Rose-Hulman Ventures Partners with
Glas-Col
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Greg Amidon, an electrical
engineering senior, is one of the students working on the Glas-Col
project.
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When Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology students working at Rose-Hulman
Ventures (RHV) began developing new technology for Glas-Col, what started out as a
small project soon turned into a much larger partnership.
Glas-Col, a Terre Haute company founded in 1939 and a world leader in
manufacturer of laboratory products and industrial heating and mixing
technology, asked Rose-Hulman Ventures to update the electronics in their
digital pulse mixer with evaporator/concentrator. The product achieves
specific concentration levels of solvents through rapid evaporation.
Glas-Col needed to make the product less expensive, more effective and
expandable for the future.
“RHV became an extension of the Glas-Col’s research and
development arm, using state-of-the-art resources to create innovative
solutions,” project manager Brian Dougherty said. “We provided additional
technical resources and engineering expertise necessary for complex design
and testing work, and partnering with us enabled them to continue developing
the new products and services necessary to stay competitive.”
The end result offered a significant physical departure from the original
product, along with a dramatic reduction in cost. The new technology is
designed to last longer, and is better suited for working in an environment
filled with solvent fumes.
There was also a change in philosophy. The original product had its own
unique control system, while the new system was designed to be modular so it
could be used in a number of product lines. The digital format is now used
on many other products sold by Glas-Col.
“The control technology that was developed and tested at Rose-Hulman
Ventures is a key to our mixing products,” Jim Jacso, Glas-Col Marketing
Director, said. “We are a step ahead of our competitors because of the work
done at Ventures.”
Glas-Col’s partnership with Rose-Hulman Ventures began in 2004, with the
initial project lasting about a year. Since then other teams of students
have continued to work on various projects for Glas-Col.
Some of the technology created at RHV was exhibited at the 2005 and 2006
Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy (PITTCON).
An annual conference and exposition devoted to laboratory science, PITTCON
draws over 20,000 attendees and offers a great deal of industry exposure.
Matthew Fike, a 2005 Rose-Hulman graduate in computer engineering from
Auburn, Ind., speaks highly of his internship at RHV and work on the
Glas-Col team. Fike’s main duties were embedded software programming and
prototype circuit debugging. He also examined new circuit boards to identify
flaws and worked to develop solutions for those errors.
“I have an advantage over my peers because of my experiences at RHV.
When I need a prototype made or altered, I can go out to the lab and use the
tools myself,” he explained.
Fike now works for Caterpillar Inc. in Peoria, Ill., where he designs
electronics for heavy machinery.
Eric Fenelon, a 2006 Rose-Hulman graduate in electrical engineering from
Chesterton, Ind., was also a part of the Glas-Col team. He worked on circuit
board layout and operation, helping develop a three board design consisting
of a controller board, a motor board and a heater board.
Fenelon is working at Northrop Grumman, a global defense
company headquartered in Los Angeles. He knows firsthand just how valuable
experience is when it comes to starting a career.
“Working at RHV on the Glas-Col team gave me an advantage,” Fenelon
said. “I was able to work on different aspects of the project, all of which
had different problems and required different solutions. I gained knowledge
from each that I can use in my career.”
For more information about Glas-Col, visit
http://www.glascol.com/.
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