SUCCESS STORIES

2005

Travel assistance grant for HyPerspectives, Inc.

HyPerspectives, Inc., of Bozeman, is dedicated to commercializing the cutting-edge remote measurement research begun by Yellowstone Ecological Research Center (YERC) of Bozeman. HyPerspectives finished performance on a US Navy SBIR Phase I contract and met with its program managers in Orlando, Florida, to discuss the transition to SBIR Phase II research. MADA and TechLink supported HyPerspectives, Inc. by providing travel assistance to the company. This travel was designed to enable the company to better position itself to transition its successful DoD (NAVAIR) SBIR Phase I contract to Phase II, and to explore new business partnering opportunities with the Applied Sciences Directorate at NASA Stennis Space Center.

Travel assistance grant for AquilaVision, Inc.

AquilaVision, Inc., of Missoula, offers advanced technology remote sensing solutions to decision-makers in several fields. The company has partnerships with the University of Montana (UM), other academic institutions, and federal agencies. With assistance from MADA and TechLink, AquilaVision is in discussions with NASA Stennis Space Center for the transfer of NASA hyperspectral sensors to a team created by the company. MADA and TechLink supported AquilaVision, Inc. by providing travel assistance to the company to discuss the transfer and other business partnering opportunities.

Commercialization assistance to Visual Learning Systems, Inc.

Visual Learning Systems, Inc. (VLS), of Missoula, is the worldwide leader in automated feature extraction solutions for geographic information systems (GIS), and an accomplished software and services supplier to customers in the fields of education, environment, and government. MADA and TechLink provided commercialization assistance to VLS for the production of a documentary for CNBC. This documentary featured the company and its new products for automated feature extraction.

Contract between Lattice Materials Corp. and MMEC for AS-9100 gap assessment

Lattice Materials Corp., of Bozeman, is a leading supplier of silicon and germanium products to the world market for infrared optics, sputter targets, and a wide array of additional products. The company has recognized the value of AS-9100 certification to remain competitive in its marketplace. With MADA funds, TechLink contracted with the Montana Manufacturing Extension Center to perform the audits of Lattice Materials’ quality program as a prelude to certification.

Contract between Summit Aeronautics Group and MMEC for AS-9100 gap assessment

Summit Aeronautics Group, of Helena, is known nationwide for its precision machining and tooling, and is a leading supplier to the major aerospace prime contractors. The company has recognized the value of AS-9100 certification to remain competitive in its marketplace. With MADA funds, TechLink contracted with the Montana Manufacturing Extension Center to perform the audits of the company’s quality program as a prelude to certification .

AS9000 Internal Quality Auditor Training with the Montana Manufacturing Extension Center (MMEC)

TechLink, on behalf of MADA, supported the MMEC in providing AS9100 Internal Quality Auditor Training. The training was attended by eleven people representing seven Montana companies. Internal quality audits play a vital role in a documented quality system, by ensuring not only that quality practices match procedures, but that the system is effective and meets the needs of the organization. Internal quality auditors need to be trained in order to perform important audit tasks. The training provided emphasized the skills necessary to conduct internal quality audits and covered the requirements of AS9100 (or ISO-9000:2000) standard s.

2004

Space Act Agreement between AdvR, Inc. and NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) for the space qualification of LIDAR

AdvR, Inc., of Bozeman, is devoted to the development and commercialization of photonics technologies. The core area of expertise of the company is in the fabrication of KTP waveguides for a wide variety of commercial applications including laser stabilization, trace gas detection, and acoustic sensing. In FY02, AdvR delivered to NASA a KTP stabilized diode laser that successfully demonstrated injection seeding on the bench top version of the laser used for LIDAR. As a follow-on to this project, the company wants to complete the flight qualification of the laser. The successful result of this project will be a low-cost, small size, high efficiency, low thermal mass, and precise thermal control solid state LIDAR system for space-based and aircraft remote sensing purposes. Potential uses include high resolution topographical mapping, remote sensing of atmospheric winds, and profiling of atmospheric molecules and aerosols. This technology has benefits for Earth science, and for extraterrestrial exploration applications.

The NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) has the facilities and capabilities to flight qualify hardware in the space environment. Through a Space Act Agreement, the lab tested the company’s laser and vibration isolation system and returned the data to the company. TechLink, on behalf of MADA, assisted the company in establishing the Space Act Agreement and in providing funding for essential travel to Goddard. In addition, TechLink helped AdvR to partner with GSFC under the Instrument Incubator Program for the further development of this instrument to meet NASA's needs.

Partnership between Anasphere, Inc. and Goddard Space Flight Center, Wallops Flight Facility (GSFC/WFF), for the development and testing of atmospheric chemistry sensors on UAVs

Anasphere, Inc., of Bozeman, specializes in the development, manufacture, and sale of custom atmospheric micro sensors for scientific studies. These sensors are low-cost, lightweight, compact, low power devices that lend themselves to UAV applications. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center/Wallops Flight Facility develops and tests small UAVs for scientific purposes and NASA missions. The atmospheric micro sensors are an enabling technology that will allow these small UAVs to be used for a host of scientific missions. By coupling the capabilities of the small UAV with the compact, lightweight, low power, micro sensors, the system is able to make atmospheric measurements at altitude as well as at treetop levels in areas that are otherwise inaccessible. TechLink, on behalf of MADA, supplied funds to cost-share the production of a prototype sensor for NASA UAV applications.

