Solar Technology Company Profile — New Product Development
Solar Technology manufactures solar powered traffic control equipment and devices used in highway construction work zones for industrial and commercial applications. Currently, Solar Technology provides Work Zone safety signs to the state and federal government and solar powered portable dynamic message signs for the highway construction and maintenance industry, the Department of Energy, the Department of the Navy, and the Department of Agriculture. A new product line, called Agile Displays, is now available for the commercial market in portable and fixed message signs. The company’s website is www.solartechnology.com.

Situation
Solar Technology has worked with MRC over the last eight years on 30 projects. The two major projects were ISO 9001:2000 implementation and a plant layout for a new manufacturing facility. MRC helped the firm enter the promotional and special events market by assisting the client in the development of engineering plans and documents for marketing their new Agile Displays product line and to assist their clients in obtaining local municipality approvals. Currently, the company is working to develop an enhanced product. MRC is assisting them through the Integrated Product Development Program (IPD) at Lehigh University. A team of students including engineering, finance and marketing will produce a new design for a solar powered radar speed trailer that will meet the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PENNDOT) requirements. The current product used by PENNDOT is battery operated with a minimal operational life. Solar Technologies’ product will be a solar powered unit that will have a continuous operational life. The IPD Team built the first prototype and developed an estimate of the market and sales potential for the company.

Results
The IPD team produced a prototype of a radar speed monitor that would be competitive in Solar Technology's marketplace. The company has grown from two to 75 employees over a period of 16 years, expanded its innovative product line and grown its market throughout the entire US. Now, it is actively exporting to Canada, South and Central America, Europe, Australia and the Middle East. It has supported national and state security at a time when we need it most with innovative, cost-effective products that utilize solar power. MRC brought in Steve Bailey of Operations Resources and Gary Delserro of Delserro Engineering Solutions to conduct the message sign and arrow panel sight tests in both daylight and night time conditions. The tests were done in accordance with the NTPEP testing criteria and submitted to Solar Technology in Report Number DES-06-304.

Testimonial
“Our experience in Pennsylvania is definitely unique. When we meet with other equipment manufacturers nationwide, they tell us that other states do not have a support network to help companies grow and prosper throughout their life cycle. I believe if more firms knew about the assistance available, Pennsylvania would entice more businesses to stay and grow here.”

Byron Zerphy, President