Expansion Management

A Quick Green Turnaround

Sept. 18, 2009

It took only 20 days for toy designer Hot Buttered Elves, to turn a design which used eco-friendly 3D foam into an approved tooling copy.

The foam came from Dow Chemical’s line called RENUVA which is grown from soybeans. U.S.-grown soybeans the company points out.

RENUVA is made using 60% less fossil fuel than traditional polyol products, Dows says. This “Renewable Resource Technology” is used to manufacture furniture, bedding, carpets, footwear, coatings, adhesives, sealants, car seats and other products.

The modeling solution, called FreeForm3D from SensAble, was used to make Hot Buttered Elves’ Wallable product line more earth-friendly.

And the story has an even nicer angle in that Wallables were originally created as a fund raiser for children's hospitals in Southern California. Now the products have grown into a larger consumer product line and are currently being show cased at the 7th annual ABC Kids Expo.

About the Author

Adrienne Selko Blog | Senior Editor

Focus: Expansion Management & the Biotech & Life Sciences Industries

Email: [email protected]

Follow Adrienne on Twitter: @ASelkoIW

Call: 216-931-9235

Senior Editor Adrienne Selko manages IndustryWeek’s Expansion Management, delivering ideas and information about how successful manufacturers leverage location to gain competitive advantage. She explores the strategies behind why companies located their headquarters, research institutes, factories, warehouse and distribution centers and other facilities where they did, and how they benefit from the decision.

Adrienne is also the editorial coordinator of the IndustryWeek Expansion Management Roundtable events, which unites economic development professionals to network and discuss the latest trends in site location.

As well, Adrienne tells the stories of successful companies in the biotechnology and life sciences industries.

In the past, Adrienne has managed IndustryWeek’s award-winning website, overseeing eNewletters, webinars, and contributed content. Before joining the staff, Adrienne was managing editor of corporate publications at a large regional financial institution. She also ran a public relations and marketing company that published a best-selling healthcare book.

Adrienne received a bachelor’s of business administration from the University of Michigan and is especially interested in wellness and natural health.