News and Press: Windo-Therm Receives A NASA Grant

Jim Devine, President of Windo-Therm, and his staff have been working to improve his patented insulating window panels on a regular basis. Win do- Therm is a double glazed ultra light clear panel with a sturdy aluminum frame that mounts on the inside of existing windows or sliding
doors. The panels have a weather stripping seal to eliminate drafts
and to help create a thermal barrier, trapping a 7/16" pocket of
air between them. A second air pocket is created between the
Windo- Therm .panel and the existing window, tripling the typical
window insulation value.

The company has been installing these panels in homes, businesses and historic buildings throughout New York, Vermont, and Massachusetts since Devine began the business in the basement of his home in 2000. The Cheney Library in Hoosick Falls has the panels, with mullions that
exactly match those of the library windows.

On large windows munions are a necessity to minimize flexibility in the panels. Enter NASA, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

NASA funds the Space Alliance Technology' Outreach Program. Members of that program work with small businesses across the country to help them improve their products. Devine received a NASA grant for 40 hours ofconsulting service from the City University of New York.

"Forty years of personal effort would never get us where they did in 40 hours,"said Devine." They showed us scientific methods for testing the strength of our frames. They explained the formula for testing and the tools necessary for it. They made us aware of the science involved. Now we can apply that science/ourselves."

The new framework means that almost any double hung window will be free of munion crosspieces. Devine said they are not satisfied with that; they want to make an even stronger frame that won't buckle kits and assembled anywhere in with larger panels. He expects the results will be pretty exciting. NASA willingly works with small groups,"says Devine."

"What used to take them a week, they will now be able to produce in a day." He doubled the amount of space he used in the building at that time. If all of the projects now under way come to fruition, he may be looking for larger space yet. Devine recently completed a two year term as President of The Chief Executives Network for Manufacturing. The Network comprises 70 small to mid-sized manufacturers in the Greater Capital District Region. During his term he secured two $500,000 grants from NYS to set up a Center for Excellence in Manufacturing; a university without walls that offers manufacturing training on site where it is needed as well as additional training at colleges and seminars in varied locations. "A leadership or supervisory or skills training program, with the best trainers in the country could be set up for a company in a matter of weeks," he said. Already companies taking advantage of this program have seen increases in production and profits.

As President, Devine also helped establish a program where companies with ties to manufacturers could become sustaining members of the organization for a fee. This match up has allowed for increased networking and support to all the members. "Now," he said, "it is time for me to devote all my energies to Windo- Therm."

Windo-Therm Receives A NASA Space Alliance Technology Outreach Program Grant