFG) is not using bricks and mortar to expand their current operation.  The Vinton Plant is expanding by replacing antiquated, slower machinery with new high tech equipment that increases efficiency and productivity.  In essence, the plant is slowly being renovated, section by section.  The end result is higher production per square foot of floor space without building additional square feet.

In 2001, PFG had 530 weaving machines and started its replacement of older model weaving machine with newer technology weaving machines. Thirty four new air jet weaving machines were purchased through the end of 2002. This year the plant purchased another 120 water jet weaving machines to replace 80 older model weaving machines.

Cox Business Services' Growth Strategies show Results:

Increased the number of fiber lit buildings to more than 250.

• Increased the number of staff by 15% to 16 FTE's supporting business customers.
• Increased the number of Cox Business Internet customers by 160% to more than 1,000.  
• Completed installation of a fiber based Ethernet over SONET network for Roanoke County and Roanoke County Schools.
• Launched CBI Optical product offering T-1, Fractional T-1 and Ethernet connections to the Internet.
• Continued expansion of the Hybrid Fiber Coax network into commercial areas, including downtown and more rural county business locations.

For more information, click on www.cox.com.  

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS       [TOP]
  RR Donnelley featured in Fortune Magazine

FORTUNE magazine profiled RR Donnelley’s book manufacturing facility in Roanoke, Va., in its “Elite Factories” feature this September. The annual feature highlights companies that are breaking new ground in manufacturing.  RR Donnelley is one of only two companies chosen this year.

“At its Roanoke, Va., plant, where presses run around the clock producing 3.5 million four-color books a month, RR Donnelley has created a showcase for innovation,” wrote FORTUNE, which profiled only one other “Elite Factory” this year. “The Roanoke plant has boosted productivity 20 percent since 2002 and is taking business from competitors with faster service.

”RR Donnelley [NYSE: DNY] has made widespread use of Six Sigma, 5S, process variability reduction and other methods to eliminate inefficiencies in processes at the Roanoke plant and across the company’s integrated print network.  Besides the tremendous efficiency gains, RR Donnelley’s Roanoke facility has earned the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s highest safety certification – one of only three printing facilities nationwide to receive the VPP Star honor – for its programs to create the safest possible work environment for employees.  Donal Robb, Vice President and Division Director, stated, “This plant is a state-of-the-art facility with industry-leading capabilities.  We have powerful process management tools that allow us to drive dramatic productivity improvements.  However, our most powerful asset is a talented, engaged, and empowered workforce led by a knowledgeable group of managers and supervisors that are driven by the pursuit of excellence.”

The article appears online (www.fortune.com) and in a special section of the magazine’s September print edition, with a targeted circulation only for FORTUNE subscribers identified as working in manufacturing or industrial management.  Headquartered in Chicago, Ill., RR Donnelley serves a global customer market and has 30,000 employees in more than 200 locations in North America, South America, Europe and the Asia/Pacific Basin.  For more information, click on www.rrdonnelley.com.

  The Village at Tinker Creek - First US All-Connected Community

The Remote Home   

 

The Grand Opening of the Village at Tinker Creek by Commonwealth Builders was held on April 26, 2003.  Jerry Godsey, President of Commonwealth Builders, wanted a development with the best of both worlds in technology and tradition.  The Village at Tinker Creek offers a connected community with connected home utilizing IBM software such as WebSphere in a traditionally neighborhood setting.  Godsey is working with IBM Pervasive Computing to make the new Village at Tinker Creek the first all-connected community in the United States.   The anticipated benefits to homeowners are:  increase in home energy savings; anticipated decrease in insurance premiums; improved security; convenient Web and mobile access to in-home appliances and thermostat, and higher resale value.  In addition to allowing homeowners to network appliances and manage them remotely, each household will be able to use its connection to get access to neighborhood information and bulletin boards, local news, shared calendars, and security and utility management.  

Even though the technology makes this development dynamic, the developers and the residents think the most unique aspect of the Village at Tinker Creek is the strong sense of community.  Jerry Godsey says the outside space is the key to the entire village concept with sidewalks, front porch swings, small streets with cul-de-sacs, and the shared spaces such as the park and club house.  For more information, click on http://www.villageattinkercreek.com/.

