Partnership helps firm develop new product

OLD TOWN – The Maine Manufacturing Extension Partnership recently assisted officials of the Kenway Corp. of Augusta in their preparation and filing of an application to obtain a $10,000 grant from the Maine Technology Institute.

Now, Kenway’s newest product is undergoing testing at a paper mill in Old Town.

“The relationship between the Maine MEP and the Maine Technology Institute certainly is a worthwhile one,” said Kenneth Priest, chief executive officer of Kenway.

“The advice we received from the Maine MEP while preparing the application certainly helped us obtain the grant for research and development of a new product for our company. This is just one of the many ways in which the Maine MEP has assisted us during the past several years,” Priest said, “and without MEP’s help, our project would not have developed as rapidly.”

Kenway Corp. has developed a product that could save paper mills and chemical plants millions of dollars. The 55-year-old company, a fiberglass fabricator specializing in the design and manufacture of industrial pipe, hoods, tanks, ductwork and related components, employs 32 people.

As developed, Kenway’s new product will utilize a sensor system within a double-walled pipe used to transfer hazardous materials. Presently, pulp and paper mills run underground pipes to carry hazardous waste away from the plants. Periodically, those pipes must be inspected to see if there is a leak, a process that involves shutting down the plant, Priest said.

“The new sensor will detect a leak in the inner pipe and determine the location. There will be no environmental impact because the second pipe will contain the hazardous waste material,” he said.

“Without the MTI grant, there is no way we could have conducted the research and development of this product with monies coming from our bottom line,” Priest said. “From the outset, the Maine MEP has been instrumental in initiating the development process. Maine MEP personnel facilitated meetings, worked out details and introduced the company to appropriate people,” he said.

“Businesses in Maine require all types of assistance, and our expertise and the knowledge of our project managers allows us to help just when help is needed the most,” said Rod Rodrigue, MMEP executive director.

“That is the kind of help that is invaluable when time is of the essence and problems need to be solved,” Priest said.