Tech Digest: what’s moving in the Midwest

18 Oct Tech Digest: what’s moving in the Midwest

Posted at 00:00h in Biotech, Health Technology, Manufacturing by

Home Health United signs deal with SBC

The Wisconsin health-care agency Home Health United has announced a three-year deal with communications firm SBC. SBC will implement services such as dedicated internet access and voice and data architecture.
Home Health United provides nursing, rehabilitative therapies, immunizations, and home medical equipment. The addition of SBC’s services is designed to create a communications network for the agency’s employees.

UW-Stout gets USDA grant for manufacturing training

The University of Wisconsin-Stout has received $99,500 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide training in efficient manufacturing to companies in the region.
The grant program is also intended to train offices in some of the same principles, part of a movement called “lean manufacturing,” to reduce waste. Medford and New Richmond are covered by the program.

ETC announces losses for third quarter

Electronic Tele-Communications has reported a drop in sales and net income for third-quarter 2004. The Waukesha-based company’s sales for the quarter were $937,016 compared to $1.1 million from third quarter of 2003, while net income was $28,518 compared to 2003’s third-quarter income of $102,292.
ETC President Dean Danner blamed the losses on weaker summer shipments, but pointed out that in the first half of the year equipment sales made profits. Danner added that bookings for fourth quarter are ahead of last year, due to efforts to improve product offerings and broaden customer diversity.

Badger Meter reports increased earnings in third quarter

Milwaukee-based Badger Meter reported on Thursday that they have seen increases in sales and earnings for the third quarter of 2004. Sales have increased by 9.7 percent from third-quarter 2003 to $53.3 million, and net earnings have seen a 23.8 percent increase to $3.38 million.
“With only 15% of residential water meters in the U.S. currently converted to AMR, we believe Badger Meter is well positioned to benefit from long-term growth opportunities in this market,” CEO Richard Meeusen said.

QRG Bioscience to move to Research Park

QRG Bioscience announced on Friday that it will move its corporate headquarters by November 1 from Richfield, Wisconsin, to Madison, where it will be located at 455 Science Drive inside the University Research Park.
QRG is developing technology to address the imbalance of calcium ions in the body, which is believed to be related to aging diseases and the accompanying neural degeneration.
“There are only a handful of communities that can support an endeavor as large as ours in the country,” said Mark Underwood, vice president of product development for QRG, “and we are very proud to be in close proximity to a premier research institution and in a city with a track record of helping companies succeed.”

Sensient Technologies reduces debt by $47 million

Sensient Technologies, a Milwaukee-based developer of flavors and fragrances, announced on Monday that improved cash flow over the last nine months has allowed the company to reduce its debt by $47.1 million dollars since 2003.
The company reported third-quarter profits of $41.5 million on revenues of $257 million, a 77 percent increase in profits from the same quarter last year.