Regional Industrial Development Corporation of Southwestern Pennsylvania (RIDC) announced that nanoGriptech, a current tenant, has signed a new five-year lease for expanded space at the Lawrenceville Technology Center (LTC). NanoGriptech will gain approximately an additional 6,300 square feet of space, for a total of 12,681 square feet in the Chocolate Factory, an LTC building named in recognition of its chocolate factory roots
“As we continue to grow our business, we’ve found that RIDC has been very accommodating,” said nanoGriptech CEO Nicholas Kuhn. “The mixed office and manufacturing space the Chocolate Factory provides gives us a lot of flexibility for future growth, and not only allows us to keep all our operations in one place, but in a prime Pittsburgh location for tech.”
The company developed its patented technology by biomimicking the hairs, called setae, on gecko’s toes which allow the lizards to climb and grip many surfaces. They are currently working with a number of Fortune 500 companies to develop solutions for a range of applications, including wearable consumer products, semiconductor and glass handling, and automotive upholstery fastening. Under the Setex brand name, the company has been marketing a variety of grip pad products for eyeglasses, earbuds, game controllers, and other devices directly to consumers since 2020. Like the underlying technology, the brand name Setex is also inspired by the gecko’s setae.
Founded in 2012, nanoGriptech is the commercial manufacturer of Setex GeckoGrip and GeckoTape – gecko-biomimicry grip and adhesive products for consumers and businesses. Setex GeckoGrip’s unique skin gripping properties are used in solutions for eyewear, wearables, electronics and sporting goods. Setex GeckoTape is a repeatable, paper-thin, conformal and residue-free tape with applications in semiconductor, automotive, medical, parts handling, and mounting. NanoGriptech’s products are sold directly to consumers on e-commerce platforms, as well as through business to business.
“Flexible office and manufacturing space is a highly sought-after commodity by growing technology and innovative firms,” said RIDC President Donald F. Smith, Jr. “Providing those kinds of spaces, with flexible lease terms that allow for expansion, incentivizes local university spin-off companies commercializing their tech here, like nanoGriptech, to stay and continue to drive the region’s economy and its position as one of the global leaders in innovation.”
About RIDC
The mission of the Regional Industrial Development Corporation of Southwestern Pennsylvania is to catalyze and support economic growth and high-quality job creation through real estate development and finance of projects that advance the public interest. A not-for-profit entity, RIDC owns over 2,800 acres of land in 11 industrial parks and manages over 50 buildings.
The Chocolate Factory, now home to some of Pittsburgh’s fastest-growing technology firms, including nanoGriptech, Helomics and HEBI Robotics, was formerly a chocolate factory owned by Geoffrey Boehm in the 1990s, and before that, an Atlantic & Pacific Company storehouse built in 1930. In 2004, RIDC completely renovated the 70,000-square-foot building into a multi-tenant, office/high-tech manufacturing facility. More information is available at www.ridc.org.
