Heating up
When U.S. Olympic athletes and para-athletes triumphantly enter the games' opening ceremonies next month in Pyeongchang, South Korea, they will bring a little patch of Butler with them.
Butler Technologies Inc. on West Wayne Street participated in the design and manufacture of flexible, printed heaters that are incorporated into the American flag on the innovative parkas' back interior panel.
The heaters have three settings and can keep the athletes warm for up to 11 hours in the chilly South Korean winter.
The Ralph Lauren company is outfitting all U.S. athletes and para-athletes from head to toe in American-made garb for the ceremonies, and Lauren intentionally included wearable technology in the clothing using “America's most innovative companies,” according to an article in Ralph Lauren Magazine.
“Butler Technologies partnered with technology giant DuPont ... for the flexible heater portion of the project,” according to a news release from BTI. “Engineering teams from both companies worked closely to create a flexible, robust, attractive printed heater that would blend seamlessly into the inside of the parka.”
Other American companies were used by Lauren to power and connect the heaters.
Nadine Tripodi, president and owner of BTI, said she and her staff were thrilled to work on the project and cannot wait for the opening ceremonies Feb. 8.
“Every time we see an athlete on the podium wearing these parkas, we're going to be wondering whether they have the heater turned on,” Tripodi said Tuesday.
While she could give no specific details on the technology, she did say that the heaters are in the coats and awaiting the opening ceremonies.
Tripodi said BTI landed the prestigious job because the company has collaborated with DuPont for many years.
“They recognized our expertise in printed flexible electronics,” Tripodi said. “For us, it just brings to light some of the things we do here and we do well.”
She was particularly proud of BTI's participation when she watched a national morning talk show host introduce the cutting edge parkas before the athletes who were wearing them.
BTI technologists have been in touch with Ralph Lauren and DuPont since last summer regarding the project.
“We did different versions of it and tested some different components of it, then shipped it,” Tripodi said.
BTI creates lots of components for various companies' research and development projects, she said.
The firm is working on sensors for a medical device that senses brain activity and another piece of medical equipment that helps insert stents.“The whole printed electronics world has been around for a long time, but hasn't been embraced and pushed forward until recently,” Tripodi said.As for the parkas, the Olympics opening ceremony cannot come fast enough for Tripodi and her staff.“We're proud to be doing it,” she said. “We're excited about it because of course our eyes are going to go right to those parkas.”Scott Covert, president of the Butler County Manufacturing Consortium, called BTI's achievement “incredible.”“I think it's awesome that a little company in Butler, Pa., is using advanced technology for the Olympic team that's representing us all over the world,” Covert said.He said the parkas will in effect represent the manufacturers of Butler County next month in Pyeongchang.“There will be a lot of pride,” Covert said.Stan Kosciuszko, president of the Butler County Chamber of Commerce, was thrilled to hear a local company participated in the Olympian task.He said the chamber bestowed the William A. Morgan Jr. Entrepreneur of the Year award on Tripodi in 2015.“I'm very proud of Butler Technologies,” Kosciuszko said. “They are a very community-minded, progressive and well-rounded company.”He also looks forward to the Olympics and Butler's little part in it.“I think that's unbelievable,” Kosciuszko said. “Butler is all over the place.”He hopes the Olympic connection will only boost the already busy company.“Perhaps this is the start of a whole new avenue and new market for Butler Technologies,” he said. “Congratulations to Nadine.”
