Larry Hoberock, left, and Sam Harp, right, accept the University Economic Development Association's 2005 Award for Excellence in Technology Commercialization from Jerry Smith, president of the UEDA board of directors.
The New Product Development Center at Oklahoma State University was awarded the University Economic Development Association’s Award for Excellence in Technology Commercialization at the UEDA annual conference on Nov. 15, 2005 in Monterey, Calif.
NPDC was honored for the center’s work with Oklahoma-based Klutts Equipment Inc. to develop a new machine for railroad maintenance, called the “Gon-Topper.”
The Gon-Topper is a wireless remote-controlled self-loading/unloading machine used to load and unload railroad ties, gravel, tie plates, tie spikes, and other railroad maintenance supplies from gondola cars.
“The Klutts Gon-Topper developed by the NPDC brings to the national and international railroad industry a safe, efficient, flexible and cost effective means to load and unload railroad gondola cars during construction and maintenance of railroad right-of-way,” said Larry Hoberock, co-director of the NPDC.
The UEDA competition is held for its members and their designated affiliates to identify outstanding efforts in economic development.
The Klutts Gon-Topper was created by a team of NPDC engineers and designers comprised of OSU faculty and staff, led by Marvin Smith, former professor of mechanical engineering technology at OSU-Stillwater. Using input from Klutts Equipment Inc., the team designed, constructed and delivered a working prototype.
Hoberock said the production of the Gon-Topper will result in nine immediate Oklahoma jobs, and 90 expected future jobs and an increase of $1.5 to $2 million in domestic revenues, after the completion of a new 10,500 sq. ft. production facility in Muskogee that is now under construction.
Klutts Inc. also has expanded its market to include global customers.
NPDC student interns from the Agricultural Communications program at OSU-Stillwater worked as communication consultants to help Klutts develop a communications strategy to promote the business and new product. This allowed for the students to get “real world” experience, and for Klutts to get professional communications materials.
“Receiving this award establishes the NPDC as a national leader, and will help us recruit more new product development projects from small, rural manufacturers in Oklahoma,” Hoberock said. “It also demonstrates to the state legislature and the Oklahoma Department of Commerce that the investment they place with us not only will return multiples to Oklahoma on that investment, but has brought national recognition to the state as a leader in this area.”
Hoberock said the New Product Development Center at OSU provides a valuable opportunity for existing manufacturers to develop and commercialize their new product ideas.
Since its inception in 2002, the NPDC has created the potential for 250 jobs and more than $216 million in new revenues for Oklahoma manufacturers. These projects have resulted in $120 million direct and indirect returns to the state. Every NPDC project is an investment in the future of Oklahoma.
