Boyd Technologies, Dynamic Partner in Nonwovens Manufacturing

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South Lee - At a time when many companies in the nonwovens manufacturing industry are shifting their focus to overseas production investment and second-guessing U.S. marketplace trends, Boyd Technologies is taking an innovative path. A newly launched Internet website, boydtech.com, has been designed to support the company's growth initiatives through a dual track of showcasing its achievements on both a domestic and international scale.

"We feel so positive about the opportunities for our expertise and inherent value to current and future applications in the marketplace that we are taking an aggressive approach toward fortifying our presence in the nonwovens industry," said Bronly Boyd, the founder, owner and CEO of Boyd Technologies. The company provides expertise in manufacturing and marketing nonwovens by developing and utilizing breakthrough technologies for small-scale customers who are entrepreneurs and inventors as well as large-scale customers who provide products in the consumer goods, medical filtration, electrical capacitor, apparel, building materials, industrial wipes, co-packing and other areas.

The 28-year-old, once traditional converting company has adopted a non-conformist, broad-minded view of striving toward a leadership position in its field through a recently adopted approach of reinventing itself. According to Boyd, few others in the industry are willing to invest in a diverse set of manufacturing and production models to keep a presence in multiple markets in the U.S. as well as overseas.

Underscoring this new company philosophy is the recent acquisition by Boyd Technologies of Wellington Custom Fabrics, a domestic supplier of high-quality fabrics to the apparel industry, based in Columbus, Georgia. Wellington Custom Fabrics is featured on the new website as an example of the bold, open-minded growth philosophy asserted by Boyd.

"We can be a catalyst for industry efficiency and growth on a larger scale, through working with a variety of integrated partners in a wide variety of vertically integrated ways, and we are reaching out to do just this," said Stephen Boyd, COO of the company. "We know we're good at what we do, we know we have tremendous expertise to share, and we know how to profitably manage operations -- for ourselves and others. We have a long-term interest in investing in the future success of our industry, so we're stepping out and claiming a more dynamic industry role," he continued.

The company presents the site as a transparent source of information for industry professionals seeking to learn about Boyd's unique approach to serving emerging technologies, presenting entrepreneurial management opportunities, offering manufacturing and application solutions, partnering in the development of intellectual property, and driving breakthrough market innovations.

"It's an important step toward opening up and initiating communication at every level," said Andrew Diamond, VP of Business Development. "We hope it gives our current and potential business partners new insight into where we're headed and what our capabilities are. While not every business opportunity will fit our ideal for integrated, holistic growth, our newly designed Internet website acts as the catalyst to have the discussion and explore innovative solutions," he said.

Boyd Technologies operates manufacturing firms in the nonwovens industry and markets breakthrough technologies that use those materials. The company is dedicated to safe, clean and healthy products and processes. Boyd Technologies believes that entrepreneurs have the opportunity and responsibility to improve the world with new business solutions. Visit the new website at boydtech.com
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Lanesborough Town Meeting to Vote Budget, Bylaws & Vehicle Purchases

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Tuesday's annual town meeting includes a $14 million operating budget, new short-term rentals, accessory dwelling units and sign bylaws, and free cash article appropriations.

Voters will gather at Lanesborough Elementary School on June 9 at 6 p.m. to decide on 20 warrant articles.

The fiscal 2027 budget is up a little over 10 percent. Some of the main increases are the Mount Greylock Regional School District and McCann Technical School: the McCann assessment is up more than 30 percent based on factors including enrollment and the school renovation project, and Mount Greylock's is up 11 percent.

Article 11 is for the town to vote to approve from free cash the sum of $16,298.48 for the McCann Technical School roof and window replacement project so as not to impact the budget. Article 3 is  appropriate $7,586,284 for Mount Greylock Regional School assessment.

Another notable increase was in life and health insurance, showing an increase of about 26 percent.

Ambulance Director Jen Weber is planning 24-hour coverage, which means more staff and a hike in her budget. One of the articles asks the town to appropriate $234,100 to operate the Ambulance Enterprise Fund for salaries and expenses.

Many town departments are looking for new vehicles. The Fire Department is looking to replace its outdated 1996 fire engine. There are two articles related to the truck at a total of $813,366. Article 12 would transfer $225,000 from free cash into the Fire Truck Stabilization Fund; Article 13 would transfer $605,000 from the fund and authorize the borrowing of $208,366.08.

The total includes a $100,000 contingency cost to cover any additional costs if a 2026 model-year chassis cannot be secured before new emissions standards go into effect in 2027.

The board at its last meeting moved the $225,000 transfer to come before the borrowing article, changing the stabilization number. If the $225,000 is not voted on, then they will amend the next article's number on the floor, subtracting the $225,000. This shows the borrowing number significantly lower.

Article 17 asks for the transfer of $80,000 from free cash to replace a police cruiser.

Police Chief Rob Derksen's aim is to replace one vehicle every other year, meaning the oldest vehicle gets replaced about every 10 years. 

He stressed that if delayed this year, the town may have to double up in a future year to get back on schedule, and that paying later usually costs more. The article will ask for $80,000 from free cash, the vehicles used to be funded by the BHRD.

Lastly, the Highway Department is looking to replace a 2014 International dump truck that will be a total of $330,000 and will take two to three years to receive.

Money will be used from last year's approval of $250,000 from free cash for the replacement of a 2012 highway front-end loader that was underspent $49,261. Town meeting is being asked to approve  a transfer of $53,274.85 from free cash and the use of $227,464 from funds from the Sale of Town Real Estate to fund the balance.

Other free cash proposals include $1,200 to purchase software to support tracking and ongoing maintenance schedules of town-owned vehicles; $42,000 for the replacement of the Highway Department's storage shed roof, $200,000 to reduce the tax levy.

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