Home Care In Indianola, PA

Bayer, a German multinational biotech and pharmaceutical company, has unveiled a new raw materials hub in Saxonburg, boosting its presence in the Western Pa. region.

The hub, which cost $11 million and boasts 60,000 square feet of space, will house the company’s radiology products — plastic syringes, tubing sets and other materials needed for CT or MRI scans — allowing Bayer to double its storage capacity and meet a growing global demand for its technology.

Dozens of elected officials last Tuesday attended a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new facility, which sits next to Bayer’s medical device manufacturing plant in Butler County.

“Bayer already has a large footprint in our local economy,” said state Sen. Scott Hutchinson, R-21st. “This continued investment is a wonderful addition.”

Since 2020, Bayer has grown its workforce by 15% in its three Western Pa. facilities in O’Hara Township, Indianola and Clinton Township. Bayer employs about 1,900 scientists, manufacturing workers, and sales and marketing professionals across those three sites, but no new jobs will be created as part of the company’s expansion into Saxonburg, company executives said; the company will merely reshuffle existing employees.

“Pittsburgh is really an important part of our radiology footprint,” Sven Schmidt, a senior executive at Bayer, said in an interview with the Post-Gazette.

Bayer often collaborates with Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh on product development and pulls in blue collar workers from the surrounding areas to bolster its manufacturing capabilities.

“It's really this symbiosis and this integrated business perspective that we have here in Pittsburgh area and that's very rewarding,” Mr. Schmidt said.

Bayer has a long but mixed history in the Pittsburgh region. In 2006, the company acquired Medrad, a medical company that had kept a manufacturing facility in Pittsburgh since the ‘60s; and in later years, Bayer added three more facilities across Western Pa. In 2019, the company shut down operations in Robinson township, cutting loose more than 600 employees and igniting blowback from the community.

But now, with the announcement of Bayer’s sprawling new facility, Sen. Hutchinson said: “It’s a big day for us to say ‘thanks.’”

“Those of us who live and work here in Western Pennsylvania are just thrilled that manufacturers are investing and expanding and growing right here in Butler County,” he said.

Neena Hagen: [email protected]

First Published May 25, 2023, 2:30am

It’s no secret that Division I wrestling talent is littered throughout Iowa.

Many of the state's top high-schoolers have gone Division I the last few years. In 2019, 17 in-state wrestlers joined Division I programs. This past year’s senior class sent 18 to Division I schools.

But these next two classes have the potential to put Iowa back on the national wrestling map — up near Pennsylvania and Ohio in terms of top prospects and depth.

Already, four in-state wrestlers from the 2021 class (seniors-to-be) have committed to Division I programs: Fort Dodge’s Drake Ayala and Ankeny’s Caleb Rathjen are both headed to Iowa, Union’s Adam Ahrendsen recently committed to Northern Iowa, and Waverly-Shell Rock’s Bailey Roybal is going to South Dakota State.

In all, eight in-state wrestlers are ranked among the top-200 prospects nationally by MatScouts:

(Bettendorf’s Griffin Liddle, a heavyweight state champ, is considered the No. 88 overall wrestling recruit in the 2021 class, but committed to play football at Iowa.)

Even more, MatScouts has another seven in-state wrestlers ranked among the top-150 prospects in the 2022 class (juniors-to-be):

These classes are much deeper after just four wrestlers were among the top-250 overall recruits this past year, per MatScouts, and only two in the top-100 in 2019, per Flowrestling.

Many of Iowa’s 2021 wrestlers have been going through the recruiting process for more than a year now. Last Monday, June 15, college coaches were allowed to reach out to wrestlers in the 2022 class for the first time.

Here is a list of who’s recruiting Iowa’s top high-school wrestling prospects, based on conversations with wrestlers and coaches:

Class of 2021

Independence’s Brandon O’Brien: A state finalist and Junior national champ in both folkstyle and Greco-Roman, O’Brien has heard from Michigan, Michigan State, North Carolina, Northern Illinois and Wisconsin.

