$50,000 endowment for innovation established with the help of Gasbarre Products

DuBois, Pa. – Gasbarre Products, a long-time partner and friend of Penn State DuBois, continues to invest in regional innovation with the establishment of the Gasbarre Products LaunchBox Endowment in support of the North Central PA LaunchBox powered by Penn State DuBois. The pledge Gasbarre Products made in the amount of $25,000 is met with a one-to-one match from Penn State through a recently concluded program, providing a $50,000 endowment.

Alex Gasbarre ‘05, chief executive officer for Gasbarre Products, said, “It’s been wonderful to see how Penn State has used its resources to start the LaunchBox, which is helping our community grow and flourish.”

Gasbarre also believes in the collaboration between Penn State DuBois Continuing and Community Education and the NCPA LaunchBox, specifically when it comes to programming for the manufacturing industry.

The NCPA LaunchBox, Penn State DuBois Continuing and Community Education and Gasbarre Products are currently working together to develop an automation training program for the manufacturing industry. The automation equipment is being designed and delivered by Gasbarre Products and will be housed in the NCPA LaunchBox Idea Lab, and the training will be provided by Continuing and Community Education.

“Gasbarre and Penn State DuBois have had a long-standing relationship, and we’re excited to keep expanding that relationship to help our community thrive,” said Gasbarre.

Gasbarre Products, founded in 1973 in the back of a gas station in Falls Creek, Pa., by George Gasbarre, and headquartered in DuBois, Pa., since the early 1980s, is an original equipment manufacturer of materials processing equipment, including powder compaction solutions, thermal processing systems, automation solutions and manufacturing technologies. Gasbarre operates five locations across the United States, with three in Pennsylvania and facilities in both Michigan and Rhode Island.

They serve a diverse portfolio of industries including automotive, medical, powered metal, electronics, military defense and more. Gasbarre supplies equipment and service to organizations in the United States and around the world, including Asia, Europe, Africa, North America and South America.

“On behalf of the NCPA LaunchBox, I am thrilled for the support that Gasbarre Products has provided us through the endowment,” said Bradley Lashinsky, director of the North Central PA LaunchBox. “Recognizing the mission of our program in providing support to entrepreneurs and up-skilling the labor force, their endowment will assist us in programming efforts for years to come.”

Since 2015, the Invent Penn State initiative has awarded seed grants to 21 campuses to create LaunchBoxes and innovation spaces, and to date, the NCPA LaunchBox has served over 14,700 clients, including 42 new startups. This mission is continuously driven through collaboration with area industry and communities.

Launched in 2019, the North Central PA LaunchBox provides services such as assistance with business plan development, assistance with grant applications, educational seminars for entrepreneurs, workforce training and more. A downtown location contains offices for industry partners, a conference area and coworking space that provide facilities fitting the needs of LaunchBox clients performing research and development for their products and services.

The LaunchBox also innovates solutions for area businesses and individuals in the on-campus Idea Lab. Featuring twelve 3-D printers, 3-D scanning hardware and software and a vinyl printer/cutter, the lab is available to anyone in search of help in developing a prototype, reverse engineering, and inspection.

Lashinsky is available to assist businesses and individuals in finding ways to meet their unique needs. He can be reached at 814-375-4704 or bwl128@psu.edu.

For information on all giving at Penn State DuBois, contact Director of Development Jean Wolf at 814-372-3038 or jaw57@psu.edu.