Companies in Pittsburgh and Lancaster recently received a national award that recognizes technological innovation.
Advanced Cooling Technologies, which makes equipment for government and private-sector customers, and robotics firm RE2 were among 44 companies that received Tibbetts Awards from the U.S. Small Business Administration. The awards go to businesses that take part in the SBA’s Small Business Innovation Research Program, which gives small companies money to conduct research on federal projects.
Lancaster-based Advanced Cooling Technologies, which employs about 70 people, was recognized for developing a type of heat pipe for use in space, where there is no air or gravity to help heat dissipate from electronic components. Company President Jon Zuo explains that this pipe contains a small amount of liquid that vaporizes when it heats up, then condenses again to create a cycle. This technology came from a research project for NASA but is now used in satellites for TVs and cell phones.
No one from the other award-winning company, RE2 of Pittsburgh, returned requests for comment. However, RE2 says in a press release that its Tibbetts Award recognized its work for the Defense Department, developing improved robotic arms that have been built into bomb-squad and bomb disposal vehicles.
Sources: RE2; Jon Zuo, Advanced Cooling Technologies
Writer: Rebecca VanderMeulen
