Port of Chelan County tenant Paine Electronics LLC, a manufacturer of pressure measuring devices for the oil and gas industries, plans to be in a new home by April 2005, according to President Roy Ferguson.  Ferguson said the company has bought a 4.5-acre parcel from developer Brian Nelson at North Baker Flats in East Wenatchee, with plans to begin work on a 20,000-square-foot facility this September. Ferguson said Nelson will also build the manufacturing space through his company Western Ranch Buildings LLC.

SPRING 2004 RTD AWARDS ANNOUNCED 12 Washington companies receive research funding. From contamination detection to cancer treatment, cattle waste to computer languages; twelve Washington companies get the green light to conduct critical research as a result of funding awards from the Washington Technology Center. WTC's Research & Technology Development (RTD) program awards more than $1 million annually to university researchers working with emerging technology companies on projects that show potential for commercial success.

Proposals are evaluated on the basis of technical merit, economic impact and commercial viability. The financing assistance is designed to help the companies advance specific R&D efforts that will enable them to enter or advance in the commercial marketplace and ultimately generate new technology jobs in Washington. The outcome of the research in these 12 projects is estimated to generate 600 new jobs in Washington over the next five years. RTD grants are awarded twice annually, in Fall and Spring.

The 12 RTD award recipients represent businesses across Washington extending from Seattle, North Bend and Snoqualmie to Wenatchee, Colville, Spokane and Tri-Cities. Companies teamed with researchers from two of the state's major academic institutions: six are working with researchers from Washington State University (WSU) and six are collaborating with University of Washington (UW) researchers.

Congratulations to WTC's 2004 Spring RTD award recipients:

Miniature Pressure Transducer - Withstands Temperatures up to 425°F
Paine Electronics introduces a new miniature pressure transducer created specifically for the downhole well logging industry. The new model has an operating temperature of 425°F and features a metal-to-metal seal.

Paine Electronics recently announced the introduction of a new miniature pressure transducer with an O.D. of only 0.5" dia. This innovative design is specifically created for the downhole well logging industry where long-term stability is essential and size is critical.

The new model has an operating temperature of up to 425°F and can take the heat of severe temperature conditions. The housing is Inconel 718, which meets NACE Standard MR0175-95 as a sulfide stress cracking resistant alloy. An internal RTD is provided for correction of small temperature errors.

The case can handle external pressures to 20,000 PSI.

An Inconel metal-to-metal pressure seal is provided with each unit and can be used indefinitely at temperatures high enough to damage a typical o-ring.

The sealing surface is at the end of the transducer port cone, making the seal area much smaller than that of an o-ring installed above the threads, so installation torque translates to more mechanical pressure on the seal.

These factors make permanent installation possible with our Inconel seals in situations where routine seal replacement would otherwise be necessary.

Pressure ranges start at 0 to 3,000 PSIA and can go over 0 to 25,000 PSIA. Custom configurations are available.