U.S. Senator Rob Portman, R-Ohio, visited AlphaMicron in Kent Friday to learn more about the technologies being used and developed in Northeast Ohio.

“What we tried to do in this visit was go to companies that are doing exciting things with technology where the federal government can help,” he said.

Portman listened as members of companies – NorTech, AlphaMicron, Kent Displays and others – and members of the Kent community talked about the benefits and the work being done with liquid crystal and flexible materials.

Members also discussed the commercialization, manufacturing and uses of liquid crystals in the military and in other, more biology-oriented, areas, including testing spoiled food for diseases like salmonella.

After the roundtable discussion, Portman viewed some of the products, such as liquid crystal visors in goggles, sunglasses and helmets and then toured the facility.

“I had the chance to see some of the work they are doing,” he said. “There’s nothing like it in Ohio – nothing like it in the world – because they are using the highest technology and producing products that are helpful for industry but also for military.”

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?Portman also visited Dearing Compressor and Pump Co. in Youngstown and Northeast Ohio Medical University in Rootstown.

Contact Alicia Balog at [email protected].