MORE THAN 60 NATIONAL MEDICAL PRODUCT EXECUTIVES AND ENGINEERS ATTEND
FORUM – More than 60 national medical product executives and
engineers along with local representatives from Sparton Medical
Solutions, Command Medical, Gambro Renal Products, Tara Technologies,
CyberTec International, Hudson Tool & Die, Crane Cams/Mikronite
Technologies and Sparton Electronics, participated in a three-day forum
concerning the future of medical device design and marketing. The forum
was conducted by Virtus International of Montreal, Canada in cooperation
with the county’s Department of Economic Development and the Volusia
Manufacturers Association. Sessions on regulatory and quality assurance,
lean leadership, development of global regulatory strategies and
marketing, benefits of lean manufacturing, drug and device convergence,
medical device outsourcing were among the topics presented.
MANUFACTURING FACILITY NEEDED – The county’s economic development
team is currently working with a south Florida automotive parts
manufacturer who is seeking to purchase an existing 60,000-square-foot
production facility. If you have or know of an available production
facility anywhere within Volusia County, please call John Kizer,
Business Specialist at 386/248-8048 with your real estate information.
Your information will be provided to the company for direct contact back
to you or your group.
INTERESTED IN EUROPEAN TRADE OPPORTUNITIES? – Enterprise Florida
is sponsoring an opportunity to have personal business sales
appointments with Enterprise Florida representatives from France, Italy,
UK/Ireland, The Netherlands and Belgium. These appointments are designed
to assist area businesses interested in finding new overseas customers
for locally produced technologies, goods and services. Appointments can
be scheduled for Wednesday, April 18 for those Volusia County companies
that would like to explore these opportunities. Enterprise Florida’s
trade representatives will be at the Sheraton Orlando Downtown Hotel
where lunch, materials and scheduled appointments are only $20.
Appointments are on a scheduled first-come, first-served basis. For more
information, call Phil Ehlinger, Business Manager, at 386/248-8048.
LOCAL MANUFACTURER ACQUIRES A DIVISION OF POLAROID – StyleMark,
an Ormond Beach manufacturer of sunglasses, has acquired Polaroid
Eyewear International, the eyewear division of Polaroid Corp., from
Petters Group Worldwide. Polaroid, one of the leading sunglass
distributors in Europe, will continue to be based in Zurich,
Switzerland. StyleMark, formerly known as Capo Inc., already sells
sunglasses and other optical products under 20 different brands,
including Nine West, Speedo, Ocean Pacific, Disney and Revlon. The
acquisition gives StyleMark global distribution, reaching 67 countries
and will now have unit sales of more than 50 million pairs of
sunglasses.
GRANTS AVAILABLE FOR TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS – The
county’s Department of Economic Development, in cooperation with
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, is offering matching grants to
support area companies interested in applying for Small Business
Innovative Research Grants from the federal government. To learn more
about this program, contact Jackie Dreher, Business Manager, at
386/248-8048.
CONFERENCE ON TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER SCHEDULED FOR MAY – The fourth
Annual Florida Tech Transfer Conference will be May 29-30 at the Doral
Golf Resort & Spa in Miami. The keynote topic for the conference is
Translational and Applied Research: From Bench to Bedside. Hundreds of
industry executives, university tech transfer specialists, researchers
and related professionals will be present to discuss the state's
university commercialization and licensing opportunities. Attendees can
discover exciting developments in hot growth areas that include
alternative and renewable energy, homeland security and defense,
information and communications, life sciences, drug discovery and
medical devices. The Florida Tech Transfer Conference is being held in
conjunction with the ninth PHARLEX® Forum, a forum for biotechnology and
pharmaceutical firms. Early registration discounts apply now. To
register online, visit
http://www.flatechtransfer.org.
NEWS ITEMS WANTED! – Please send your business news items to Dave
Byron, Volusia County Community Information Director, 123 W. Indiana
Ave., DeLand, 32720-4612, by fax at (386) 822-5072 or by e-mail at
dbyron@co.volusia.fl.us.
