Photo submitted Dr. Harb Nayar, founder and president of TAT Technologies, Inc., plans to open a powder metal development and training center in St. Marys in the near future.

By Amy Cherry

Staff Writer

Within the next several months a new Powder Metal Technology Development and Training Center is scheduled to open in St. Marys in an effort to assist area plants in improving productivity and performance.

Dr. Harb Nayar, president of TAT Technologies, Inc. of Summit, NJ. is opening the center. Nayar, 72, is an internationally recognized expert of thermal processing with more than 40 years or practical industrial experience who has worked extensively throughout the area.

“The facility will be used for technology development, new equipment demonstration, pilot-run processing and hands-on training related to powdered metal sintering, delubing/debinding, annealing, brazing, and other thermal processes used to make parts from metals, ceramics and composites,” according to Nayar. “In these difficult economic times, I want to help Western Pennsylvania companies become more competitive globally by increasing productivity, reducing energy consumption and developing new products with improved material properties.”

The future site of the facility is in a 5,000 square-foot building located in the Stackpole Complex.

Nayar said he hopes to open the center within the next two to three months, however the date may be pushed back to six or seven months depending on funding applications filed with the state.

He noted that Lt. Gov. Scarnati was impressed with the idea of the center following a presentation Nayar made to him three months ago in his Brockway office. Scarnati passed the proposal to NorthCentral to assist Nayar in finding possible funding incentives.

“The application was prepared two months ago and is still in the review process,” Nayar noted.

He added that he has made the commitment to the center by purchasing the property, however is still seeking additional funding.

The new center will operate a flexible multi-zone 6-inch belt furnace capable of a broad range of temperature and atmosphere profiles. Other testing and training equipment will be added on an as-needed basis.

“We expect to hire 1-2 employees this year and have up to seven employees in 2010,” Nayar said. “I know I can help local plants by  reducing manufacturing and production costs in the plant itself. I want to empower workers with knowledge.”

As part of this strategy Nayar plans to employ a three part process involving modifying plant furnaces, implementing better operating processes and provide employee training. Other aspects of employee training range from lectures, to hands on experience at the center including Nayar’s technique of “taking a walk through the furnace.”

Nayar added the St. Marys area is special to him as many area companies allowed him to conduct field testing as part of his work with nitrogen based atmosphere. Among the many local companies he has worked with are PA Pressed Metals, GKN, Phoenix Pressed Metals in Brockway, Metaldyne, Atlas Pressed Metals in DuBois and Metal Powder Products.

Nayar also works with DAD Fabrication and Welding of St. Marys as a subcontractor manufacturing furnace parts.

Before founding TAT Technologies in 2002, Nayar held various senior technology management positions at BOC, a major international industrial gas company.

Nayar has earned a bachelor of science degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), an M.S. from The University of Notre Dame and a Ph.D in materials science from RPI. He is a frequent speaker at technical conferences and holds 14 U.S. and 19 foreign patents.