An Aberdeen-based business has graduated from Harford County?s “incubator” center to its own offices ? though its founders worked on big contracts even when they were operating out of their basements.
RTR Technologies LLC, which does simulations and operations analysis for the U.S. Navy and Department of Homeland Security, has spent the last three weeks moving from the Higher Education and Technology Center to new facilities on Hospitality Way ? making them one of the county?s success stories, said Denise Carnaggio, technology development manager for the Office of Economic Development.
RTR began in 2003 operating out of the basements of its three founding members: brothers Randy and Reed Rippen and colleague Earl Thies. However, RTR was offered space and assistance in the HEAT Center by Carnaggio, and the business was able to grow, Randy Rippen said.
“It immediately made us seem like a truly professional organization,” he said. “To have someone who is advising you on the opportunities available through the state and county is invaluable, immeasurable.”
Carnaggio said the 11-person business will be holding an official ribbon-cutting for its new offices on July 13, commemorating its successful “graduation” from the HEAT Center.
Through contacts made when they worked for other businesses, RTR?s founders have been doing “operations analysis” for DHS and the Navy since the company?s inception. Using computer simulations, they can predict and analyze how employees, materials and technology will interact, Randy Rippen said.
For DHS, they are modeling how border crossings, ports and airports can use biometrics (identification based on fingerprints) and RFIDs (microchips broadcasting radio signals) to improve movement and tracking of people entering and leaving the country.
The company also creates and analyzes models for the Navy, helping to optimize the balance of crew, mechanical parts and skills on aircraft carriers, including the next-generation of carriers currently being designed, according to the company?s Web site.
“We?re helping them to figure out how to improve their readiness: The rate at which you can get aircraft off the end of the carrier deck,” Randy Rippen said.
The anticipation of new military facilities at Aberdeen Proving Ground and new defense contractors following them has the company looking for new opportunities, he said.
“Our models are also used in manufacturing ? That?s our next growth area, finding those commercial clients.”