Sergeant Bluff-Luton’s Jack Gaukel: Three-time state finalist said he’s visited Wisconsin and Nebraska and has been in contact with Iowa State.

Ames’ Gabe Greenlee: A state finalist and 16U All-American, Greenlee has talked with Iowa State, Northern Iowa and Wisconsin, as well as Central Michigan, Navy and Northern Colorado.

Osage’s Spencer Mooberry: The state finalist and Cadet Greco All-American has been recruited by Air Force, the Citadel, North Dakota State, Northern Illinois and Wisconsin, and has also taken calls from Wyoming and Army West Point.

Cascade’s Aidan Noonan: Two-time state champ has taken calls from Clarion, Iowa, Virginia and Wisconsin, as well as Coe, Loras and Grand View.

Others To Watch

Takeaways: Wisconsin is trying to create an Iowa pipeline, especially after picking up Waukee’s Cody Anderson as part of its 2020 class. … O’Brien’s recruiting attention has picked up since he’s grown; he wrestled 100 pounds last summer and 106 in February, but is now a filled-out 120-pounder. … Mooberry and Greenlee project as athletic heavier weights, something college coaches really covet.

Out-Of-State Commits for 2021

Class of 2022

Lisbon’s Robert Avila Jr.: The two-time state champ and two-time Greco All-American heard from Iowa, Northern Iowa, Air Force, Army West Point, Campbell, Fresno State, Michigan, North Dakota State, Northern Colorado and Princeton all on Monday, and has also heard from Ohio State, Penn and Wisconsin this week.

Ankeny’s Trever Anderson: The 2019 state champ and 16U freestyle All-American has been contacted by Iowa State, Northern Iowa, Northern Colorado, Stanford and Virginia this week, coach Jack Wignall said.

Crestwood’s Carter Fousek: The two-time state champ and past Cadet national finalist said he’s heard from Iowa State, South Dakota State and Wisconsin this week.

Des Moines Lincoln’s Mickey Griffith: A 2020 state champ, Griffith said he’s taken calls from from Iowa State, Northern Iowa, Northern Colorado, Ohio State, Penn, South Dakota State, Wisconsin and Loras.

Underwood’s Nick Hamilton: The 2020 state champ and 16U All-American may become the most coveted in-state prospect in this class. This week, he’s heard from Iowa, Iowa State, Northern Iowa, Cornell, Nebraska, North Dakota State, Northern Colorado, Princeton, South Dakota State, Virginia and Wisconsin.

Waverly-Shell Rock’s Aiden Riggins: The state finalist and U15 freestyle world team trials finalist took calls from Iowa State, South Dakota State and Wisconsin, Whitcome said.

Others To Watch:

Takeaways: Iowa, Iowa State and Northern Iowa all love how deep this class is. … South Dakota State wants to keep the Iowa-to-Brookings pipeline open and considers Riggins and Voelker priority targets. … Virginia coaches Travis and Trent Paulson are attempting to dip back into their home state for recruits. … Northern Colorado is also hoping to jumpstart an Iowa-to-Greeley pipeline with its interest in Iowa's 2022 class.

Cody Goodwin covers wrestling and high school sports for the Des Moines Register. Follow him on Twitter at @codygoodwin.

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As part of a global overhaul that will cut 12,000 jobs, Bayer is consolidating its corporate functions—and it's starting by shutting down operations in Robinson, Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh.

The shutdown means 569 employees and 96 contractors will be cut over the next two years, Bayer said in a statement Tuesday. The jobs are primarily administrative support roles in areas such as IT, accounting, legal and compliance that support Bayer’s U.S. businesses, Chris Loder, a company spokesperson, told FiercePharma.

“We will transition the site closing in a thoughtful, orderly manner over a two-year period to provide ample time for employees and operations to transition smoothly and to ensure that we continue to serve our customers and businesses effectively,” the company said, adding that it’s exploring options to transition some key work currently performed at the site.

