Seward & Butler Check On New Technology In Frankfort

The Evening Times

By Rob Juteau

Frankfort, N.Y. - More than a year after announcing that they would be taking the light bulb to the next level with the creation of a division focused on developing light-emitting diodes, officials at Fiberdyne Labs welcomed state Senator James Seward and state Assemblyman Marc Butler to their location in the Frankfort 5S North Business Park Tuesday for an inspection of sorts.

The state representatives toured the 22,000 square-foot facility and received an update on the fiber-optic components manufacturer’s newest products and product lines, which include LED lighting structures that use about 50 percent less energy than other light bulbs.

“This is an exciting time for Fiberdyne Labs due to the advancements in their telecommunications and LED product lines,” said Seward, R,C,I - Oneonta. “Not only are these products more energy efficient and environmentally friendly, but they are coming at a time when our economy need them. To see these advancements and hear news of expansion and new jobs during these difficult economic times proves that local companies can have success. It is exciting to see that a local company is on the cutting-edge when it comes to technology.”

“The success of Fiberdyne Labs speaks well of our overall goal of making the Mohawk Valley a destination for high-tech manufacturers,” said Butler, R,C,I - Newport. “With the announcement of the partnership between SUNYIT and the University at Albany to bring nanotechnology jobs to the Mohawk Valley, Herkimer County’s participation in the Tech Valley initiative and today’s news of expansion at Fiberdyne, we are starting to see results when it comes to our efforts to promote the region as a place for high-tech development.”

Fiberdyne Labs Chief Executive Officer and President A. Peter Polus II said the company currently has 140 employees working in Frankfort or at Fiberdyne Professional Services in Herkimer, but would like to have all of their employees under one roof.

“We have five or six positions that need to be filled now, and with new jobs comes the need to expand our operations,” said Polus. “We have been planning for a gradual expansion and have positioned ourselves in such a manner that we can add on to our facility here.”

As for the products, Polus showcased new lighting developments that will help customers cut their energy use in half.

In addition to items in the development stage, he spoke of other products that are in the testing stage.

“We have a broad range of products,” said Polus. “One of our products is a LED-based product that goes on the back of a bus so that when the driver steps on the brakes, a stop sign in LED is illuminated.”

“While we tend to focus on bringing the next business in, we often overlook what is happening at the businesses we have,” said Seward. “That is why tours and visits such as this are important. It is important to keep in touch and see the developments that are being made.”

Fiberdyne Labs was established in Herkimer in 1992 and moved to their Frankfort 5S North Business Park location in 1998. The company’s customer base includes AT&T, Time Warner Cable, National Grid, Comcast and the U.S. government.

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