Hänel Named Finalist for Pittsburgh Technology Council's Tech 50 Innovator of the Year Award

Pittsburgh, PA - August 10, 2017 - Hänel Storage Systems, a leader in the manufacture and integration of automated vertical storage units, has been named as a Tech 50 Awards Finalist by the Pittsburgh Technology Council in the Manufacturing Innovator of the Year category.

The Pittsburgh Technology Council's annual Tech 50 Awards recognize southwestern Pennsylvania's most successful, innovative and thought-leading technology companies, which have become the backbone of Pittsburgh's innovation economy. The awards represent transformative technology centers of excellence with tech companies at all stages of growth.

Hänel is one of six finalists for Manufacturing Innovator of the Year, also known as the Kurt J. Lesker III Award for Excellence.

"Each year, the Council canvasses the region for the most distinguished public and private technology-oriented companies, and the Tech 50 awards honor those companies that demonstrated the strongest growth and advancement in product or sales success, corporate citizenship, job growth and retention, industry achievement and innovative product or technology," said Audrey Russo, President and CEO, Pittsburgh Technology Council. "We are especially excited to announce the category winners at the awards gala this Fall. This year, we are taking a closer look at how the finalists are propelling technology excellence not only in Pittsburgh, but around the world. It is truly a night to honor our region's technology companies and the contributions they have made to our economic vitality."

"Hänel is honored to be a finalist for Manufacturing Innovator of the Year," said Brian Cohen, Chief Executive of Hänel Storage Systems. "We enjoy being a member of the Pittsburgh Technology Council and are honored to be considered for such a prestigious award. There are so many innovative technology companies in the region, so the competition is significant and we wish all of the companies that are being considered much luck and success."

Hänel is a finalist for this award due to its automated storage solution for hospital operating rooms (OR) and sterile processing departments (SPD). These areas are commonly out of space because there is no room for the departments to expand, and existing space is often used inefficiently. This leads to disorganized supplies, inefficient processes and poor inventory management. Without properly organized and sterilized instruments, patients can be at risk for surgical site infections, and surgeries can be delayed while nurses search for the appropriate tools. Hänel's solution solves each of these issues.

Tech 50 winners will be announced on October 12, 2017 at the Wyndham Grand Pittsburgh.

About Tech 50:

Since 1996, the Pittsburgh Technology Council has celebrated the most successful and innovative companies in Southwestern Pennsylvania with the Tech 50 Awards. This annual award acknowledges the success of organizations in health IT, life sciences, manufacturing, consumer products, consulting services and other innovative technologies. For more information on Tech 50 and all the finalists, visit www.pghtech.org/tech50.aspx. For more information on the Pittsburgh Technology Council, visit www.pghtech.org.

About Hänel Storage Systems:

Founded in Germany in 1953, Hänel's North American headquarters has been located in Pittsburgh, PA since it was established in 1984. Hänel Storage Systems specializes in the design and engineering of Rotomat® vertical storage carousels and Lean-Lift® Vertical Lift Modules for a wide range of industries and applications. Hänel provides sales, service and technical support to North and South America through a network of factory-trained channel partners and service providers.

Introduced in 1957, the Rotomat® Vertical Carousel is based on the Ferris Wheel principal. Inventory is stored in a series of carriers that rotate within an enclosed unit and are accessed at a single opening. This vertical "goods to the user" concept improves productivity, lowers costs, increases security and saves valuable floor space.

Introduced in 1994, the Lean-Lift® Vertical Lift Module stores inventory on trays that are automatically measured for height each time they enter the unit. A vertical extractor places each tray within the unit in a location that maximizes available storage space. Trays can be equipped with dividers, totes, bins and specialized holders to store any type of inventory.

For more information about Hänel products, visit www.hanel.us.

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