Hot off the presses...

May 30, 2003

DEP Grant Awarded to Electrotechnology Applications Center.  More than $1.1 million dollars will be awarded over a three-year period to the Electrotechnology Applications Center (ETAC) located at Northampton Community College in the Lehigh Valley. The grant was issued to assist small and mid-size businesses in their reduction of VOC emissions, while using a relatively new technology.  Current methods used in controlling these emissions are catalytic oxidation or adsorption of VOCs on activated carbon.  Recent advances in electron beam radiant energy allow for an alternate and reasonable technology for small businesses. These monies will allow ETAC to develop and implement a program to actively demonstrate electron beam VOC destruction methodologies in the curing of automotive paints and coatings mounted on a robotic arm; curing of paints and coatings on metal and tube stock; destruction of VOCs in exhaust air streams; sterilization of materials, equipment and areas; sterilization of air in VOC emission areas; vegetable oil and radiation-curable inks; screen printing on plastic containers; and develop and test possible VOC reduction solutions for flexo and gravure printers.

For more information about the small business assistance
program, contact Ted Laubach at 717-772-2333. For more information about ETAC, visit http://www.etctr.com .

Michael V. Vasilik, Ph.D.
Director
Electrotechnology Applications Center
Northampton Community College
3835 Green Pond Road
Bethlehem, PA 18020-7568

(610) 861-5596 (phone)
(610) 861-4101 (fax)
vasilik@northampton.edu  (e-mail)