Mid-Atlantic Technology, Research & Innovation Center
BY JEAN HARDIMAN. The Mid-Atlantic Technology, Research & Innovation Center, known as MATRIC, has built a reputation on its unique export: innovation.
Based at the former research headquarters of Union Carbide in South Charleston, the 501( c)( 3) nonprofit corporation was established in 2003 to save quality jobs in West Virginia after Union Carbide was purchased by Dow Chemical Company, which moved much of the existing research and technology work to other locations. Since then, MATRIC has put skilled researchers to work helping organizations across the globe solve an array of scientific and technological challenges.
“ We have had the opportunity to safely work on multiple continents, solving problems from Paden City, WV, to Mumbai, India,” says President and CEO Steve Hedrick.“ These solutions may come in the form of new technology, new processes or through working with us to maximize the potential of our unique infrastructure.”
MATRIC focuses on the areas of chemical, energy and environmental technologies, as well as technical engineering and advanced software technologies. Its employees’ expertise, combined with MATRIC’ s laboratory and pilot plant facilities and flexible intellectual property models, creates value for clients with minimized risk. Ninety percent of MATRIC’ s product goes out of state, with clients coming from five continents.
This innovation exporter has 100 employees from around the world, some of whom have been with the organization from the beginning while others have been recruited to West Virginia. Thirty-three of MATRIC’ s employees are Ph. D.-level researchers in organic and inorganic chemistry and chemical engineering. Additional staff include chemical engineers, computer scientists and other experts who work at either the South Charleston headquarters or MATRIC’ s Morgantown location.
As a nonprofit, nearly all of MATRIC’ s revenue is delivered to the local economy through rent, utilities, replacement parts, employee salaries and benefits and other avenues.
“ Our company is on the rise,” says Hedrick.“ Our 10-year vision is highly evolved from the prevention of a loss of immense talent in the Chemical Valley.”
Schonstedt Instrument Company
BY KATLIN SWISHER. Schonstedt Instrument Company is the world’ s leading manufacturer of magnetic locators and the developer of a product line of pipe and cable locators. Founded in 1953 by Erick Schonstedt, the company was initially a subcontractor to the aerospace industry, providing high-grade magnetometers for aerospace and laboratory applications, including the Hubble Space Telescope. Schonstedt began making magnetic locators for land surveyors in the 1970s, and its distinctive yellow stick soon became the global standard for survey monument location.
Today, Schonstedt locators are mainly used for industrial, utility, commercial and government applications. Schonstedt’ s most popular products include the GA-52Cx, the industry leader among surveyors, and Maggie, its newest magnetic locator. Maggie was engineered to achieve the accuracy of the GA-52Cx while simultaneously offering the single-handed operation of the GA-92XT model. Schonstedt has also expanded its product line to include pipe and cable locators for the utility industry.
Headquartered in Kearneysville, WV, Schonstedt ships to more than 60 countries. All aspects of the business are operated out of the headquarters, including manufacturing, customer service, shipping and repairs.
“ We chose to do business in West Virginia because it was cost efficient, a good manufacturing location and had a workforce that could handle high-tech products,” says Wendy Hart, director of marketing and business development.“ West Virginia also has an environment of state support. Funding through the West Virginia Development Office has been an incredible resource for us to tap into, and it has helped us with exporting into new markets.”
In addition to making a niche product, Schonstedt has found a way to help make the world a better place. In 2007, the company launched the Schonstedt Humanitarian Demining Initiative.
Since the program’ s inception, Schonstedt has deployed more than 500 locators to 26 war-torn countries for clearance of landmines, cluster munitions and other unexploded ordnance.
These units come at no cost, other than shipping, to the clearance teams on the ground. Schonstedt partners with the United Nations Mine Action Service, the U. S. Department of State and the Red Cross to review incoming requests. The program is sustained through donations from individuals, organizations and religious affiliations.
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