  Air Force Chooses Synchrony/Rolls-Royce Team

Synchrony, a technology company that develops advanced controls, automation, and information systems, was selected by the Air Force for a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) award to develop an advanced electrical starter-generator for aerospace power systems such as Integrated Power Units (IPUs) and aeropropulsion systems. The value of the award is approximately $100,000 in the first phase, which includes a study of the feasibility of the novel generator. The value of the second phase, if awarded, is approximately $750,000, and will include a demonstration of the concept. Rolls-Royce, a leading manufacturer of gas turbine engines for military and commercial applications, will assist in engine integration issues and will serve as a commercialization partner.  Rotordynamics-Seal Research (RSR) will also provide technical assistance.

The research program will study how Synchrony's proprietary starter-generator technology can be used in power systems supported by foil bearings. Synchrony's switched reluctance generator technology (Patent Pending) augments the performance of foil bearings by providing stiffness, damping, and load capacity over the complete range of rotational speeds. As such, it offers engine designers improved vibration control, reliability, and life. Other advantages of Synchrony's generator technology include high temperature operation, fault-tolerance, and higher power density.

For more information, go to http://www.synchrony.com/.

 

  COVITS 2003

Integrating Enterprise Technology Solutions
September 21-23, 2003
The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center

As the Commonwealth of Virginia is embarking on one of the most sweeping reforms of information technology in the nation, COVITS 2003 will gather thought leaders to examine the challenges of Integrating Enterprise Technology Solutions.  Government, industry and academia will share ideas on next generation technology solutions for security and integration. COVITS 2003 will explore the challenge of merging disparate systems and organizations into a single, highly responsive and highly secure entity. Finding ways to layer next-generation research and development breakthroughs upon a required foundation of security to deploy solutions that work is the framework of COVITS 2003. The conference will focus on the convergence of business, government and academia to identify, discuss and propose solutions to critical technology issues. General H. Norman Schwarzkopf, USA (Ret.) will be the closing keynote speaker of the conference.  For more information, visit http://www.covits.com/.

  Merge Selected to Provide Application Outsourcing Services

A long-distance partnership between Merge Computer Group, Inc. (MERGE) in Richmond, Virginia and a major food products manufacturer in the Midwest is proving to be not only a viable solution, but also a mutually beneficial relationship.  The food products manufacturer is located in an area away from any large cities and has limited access to I.T. applicants for full-time employment. Bringing consultants from a distance to their facility can be costly when hotel, meal and transportation costs are added to consulting fees.

Merge Computer Group, Inc., a provider of I.T. staff augmentation services, has experienced the loss of several Fortune 500 clients in the Richmond area over the last five years because of acquisition or bankruptcy. To maintain revenue growth, the company has expanded into complementary areas of service to supplement its staff augmentation services. One approach has been to pursue geographically isolated companies and offer application- outsourcing services. In the past, MERGE would have sent consultants to work at the client site. For its application-outsourcing services, MERGE developers work from the Richmond offices and access client resources via dedicated T1 telecommunication lines. This arrangement saves clients from having to reimburse travel expenses, provide office space and hardware/software for consultants, and pay premium fees for consultants to work on-site. MERGE provides cost-effective application-outsourcing solutions for U.S. companies that are unwilling or unable to outsource their application development and support to offshore companies.

For more information, go to http://www.merge.com/.

 

  Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Training

Devastating acts, including natural disasters, acts of terrorism, happen anytime and anywhere.  Preparedness is the key.  Taking action now can assure you and your family or business colleagues will be prepared in the face of such events.

Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) training helps train you to be better prepared to respond to emergency situations in your community.  CERT members can give critical support to first responders, provide immediate assistance to victims, and organize spontaneous volunteers at a disaster site.

Co-sponsored by the Roanoke County, City of Roanoke, City of Salem, Town of Vinton, Botetourt County and the Roanoke Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross.  This training is free of charge as it is funded by a federal grant administered through the  Virginia Department of Emergency Management.  For more information or how to request training for your business, contact Betty Whittaker, American Red Cross at 985-3546.  

  New Technology Zone
The Roanoke County Board of Supervisors recently approved the creation of a new Technology Zone for the County-owned Center for Research and Technology (CRT). The new zone provides a series of incentives for companies who locate in CRT that are designed to attract technology-based companies to the park. These benefits may be offered to a qualified technology businesses as a one-time contribution or may  provide a reimbursement or rebate to the company based upon the nature and scope of the development. Companies may be eligible to receive a discount of up to 100% of the following: The purchase price of land within the zone, the cost of water and sewer connection fees, and the cost of building permit, plan review and land disturbance fees. Further, companies may be eligible for a site preparation and/or infrastructure improvement grant and/or a one-time local job-training grant for up to $500 per employee. Businesses may also qualify for a local business, professional and occupational license tax (BPOL) exemption under the new zone incentives. The value of the incentive offerings are based upon the level of employment and investment generated by the company.
  Small Business Research Center Launched

