A U.K.-based company that does global work in engineered carbon and ceramic materials is partnering with Penn State to establish a new research and development center at Innovation Park.
Morgan Advanced Materials announced the industrial partnership on Tuesday at CARBON 2016, the World Conference on Carbon held at the Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel. The 30,000 square-foot mixed-use building that will house the Carbon Science Center of Excellence (COE) is expected to open in 2017. It will be Morgan’s third COE, and first in North America.
The COE will work to create global developments in carbon research through materials and application engineering.
‘For us, the decision to work with Penn State was a natural one,’ Mike Murray, chief technical officer for Morgan Advanced Materials said in a release. ‘As a world leader in carbon-related research, Penn State has an unrivaled reputation for innovation in this field, which we believe will add real value for our customers. We hope the partnership will help accelerate our development of new products and capabilities, enabling us to continue to meet the future needs of our customers more quickly, efficiently and comprehensively.”
State College’s location and resources were key factors in Morgan’s decision to work with Penn State. The university is home to a large number of academic researchers and research facilities. State College, meanwhile, is in close proximity to Morgan manufacturing sites in Coudersport, St. Mary’s, Latrobe, Wilkes-Barre, East Stroudsburg and Allentown.
According to the engineering company’s websites, it develops products for healthcare, petrochemicals, transportation, electronics, energy, security and industrial market. Principal products include insulating fibers, electrical carbon transfer systems, seals and bearing, ceramic cores, piezoelectric sensors, crucibles for metals processing and high technology composites. Its products are used in applications from lightweight combat helmets to electric vacuum pumps in cars to ultrasonic flow sensors.
Morgan has 85 manufacturing sites in more than 30 countries. It employs 9,000 people with customers in more than 100 countries.
The company will invest millions in the new research facility, which is expected to create a number of research jobs.
“The collaboration is a win-win situation for all involved, Neil Sharkey, Penn State vice president of research said. ‘Our commitment to developing new methodologies and making further scientific discoveries in carbon science is closely aligned with Morgan’s company vision, mission and commitment to the markets it serves. Morgan’s expertise and commercial insights will provide our researchers with a solid foundation to deliver workable, commercially viable solutions that distinguish both Penn State and Morgan in a fiercely competitive marketplace, while contributing to job creation and economic development in State College and in the Commonwealth.”
Murray said that in addition to the university, the Pennsylvania Governor’s Action Team and CBICC were instrumental in bringing the COE to Innovation Park.
“The CBICC/Centre County Economic Development Partnership and its economic development investors are excited by Morgan Advanced Materials’ decision to locate in Centre County,” said Vern Squier, president and CEO of CBICC. “The Carbon Science Center of Excellence announcement highlights the benefits of the collective community partnership with Penn State to advance economic development through job and wealth creation that was envisioned in the memorandum of agreement signed locally between Penn State and the CBICC last year. The Center of Excellence is a great opportunity, one that can serve as a building block for future business investment opportunities in the region.”
The COE marks the first global industrial partnership of Invent Penn State, the university’s program to spur economic development, job creation and student career success by leveraging Penn State’s resources and community and business collaborations.
‘Collaboration plays a vital role in supporting the critical linkage between leading universities and industry, stated Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Dennis Davin. “The expertise at Penn State University is a natural connection to support the cutting-edge innovation that will be cultivated through the Carbon Science Center of Excellence established by Morgan Advanced Materials.’
