Business in the Burbs

Real estate firms join forces

Jay Loomis — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:36:20 +0000

Albert P. Schatz Realtors, a real estate firm in Ossining, has joined Keller Williams Realty Partners of Yorktown Heights. The new name of the firm is Albert P. Schatz at Keller Williams. The Schatz family will continue to operate from their Croton Avenue office in Ossining where they have been since 1970.

Four Westchester companies make diversity list

Jay Loomis — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:23:01 +0000

Four companies based in Westchester County are among the “40 Best Companies for Diversity” compiled by Black Enterprise magazine. They are IBM Corp. of Armonk, Pepsi Bottling Group Inc. of Somers, PepsiCo Inc. of Purchase and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide of White Plains.

The fifth annual listing is featured in the magazine’s July issue. The selection was based on how the companies performed against their peers regarding board representation, employee base, senior management and supplier diversity.

Coca-Cola Enterprises to install fuel cells at Elmsford plant

Jay Loomis — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:05:01 +0000

Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc., the world’s largest bottler of Coca-Cola products, is turning to clean energy technolgoies to reduce the power use and environmental impact of its production plant in Elmsford.

The company plans to install two fuel cell systems at the plant to produce enough power and heat to meet 30 percent of the site’s needs. The fuel cells also will serve as a backup electricity source during power outages.

Fuel cells combine hydrogen and oxygen in an electrochemical process to produce electricity, heat and water. Since they don’t produce the emissions of traditional power plants, some scientists maintain that the fuel cell technology has the potential the potential to reduce petroleum use and decrease greenhouse gas emissions suspected of contributing to global warming.

“The fuel cell systems at our Elmsford facility will help us further our environmental commitment to our local communities, reducing our carbon footprint and our use of the local power grid,” said Ron Lewis, vice president of supply chain for Coca-Cola Enterprises.

Coca-Cola Enterprises said the fuel-cell installation in Elmsford is one of several environmental initiatives that the company has undertaken in the New York metro area. Others have included the purchase of 20 hybrid electric delivery trucks and an investment in water-saving technology at its New York production plants.

The company added that it may eventually add fuel cell technology at other production plants within its network of 431 facilities in North America and Western Europe.

UTC Power, a unit of United Technologies Corp., will own and operate the fuel cells under a 10-year energy services agreement with Coca-Cola Enterprises.

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority said that it is providing $2 million to support the project. The authority, established by the state in 1975, provides energy technical and financial assistance to businesses.

Landscape designer group forms New York chapter

Jay Loomis — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:15:17 +0000

The Association of Professional Landscape Designers said that it has formed a new chapter in New York. The goal of the group is to advance landscape design as an independent profession. The president and co-founder of the New York chapter is Bill Einhorn, owner of Landscape Design Associates of Westchester Inc. in Carmel and an instructor at the New York Botanical Garden for 25 years. For more information, visit www.apld.com.

SmartPros Ltd. announces acquisition

Jay Loomis — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:36:05 +0000

SmartPros Ltd., a Hawthorne-based provider of professional education and corporate training, said that it has purchased Executive Enterprise Institute, a provider of live conferences and seminars for corporate finance, tax and legal industry professionals. The newly acquired business will operate as SmartPros’ EEI Division in Hawthorne. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

Acorda reaches agreement to cover foreign sales of MS drug

Jay Loomis — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:32:04 +0000

Acorda Therapeutics Inc., a Hawthorne-based biotech company, announced an agreement to develop, commercialize and gain regulatory clearances for its new multiple sclerosis drug in foreign markets with the assistance of another biotech company.

Biogen Idec of Cambridge, Mass., will handle the marketing and regulatory approvals for the Fampridine-SR medication in foreign markets. Acorda said that it will receive an upfront payment of $110 million and additional payments of up to $400 million from Biogen based on the sales track record of the medication, which is designed to improve the walking ability of multiple sclerosis victims.

The agreement also calls for Biogen to make royalty payments to Acorda on foreign sales of Fampridine-SR.