Bayer recognizes “the important role the site has played in our company’s history.” Indeed, Bayer’s top U.S. executives were based from the Robinson site for years, until the company stationed its newly appointed U.S. head Philip Blake in Whippany, New Jersey, in 2012. A year after that, Whippany also became Bayer HealthCare’s new U.S. headquarters.

It's not the first time the Robinson site has witnessed a Bayer restructuring. In 2015, Bayer spun off its Material Science business into a separate firm called Covestro, and the Robinson site has since then been the new firm's North American headquarters, right next to the remaining Bayer operation.

RELATED: Bayer to cut loose animal health, consumer brands and 12,000 jobs in huge shakeup

As for the Pittsburgh area, Bayer still retains about 1,300 employees who work out of sites in Indianola, Saxonburg and O’Hara for the radiology business within its pharma division, Loder told FiercePharma.

The decision to close the Robinson site comes as Bayer aims to strengthen its “core life science businesses” through a huge restructuring announced in November. Hoping to enhance its productivity, the company said it will slash 12,000 jobs by 2021. Among them, 900 jobs are coming from pharma R&D as Bayer looks to use the savings for external R&D investment. Around 5,500 to 6,000 in the corporate functions, business services and country platforms will also have to go, Bayer said at the time, and the current Robinson plan will count toward that number.

In addition, the German chemical and drug manufacturer will hive off its animal health business, get rid of part of its consumer health franchise—along with 1,100 jobs in the sector—and squeeze out 4,100 crop science positions as it integrates its newly acquired Monsanto operations.

Bayer initiated the overhaul amid investor concerns that the animal health franchise is pulling back its stock valuation. In addition, the gigantic Monsanto acquisition also means it doesn’t have enough resources to grow an unexciting pharma pipeline.

With American Legion baseball all but dead in the Alle-Kiski Valley, Friday was a good time to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Springdale’s rise to the state championship.

On Aug. 19, 1972, Springdale, managed by the late Jack Heimbuecher, defeated Chambersburg, 3-1, at Freeport Borough Field.

It was the seventh time a local Legion team won a state title. Curtisville (West Deer) won four titles in 1939, ‘43, ‘49 and ‘53, Tarentum won in 1941 and Lower Burrell won in 1965.

It is possibly the last time an A-K Valley Legion team will win a state title. This summer is the first time in nearly 90 years there was no American Legion baseball in the Valley area, though the 2020 season was called off because of the coronavirus pandemic. There were several local Junior Legion teams in 2022, but it remains to be seen if that will have any effect on future play.

A number of team members gathered for a reunion at Grieco’s Carefree Inn in Indianola. Many reminisced about the challenges met to win the state title.

“Our strength was knowing the fundamentals,” said Skip Yakopec, state tournament MVP. “We had great pitching, and we were able to manufacture runs with bunting and stealing.”

Jim Basilone, the baseball coach at Valley High School, recalled, “Coach Heimbuecher took us to a football game in Freeport the fall before. We walked across the infield after the game. Jack stopped us and said, “This is the place where we will win the state championship next year.’ ”

Heimbuecher was a stickler for the little things. Every player had to shine his shoes and batting helmet before coming to the field. Even the players in the middle of the batting order had to know how to bunt.

“Jack was a perfectionist,” Basilone said. “He could put up with physical errors but not mental errors.”

Heimbuecher and his coaching staff are deceased, along with several team members — most notably Tom Eaton, who was the winning pitcher in the Allegheny County final, the regional final and the state final.

Heimbuecher was inducted into the Alle-Kiski Valley Sports Hall of Fame in 1985, Yakopec in 2004.

There were nearly 800 American Legion teams in Pennsylvania in 1972.

New staffs

Practice begins Monday to start the 124th season of high school football in the A-K Valley, and four new coaching staffs will be unveiled.

• New Highlands coach Matt Bonislawski will have Scott Newell as offensive coordinator and Mark Kaczanowicz as defensive coordinator. Marcus Willliams will handle the running backs and outside linebackers, Adam Lattus the fullbacks and inside linebackers and Beau Elliott, Josh Petit and Nick Hilliard the offensive and defensive linemen.