The Virginia Department of Business Assistance recently launched its newest resource for small businesses, the Small Business Research Center, to provide economic data, trends, and research for Virginia’s small businesses. The center fills the void of free, readily-accessible and easily digestible information for small businesses regarding how economic conditions may affect their day-to-day operations. A special emphasis is placed on demonstrating the impact of economic indicators on small businesses and showing them how they can use indicators to assess future business conditions to make better decisions. The first lesson on this topic is now available in Jay’s Classroom, named after Jay Ruehrmund, DBA’s Research Director, at http://www.dba.state.va.us%20/virginia/research      

Additional areas of research will include industry trend reports highlighting business opportunities in nontraditional industries and regional reports detailing the economic environment for small businesses in each area of the state. Research reports and data are available on DBA’s web site at www.dba.state.va.us and through DBA’s Virginia Business Information Center, which can be reached at 371-0438 or toll-free at 1-866-248-8814 for businesses outside of the Richmond area. Email inquiries can be directed to VBIC@dba.state.va.us.

  Virginia Department of Business Assistance Toll-Free Number

Toll Free Number Now Available for Department of Business Assistance (DBA)

Businesses outside the Richmond area can now call DBA on a toll-free number! This number (1-866-248-8814) complements the Business Resource Center on DBA’s web site and provides an alternative contact for businesses without Internet access. The toll-free number, currently in a pilot phase, provides free access for businesses when making their initial requests for assistance. The combination of these two points of contact will serve as the foundation for DBA’s Virginia Business Information Center, which will provide all businesses across the state with free, easy access to information and resources which can help them prosper. Virginia Business Information Center 1-866-248-8814 < > 804-371-8200.

CERTIFICATIONS/AWARDS       [TOP]
  AmRhein Wine Cellars Wins 2003 Governor's Cup

The 2003 Virginia's Governor's Cup Award was presented to AmRhein Wine Cellars at a June 3rd dinner banquet in Richmond, Virginia.   This is the second consecutive year that AmRhein's has won the Governor's Cup.   The winery won in 2002 for it's Viognier.  Only two other wineries have won the award back-to-back in the 21 years of the award.

The Governor's Cup is presented annuallly and designates the winner as the best wine in the Commonwealth of Virginia. AmRhein's won the award for the 2003 Governor's Cup for their Late Harvest Vidal.  The Vidal had previously won a silver medal in San Francisco and a gold medal in an international competition. AmRhein Wine Cellars and vineyard is located on Bent Mountain at 2,500 feet above sea level.  Although this vineyard is well acclimated to its height and granite soil, the Amrhein's have two other vineyards in the valley at different heights for a total of 37,000 plants.  The vineyard had its first official crush in 1999.  Russell and Paul Amrhein are the owner-operators of the vineyard. 

For more information, please click on http://www.roanokewine.com/.  

The above label won a Silver Award at the national Addy Awards in Los Angeles on June 7 for Access Inc. and artist, Kathleen Lunsford, in the "visual and audio elements of advertising-illustration."  The national competition began with 60,000 entries which was winnowed down to 300 awards.

 

 

  Friendship Manor wins Second Step in National Quality Award

Friendship Manor is the only organization in Virginia to receive the “Step Two” award in the three-step process of the American Health Care Association’s 2003 Quality Awards.  The evaluation is based on criteria adopted from the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award and at Step Two, health care facilities address their application of key quality concepts and values.  Friendship Manor won the Step One award in 2002 which made them eligible to apply for the Step Two award in 2003.               

The AHCA Quality Award is presented to long-term care facilities that successfully apply continuous quality improvement principles. Through the three-step developmental process, “facilities gain knowledge and skills to help them better serve their customers and, in doing so, position themselves in an increasingly competitive environment,” says the AHCA.    “This award recognizes our continued commitment to excellence, and our desire to be the long-term care provider of choice in the market area,” said Calvin Lilly, CEO of Friendship Manor.            

Friendship Manor’s Health Care Center has 373 beds and is the largest nursing home in Virginia.  Friendship Manor has approximately 1,100 residents in nursing, assisted living and independent.  For more information, go to http://www.friendshipmanor.com/. 

 

  Tech Nite 4.0 Awards

The following Roanoke County business leaders and business organizations received recognition at the New Century Technology Council's Tech Nite 4.0 held at the Hotel Roanoke on May 1, 2003.

