Business & Tech

Altmire Cuts Ribbon for Gateway Analytical Grand Opening

Business gave tours of its 3,000-square-foot facility in Gibsonia.

Gateway Analytical is a cutting-edge business in the world of lab testing and analysis -- in a CSI kind of way -- that celebrated its grand opening Tuesday in a very traditional manner, the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire, with a big pair of scissors in his hands, led the ceremonial cutting of the ribbon for the Gibsonia business that quietly opened shop at its 4156 Kenneth Drive facility in October.

Tuesday's grand opening featured guided tours of the 3,000-square-foot facility to show the public the high-tech equipment used to analyze forensics evidence and test drugs for pharmaceutical companies.

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"Gateway is not just a regional company, it's international," said Altmire. "I'm very excited about this for the North Hills.

"It's really the epitome of what we're trying to do in Western Pennsylvania," he said. "The North Hills is on the cutting edge."

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Gateway Analytical, a subsidiary of ChemImage Corp., "provides expert analytical testing and consulting services to businesses in the pharmaceutical, materials science and forensics industries," according to its information kit.

For the forensics analysis, customers include police departments, local agencies and independent crime labs, said Ryan Priore, director of applications and contract services. 

Gateway Analytical also works with pharmaceutical companies to analyze drugs for a variety of purposes.

Gateway's state-of-the-art equipment is too expensive for many companies to buy, so they send their work to Gateway, Priore explained.

"Why buy the equipment when you can send (the work) to the experts?" he said.

Its senior vice president, David Exline, oversees the company's day-to-day operations.

"As a company that provides expert laboratory testing and analysis for clients nationwide, Gateway Analytical recognizes the importance of being a part of the fabric of the communities where we do business, which is why we're thrilled to have local leaders and experts join us for our grand opening celebration," said Exline.

"We look forward to creating lasting partnerships in Gibsonia, collaborating with area school districts such as Pine-Richland to help educate and inspire future science leaders of America," he said.

Exline, whose children attend schools in the district, said he already has visited the third grade classes at Eden Hall Upper Elementary to talk about why chemistry is fun.

"The idea is to be a resource for the school district" and other neighboring school districts, he said.

Priore also lives in the school district; his three children are under the age of 5, he said.

"Dave and I think hands-on science is important," he said.

They envision making Gateway's scientists available to go into local schools' classrooms, he said, as well as having students come to their lab to see the work first-hand.

Exline said it all depends on how much the school administration wants them to do.

During Monday night's school board meeting, Assistant Superintendent Dr. David Foley encouraged the school board to visit the company during its grand opening.

Asked why the company located in Gibsonia, Exline explained that he has been a part of the community for the past 15 years.

"There are great people. It's very proximal to Pittsburgh, but you still have that rural feel. The school districts are fantastic," he said. "It's a very nice community."

He also praised the innovative environment, noting a lot of scientists and executives who work in the Pittsburgh area live in the North Hills.

"It's a very vibrant area."

Also on hand for Gateway Analytical's ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday were Jim McGlone, president of ChemImage Corp., Gateway's parent company; Mike Hritz of state Rep. Mike Turzai's office; Ashley Sisca, representing state Sen. Jane Orie's office; ChemImage Chief Operating Officer John Belechak; and Dr. Oksana Olkhovyk, senior scientist at Gateway Analytical. 


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