Manufacturing Assistance Program

Product Development Case Study: SEMicro Division, M.E.Taylor Engr. Inc. (Rockville)

Company Profile
The SEMicro Division of M.E.T.E. specializes in the design, development and manufacturing of adhesive testing equipment. SEMicro provides a full line of instruments to test the strength of coatings, adhesives, paints and inks. SEMicro is the home of the original PATTI - the Pneumatic Adhesion Tensile Testing Instrument. After its emergence in 1985, the PATTI became the standard of quality throughout the paint and coatings industry.

Situation
SEMicro wanted to develop a smaller compact PATTI that took advantage of digital technology. SEMicro approached UMMAP for assistance in converting from analog to digital technology.

Solution
UMMAP reviewed the current PATTI design and discussions followed on how to re-engineer the existing electronic design. UMMAP subsequently introduced SEMicro to two (2) Maryland companies who perform detailed electronic design. UMMAP reviewed proposals from the two companies and provided comments and recommendations. SEMicro selected one of the companies to develop the detailed electronic design for the new compact PATTI. UMMAP met with SEMicro regularly to review the design and development effort and offered suggestions for improving the process.

Results
The compact PATTI (Quantum-Gold) instrument that resulted from the development effort will be on the market during the first quarter of 2009 It has taken longer from start to finish than originally envisioned but with improvements. Innovations include a fully digital unit, Bluetooth, custom made LabView software, and a digital microscope camera to fully document the test surface. In addition many components were miniaturized so that the new compact PATTI could fit in a cigar box and weigh less than 3 pounds. SEMicro projects that the addition of the PATTI Quantum Gold Series will increase their sales in 2009 by approximately $100,000. And they expect overall company sales to increase from $400,000 to one million by the year 2011. Licensing fees will add another $20-25,000/year. The PATTI Quantum Gold Series will premiere at the 2009 PACE (Paint and Coating Expo) in February, 2009 in New Orleans. SEMicro has been invited to participate in the adhesion testing workshop at PACE. Only 3-5 companies are offered that opportunity.

Testimonial
"As a result of UMMAP assistance, SEMicro has an advanced PATTI adhesion testing instrument and is predicting a significant increase in overall sales because of the new product."
—Robert Hester, VP Technical Development

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