Sensor Networks Inc. opened its new headquarters in College Township last week in a move that will allow the local technology company to expand its work and add new jobs.
The company, which was previously located on Technology Drive in Boalsburg, held a ribbon cutting on Thursday for its new facility at the newly renovated Washington Centre, 366 Walker Drive.
Founded in 2014, SNI develops ultrasound and remote visual technology for testing and inspection in industries including aviation, aerospace, oil and gas, and power generation. That includes engineered applications such as corrosion monitoring for oil and gas equipment, transducer technology for NASA’s Langley Research Center and on-wing engine ultrasonic inspection for aircraft for clients such as Southwest Airlines.
The move came after an investment package from the Centre County Economic Development Partnership (CCEDP) that allowed SNI to purchase a new computer numerical control lathe machine, which in turn will help SNI ramp up its production and expand the business. With the new offices and equipment, SNI plans to more than double its number of employees to 125 over the next three years
‘In order to grow, we needed to increase production capacity in the form of a second machine, which would require a larger building and a second shift,’ Bruce Pellegrino, SNI vice president of marketing, said in a news release. ‘To start that domino effect, we needed assistance to acquire a second machine.’
SNI received a $122,000 investment package from CCEDP partners Centre County Government, College Township, Ferguson Township, Patton Township, State College Borough, Halfmoon Township and Spring Township.
“Our partners are dedicated to this area growing together, which is exactly what we are celebrating today,’ Vern Squier, president and CEO of CBICC and CCEDP, said in the release. ‘This is a tangible example of business growth, jobs growth, and the growth of our local economy – all accomplished through focused partnership.”
SNI president and general manager Jeff Anderson said last year that talent and research from Penn State, the university’s economic development initiatives, Ben Franklin Technology Partners, CBICC and Centre County Industrial Development Corporation have all played a role in helping SNI grow and remain in Centre County. Starting out with just three employees in 2014, the company doubled its employment each of the last three years.
Its new 20,000-square-foot headquarters in the Washington Centre is twice the size of its previous space in Boalsburg, which was spread out over three suites. It is one of the first two tenants in Washington Centre, joining real estate developer the Torron Group, whose owner, Tom Songer, is managing partner of the office building.
Rex Energy formerly occupied the building but the company filed for bankruptcy protection in 2018 and its assets were purchased by PennEnergy Resources last August. After Songer’s group acquired the Walker Drive building in April, it was renovated and now consists of 45,000 square feet of Class A office space.
Renovations were completed on 30,000 square feet and the third floor consists have 15,000 square feet that can be subdivided into suites and will be built out to accommodate future tenants’s needs.
“It’s important to have high quality office space available in our inventory,” Squier said. “With its easily accessible location, this high profile building of Class A office space will serve its current and future businesses well.”
