Innovations
STALLINGS, N.C.. Dec. 18, 2009 - Keith Crisco, N.C. Commerce
Secretary, on Thursday praised innovations in economic development and
technical manufacturing in Union County, as he visited CEM Corporation
in Stallings in connection with the Union County Partnership for
Progress.
Crisco had high praise for CEM Corporation, a global leader in
microwave-based scientific technology, where he held a 10 a.m. press
conference. "Here's a company that started from zero right here in a
garage, has doubled in size in the past five years to $70 million in
annual sales, and expects to double again in less than five years.
They are achieving this through innovation, and 75 percent of their
sales are outside of North America, including millions to China. All
the manufacturing jobs are staying here. This is very impressive."
Crisco also promised increased support for Legacy Business Park, a
planned 5,000-acre development in eastern Union County, being
coordinated by the Union County Partnership for Progress, the county's
economic development organization. "This is a great innovation to
transform this area," he said. "I have appointed my Deputy Secretary
Dale Carroll to be the specific point person to work with and support
Project Legacy. We'll use every tool we can to ensure its success."
"More and more people in North Carolina are trying to promote
innovation, and Gov. Bev Perdue recently announced the creation of a
N.C. Innovation Council," Crisco said. "Bev Perdue is also very
focused on economic development. In the past year I have asked her to
make 46 appearances for economic development purposes, and she hasn't
turned me down once."
Crisco said there were "three to five comparable announcements in the
pipeline" similar in size to this week's announcement that Electrolux
was moving its U.S. headquarters to Charlotte. "Now they seem a little
more likely to close the deal as the economy improves."
CEM President and CEO Michael Collins, Ph. D., gave a demonstration of
his company's new Sprint Rapid Protein Analyzer. In two minutes it
performs protein analysis in foods like milk that used to take six
hours with standard chemical analysis techniques.
"Our equipment is water-based and generates no hazardous wastes,"
Collins said. "It is truly green technology. Traditional methods used
around the world are estimated to generate 15 millions pounds of
hazardous waste per year. That's why the EPA recognized our technology
with a Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award."
Collins said the Sprint System was purchased by the USDA Agriculture
Research Service at N. C. State University, and he hopes it will soon
be used statewide.
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[For more information contact Buck Lawrimore at 704-332-4344,
Buck(at)Lciweb.com, or Michelle Horn (Marketing Manager, CEM) at
704-821-7015, Michelle.Horn(at)CEM.com.] [Attached photo shows Crisco
speaking at CEM Thursday morning. Other images available.]