Award Title	Nominee	Contact/ Organization	Placement
High Tech Company Award	Brabant Research	Richard Lasker	Award Finalist
High Tech Corporation Award	M/A-COM Roanoke	Andy Peake	Award Finalist
High Tech Corporation Award	RR Donnelley	Don Robb	Award Winner
High Tech Leadership Award	Leon Harris	Keltech	Award Winner
High Tech Leadership Award	Victor Iannello	Synchrony Industrial Controls	Award Finalist
High Tech Leadership Award	Ted Melnik	Novozymes Biologicals	Award Finalist
High Tech Leadership Award	Elaine Tuttle	Business Advisory Group	Award Finalist
High Tech Leadership Award	Neil Wilkin	Optical Cable Corporation	Award Finalist

  Southern States Cooperative Recognized by the AFIA

The American Feed Industry Association presented its 2003 Environmental Awards in Minneapolis, MN, this past May. The Roanoke Mill of Southern States Cooperative had previously won one of the first six awards and was recognized again in 2003. Southern States-Roanoke also placed in the Truck Fleet of the Year and Feed Mill of the Year awards. The Environmental Award began in 1995 and the Roanoke Plant is one of the few mills nationwide to place in all three awards in one year.

Recycling was key to the Roanoke Mill receiving the multiple recognitions. Programs to annually recycle the following materials were implemented: 400 lbs. of aluminum cans, 5.6 tons of scrap metal, 8 tons of cardboard paper, 45 tons of unusable wood products, 6000 lbs. of plastic products, 33 tons of paper tailing in bag production, and over 80% of office paper. In addition, methods to reduce fuel consumption and minimize emissions were also instituted. In 2002, Southern States Cooperative sent 159.87 tons to the landfill. This equates to .19 of one percent of the total production output of 84,079 tons. 

The Roanoke Feed Mill was also recognized at the 1st Annual Governor's Environmental Excellence Awards for Manufacturers in conjunction with the Virginia Manufacturers Association Meeting on September 9, 2003.  For more information, please click on www.southernstates-coop.com.  

 

 

 

 

 

  Koppers Receives NSC Achievement Award

The National Safety Council (NSC) has honored the Roanoke Plant of Koppers Industries with its NSC Green Cross Safety Excellence Achievement Award.  The NSC Excellence Achievement Award Program recognizes companies that implement safety processes or systems.  Rather than tracking the safety statistcs to achieve a predetermined target of accident-free days, this award honors efforts to build a workplace culture and environment that focuses on safety.  Founded in 1913, the National Safety Council is the nation's leading advocate  for safety and health - at home, on the road, in the workplace, and in the community.

The Commercial Roofing Division of Koppers Industries along with other roofing industry colleagues donated money, materials, and labor to reconstruct the Pentagon's roof that was destroyed in the September 11, 2001 tragedy.

RVTV'S ROANOKE COUNTY BUSINESS PARTNERS       [TOP]
  Expansions, Grants, Technology and Higher Education

In the previous Roanoke County Business Partners' show, we focused on three forms of business expansion:

• A "bricks and mortar" style expansion which significantly increases the footprint of the building;
• How an "internal" expansion creates new interior space via investing in new technology and spurs a plant renovation; and
• How locating a business within a business can utilize the same manufacturing techniques, equipment and space.

Business	Contact	Website
Architectural Wood/ Closet and Storage Concepts	Bruce Cody, President	www.archwoodonline.com http://www.closetandstorageconcepts.com/
Country Inn & Suites	Mike Bond, VHV VP of Finance
Precision Fabrics Group	Ali Khan, Plant Manager	www.precisionfabrics.com

The Current Roanoke County Business Partners show features a geographic program on the Hollins Community.  The program is divided into three segments:

• A residential, technology-connected planned residential development
• A mini-matching grant for Hollins' businesses improvements
• Higher education as an economic engine

Business	Contact	Website
Village at Tinker Creek	Jerry Godsey, President	http://www.villageattinkercreek.com/
Williamson Road/Hollins Village Master Plan	Christopher Lowe, Roanoke County Planner	www.roanokecountyva.gov(click on Community Development – Special Projects)
Hollins University	Dr. Nora Kizer Bell, President	www.hollins.edu

Roanoke County Business Partners features existing business success stories and airs every Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. on RVTV-Channel 3.  

We encourage you to send us news of events for publication in our electronic newsletter.  To submit, please click on the icon below.

If this edition of the Roanoke County Business Partners was forwarded to you and you would like to get your own copy, please subscribe here:

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Roanoke County Department of Economic Development
P.O. Box 29800
5204 Bernard Drive, SW Room 421
Roanoke, VA 24018-0798
540-772-2069