Contract between A&S Tribal Industries and the Montana Manufacturing Extension Center (MMEC) for aerospace welding certification program

A&S Tribal Industries, of Poplar, is a tribally owned small business that specializes as a manufacturer of products for the Department of Defense. The company is participating under the Department of Defense Mentor Protégé program with Northrop Grumman. Under this program, the company seeks to improve its competitiveness for government contracting by developing an aerospace welding certification program. TechLink, on behalf of MADA, contracted with the Montana Manufacturing Extension Center to provide an aerospace welding training and certification program for A&S Tribal Industries.

Contract between CM Manufacturing and the Montana Manufacturing Extension Center (MMEC) for ISO 9000 gap assessment

CM Manufacturing, of Missoula, specializes in the manufacturing of high-strength steel and non-ferrous parts for aircraft. The company manufactures parts for every aircraft flown by the U.S. military and meets extensive non-destructive testing requirements. The company required ISO certification to remain competitive in its market. TechLink, on behalf of MADA, contracted with the Montana Manufacturing Extension Center to assist CM Manufacturing with an ISO 9000 gap assessment.

Contract between Neptune Aviation and the Montana Manufacturing Extension Center (MMEC) for ISO 9000 gap assessment

Neptune Aviation, of Missoula, is one of only a few legacy companies specializing in aerial firefighting. Due to changes in customer requirements, Neptune is reorganizing and diversifying its customer base to include heavy aircraft maintenance, design and fabrication, and fixed base operations markets. The company recognized the necessity of ISO certification to enter new markets, including future government contracting. TechLink, on behalf of MADA, contracted with the Montana Manufacturing Extension Center to assist Neptune Aviation with an ISO 9000 gap assessment.

SBIR Phase II assistance between Positive Systems and NASA Stennis Space Center for "Precise Automatic Image Coregistration Tools to Enable Pixel-Level Change Detection"

Positive Systems, of Whitefish, specializes in the development of products to provide imagery for GIS & CAD applications. The company's premier product is DIME, Digital Images Made Easy, the economical alternative to the traditional photogrammetric process that is commonly used to prepare imagery for GIS/CAD environments. The DIME software utilizes a high degree of automation to mosaic, georeference, and color balance existing aerial photography and satellite imagery. TechLink, on behalf of MADA, provided assistance for the SBIR Phase II submission through travel, commercialization planning and marketing, and proposal review.

Phase II STTR assistance between AdvR, Inc. and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC)

AdvR, Inc. and Montana State University, both of Bozeman, were awarded an STTR Phase II contract from the Goddard Space Flight Center to address the topic: Ultra-Stable Miniature Seed Laser for High Power Nd:YAG Lasers. AdvR was assisted by a consultant through the TechLink/EPSCoR Phase 1.5 Program, on behalf of MADA, in developing a competitive commercialization plan for this Phase II proposal.

Value stream mapping project with S&K Technologies and the Montana Manufacturing Extension Center (MMEC)

S&K Technologies, located in Ronan, is a Salish and Kootenai tribally owned enterprise that specializes in providing end-to-end, mission critical information technology solutions for government agencies and private-sector clients. With MADA funding arranged by TechLink, the Montana Manufacturing Extension Center conducted a value stream map analysis of the company's in-line heater production line. The line was analyzed from post-circuit board production through final Q&A testing. MMEC's initial recommendations were compared to internal recommendations during the analysis. MMEC created a Current State Value Stream Map, a Future State Value Stream Map, and a Value Stream Plan to reach the future state.

Value stream mapping project with Aircraft Finishing Systems (AFS) and the Montana Manufacturing Extension Center (MMEC)

Aircraft Finishing Systems, Inc., located in Missoula, is a woman-owned small business and Montana’s only coatings OEM. The company produces and sells a line of EPA compliant low and no-VOC primers, paints, and topcoats for the aerospace industry. With MADA funding, TechLink arranged for the Montana Manufacturing Assistance Center to conduct a bottleneck assessment of AFS's production line. MMEC determined that an automated bottling system would reduce labor costs and increase production capacity. MMEC and AFS specified the requirements of the bottling system and obtained quotes from three vendors. Based on cost, space requirements, and maintenance needs, a final bottling system was selected.

2003

SBIR assistance between AdvR Inc. and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) for the prototyping and testing of a seed laser vibration isolation package

AdvR Inc., located in Bozeman, develops and commercializes photonics technologies. The core area of expertise of the company is in the fabrication of KTP waveguides for a wide variety of commercial applications including seed lasers for ground-based, airborne, and space-borne LIDAR systems. NASA researchers have developed engineering concepts and specifications for a vibration isolation packaging system for a flight qualified version of the seed laser. TechLink, on behalf of MADA, assisted AdvR with travel to Goddard Space Flight Center in support of the company's SBIR submission.