|
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology mechanical engineering alumni Loren Nasser and Robert Tryon are proving -- once again -- that you can go home.
 |
Loren Nasser |
A computer software development company founded by the two Terre Haute natives to determine the longevity of products -- primarily for the automotive and aerospace industries -- has become the fourth business client of Terre Haute Innovation
Alliance, a partnership between Rose-Hulman and Indiana State University.
VEXTEC Corp. will utilize the alliance to develop a test facility just west of Terre Haute International Airport-Hulman Field. The facility -- announced in fall 2007 -- offers the potential of developing at least 50 high-paying technology jobs
over the next four years, VEXTEC officials said.
"The partnership between Terre Haute Innovation Alliance and VEXTEC represents a major step forward in creation of a new technology thrust at Terre Haute International Airport. We have already begun the process of initiating strategic relationships
with Rose Hulman and ISU to facilitate this," said Nasser, VEXTEC president and chief executive officer. He is a 1982 graduate.
 |
Robert Tryon |
Tryon, a 1981 graduate, is VEXTEC's chief technology officer.
Founded in 2000, VEXTEC (www.VEXTEC.com) has a client list that includes some of the largest turbine and diesel engine and turbocharger manufacturers in the U.S. and Europe. VEXTEC has a comprehensive work force of engineering, scientific, software
development and business application specialists. The privately-held firm is based in the Nashville suburb of Brentwood, Tenn.
Working closely with Rose-Hulman Ventures and ISU's College of Technology, VEXTEC's Terre Haute office will perform failure analysis of mechanical and electronic equipment. VEXTEC will conduct laboratory testing of mechanical components and
develop computer models to determine the necessary maintenance intervals, expected lifetime and safety of the equipment.
"Rose-Hulman is very excited to be working with VEXTEC," said Mitch Landess, manager of client programs at Rose-Hulman Ventures. "The area of product lifecycle simulation, the focus of VEXTEC's technology, is a complex and interesting engineering
challenge from an academic perspective, and has tremendous potential from a commercial perspective. This makes VEXTEC an ideal candidate for the Terre Haute Innovation Alliance."
Chris Pfaff, director of the Center for Business Support and Economic Innovation at ISU, stated: "VEXTEC is an ideal addition to the Innovation Alliance program and the expertise of ISU's College of Technology will add tremendous value to the company,
while providing our faculty and students experiential learning opportunities."
Launched in April 2007, Terre Haute Innovation Alliance is an economic development and education partnership between the city of Terre Haute, ISU and Rose-Hulman. Existing clients include DesAcc, a medical software engineering company; InfraWare,
which provides next generation software for medical transcripts and reports; and Handshake LLC, which is developing a web-based social utility portal envisioned to become a virtual marketplace for delivering and looking for services. Many of these
clients are sponsoring projects at Rose-Hulman Ventures.
|