Another drug company, Elan, will continue to manufacture Fampridine-SR, based on an existing agreement with Acorda.

Acorda is currently seeking approval for the medication in U.S. markets from the Food and Drug Administration. The drug is also eligible for a centralized regulatory review in Europe, potentially opening up huge new markets for the medication if it receives approval.

Acorda has been working on the development of the drug since the mid-1990s.

“Biogen Idec has outstanding capabilities in commercializing neurology and oncology products and is known globally for its reputation as an innovative leader in the field of multiple sclerosis,” Ron Cohen, president and chief executive officer of Acorda, said in a written statement. “We are delighted to be working with them to make Fampridine-SR, if approved, available to people living with MS in Europe, Canada, Australia and other areas of the world.”

Electro-Optical Sciences included in Russell indexes

Jay Loomis — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:28:59 +0000

Electro-Optical Sciences Inc., an Irvington-based medical technology company that is developing an instrument to assist in the early detection of melanoma skin cnacer, said the company’s shares have been added to the Russell 2000 and Russell 3000 indexes. Member companies are drawn from the 4,000 largest companies meeting the indexes’ criteria at the end of each May and are added or deleted annually in June.

IBM lands five-year contract with Applied Materials

Jay Loomis — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:18:57 +0000

IBM Corp. today said that it has signed a five-year agreement to provide technolgoy services to Applied Materials Inc., a maker of semiconductor manufacturing equipment. Under the agreement, Armonk-based IBM will be responsible for software development, support and deployment. Financial terms of the contract were not disclosed.

Nutrition 21 hoping to expand in Europe

Jay Loomis — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:09:54 +0000

Nutrition 21 Inc., a Purchase-based marketer of nutritional supplements, said that it is closer to selling a key product in Europe after a favorable ruling from regulators.

The European Food Safety Authority released a safety assessment that supported the use of chromium picolinate in food supplements in the European Union. Chromax chromium picolinate is Nutrition 21’s top selling nutritional supplement ingredient in the United States. Approval of this ingredient in the Europe would allow Nutrition 21 to enter into the new markets. “This is an exciting development for our ingredients business,” said William J. Levi, vice president of ingredients for Nutrition 21. “Expansion into the European Union is an important component of our growth strategy.”

Car washes agree to settle labor lawsuit for $3.4 million

Jay Loomis — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:48:15 +0000

Car wash and auto lube operators in Westchester County and New York City have agreed to pay employees $3.4 million in back wages and damages to settle a U.S. Labor Department lawsuit.

The case was filed after federal investigators found that the businesses violated government rules covering minimum wage, overtime and employee recordkeeping, according to the labor department.

A total of 1,187 current and former employees of the car washes and auto lube businesses are eligible for payments under the settlement.

“This case should be a loud wake up call to other employers of vulnerable workers that the U.S. Department of Labor will not hesitate to pursue them in federal court in order to compel them to pay employees properly for all hours worked,” Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis said in a written statement. “Employers must be aware of their obligation to comply with all federal labor laws, and we are here to make sure that they do.”

Two Westchester companies will make payments under the settlement, according to the labor department—- 613 Car Wash Corp. of New Rochelle and Lage Management Corp. of Pelham Manor. Representaives of neither business could be reached for comment.

The other comanies listed in the settlement are Atlantic Auto Care Center Inc. of Brooklyn; 109th & First Avenue Corp. of Manhattan; 3808 Boston Road Car Wash Inc., 2434 CW Corp. and Boulevard Car Wash of N.Y. Inc., all of the Bronx; and Michael’s Car Wash Inc. and Howard Beach Car Wash Corp., both of Queens.

The labor department said that earlier judgements in the case resulted in the recovery of more than $1.3 million in back wages, damages and interest for more than 200 employees.

The Labor Department said it is trying to locate several workers who are no longer employed by the businesses to pay them the back wages that they are owed. Workers who believe they are due back wages as part of the settlement should contact the New York district office at 212-264-8185.