• Knoch coach Tim Burchett will have Joe Farkas as offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach, Aaron Vannatter handling the offensive line, Connor Shinsky special teams and offensive line, Matt Savannah linebackers and running backs, Rob Moss defensive line and special teams and Rob Corrado both lines.

• New Springdale coach Ryan Tempalski also will be the offensive coordinator.

He will be assisted by Nick Spehar, defensive coordinator, veteran coach Chip Moyes for both lines, Ed Williams, quarterbacks and linebackers, and Giullo Tommarello, wide receivers and defensive backs. Jimmy Ferrante and Jeff Gilbert will handle both lines.

• Valley’s Dave Heavner will return to coach his alma mater and will have Lew Thompson as assistant head coach directing the running backs and linebackers, Dane Jones strength and conditioning along with both lines, Isaiah Jones wide receivers and linebackers, Josue Martinez, both lines, John Megats, tight ends and defensive ends, and Aven Heavner, game day manager.

This story was updated to include Tarentum winning the 1941 state Legion title.

New functionality advances optimization of workflow and enhances dose management to improve quality, efficiency and compliance

INDIANOLA, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Bayer Radiology is announcing Radimetrics^® v3.0, the newest evolution of its enterprise dose management application. The newly designed system supports many of the latest accreditation standards on dose reporting and tracking, protocol management, and benchmarking, along with offering the latest in cyber security.

Radimetrics 3.0 helps patient-care teams report, track, and manage radiation dose and contrast dose throughout the chain of care with increased functionality and features, including:

- Upgraded front-end user interface for easier navigation and optimization of workflow

- Easy visualization and expanded dose analytics; including new summary page library to intuitively establish benchmarks and inform point-of care decisions

- Data tracking to improve billing processes

- Enhanced alerting notifications of outlier data and consolidation of dose reference levels to help users advance patient safety measures

- Positioned for future innovations including expanded Fluoroscopy capabilities, cloud-based deployments, enhanced benchmarking and AI insights

“The advancement in the design and functional improvement in workflow was positively received throughout our human factors design analysis with Radimetrics 3.0 users," said Adam Czibur, Bayer Senior Factors Engineer. “Following their testing experience, users described their experience as quicker, easier to navigate and providing workflow flexibility, and reported higher levels of usability and comfortability compared to Radimetrics v2.x”.

In addition, Radimetrics v3.0 leverages HTML5 standards to address the latest cyber security updates, and provide protection against future vulnerabilities, while addressing the obsolescence of Adobe Flash technology. The conversion to HTML5 prepares our Radimetrics customers for future cloud configurations, AI solutions, and new injector platforms.

“The launch of Radimetrics represents an important advancement in utilizing digital platforms for analyzing data to optimize standardization, and problem-solve in real time,” said Dennis Durmis, Head of Radiology Americas, “Its specialty focused interface design, new capabilities, and comprehensive training approach, will drive standardization for personalized care for patients.”

Bayer is a worldwide leading provider of medical devices and services, providing customers with innovative products, on-site applications support and unmatched equipment service.

About Bayer

Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of health care and nutrition. Its products and services are designed to benefit people by supporting efforts to overcome the major challenges presented by a growing and aging global population. At the same time, the Group aims to increase its earning power and create value through innovation and growth. Bayer is committed to the principles of sustainable development, and the Bayer brand stands for trust, reliability and quality throughout the world. In fiscal 2018, the Group employed around 117,000 people and had sales of 39.6 billion euros. Capital expenditures amounted to 2.6 billion euros, R&D expenses to 5.2 billion euros. For more information, go to www.bayer.us.

Bayer^® and the Bayer Cross^® are registered trademarks of Bayer.

Intended for U.S. Media Only

Forward-Looking Statements

This release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer Group or subgroup management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer's public reports which are available on the Bayer website at www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.