Integro Technologies, a leader in vision system integration, has a partnership agreement with IFM Efector, a premier technology partner for sensors and controls.

As one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing manufacturers of sensors and controls products, IFM produces over 8 million sensors annually.

With its global headquarters in Essen, Germany, IFM has more than 70 subsidiaries across the world. Their international network of over 4,300 employees serves more than 100,000 customers. IFM products include proximity sensors, photoelectric sensors, vision sensors, machine condition monitors, pressure sensors, flow sensors, temperature sensors, level sensors, AS-i networking and mobile controls.

The company’s North American headquarters are located near Philadelphia in Exton, Pennsylvania.

Shawn Campion, president of Integro Technologies, said, “This partnership combines two companies with unique 3D technology and vast, real world application knowledge and wisdom. The partnership between IFM Efector 3D image formation systems and Integro’s integration acumen will identify and generate a large number of new industrial application solutions in a wide range of industries. Our engineering staff is extremely excited about the new application development opportunities the IFM products present for our customers.”

This partnership signals a momentous and exciting advancement for the 3D machine vision industry.

Freightliner, Agility ink deal

PORTLAND, Ore. — Agility Fuel Systems will now serve as the sole provider of natural gas fuel systems to Freightliner Trucks. The seven-year agreement will provide custom designed products with the latest features and technological innovations, according to a press release from Daimler Trucks North America.

Agility, based in California and currently building a facility in Salisbury, designs and produces natural gas fuel systems for heavy duty vehicles. Daimler’s Cleveland plant assembly’s vehicles that use natural gas fuel systems. Agility’s Salisbury location is expected to start operations later this year.

Freightliner has worked with Agility Fuel Systems for more than 13 years. Together, the companies have developed factory engineered and installed natural gas solutions that contribute to performance, efficiency and reduced environmental impact.

Behavioral Health Center opens

Salisbury Pediatrics Associates has opened a Behavioral Health Center. The goal is to provide patients and families with effective, respectful and quality Behavioral Healthcare in the warm, pleasant and convenient environment of our primary care office. For more information about how to schedule an appointment with a Behavioral Health Specialists, call 704-636-5576.

White to lead Acme-McCrary

ASHBORO — The Board of Directors of Acme-McCrary Inc., headquartered in Asheboro, has elected Donnie R. White Jr. as President. White has been with Acme-McCrary for 24 years and was most recently vice president of manufacturing and seamless operations. He graduated from N.C. State University with an engineering degree and resides in China Grove.

Acme-McCrary was established in 1909 and employs approximately 1,000 people at its facilities in Asheboro, Siler City and Choloma, Honduras. Acme is among the largest U.S.-based producers of legwear, including sheer hosiery and seamless products.

Neal A. Anderson remains as chief executive officer.

New real estate agency

Local real estate broker Brent Snipes has started a new real estate agency, Pay U 2 Buy, in Rowan County

Pay U 2 Buy wants to help take some of the fear and sting out of buying a home by offering half the commission normally received by the buyer’s agent to the home buyer.

“There are so many fees associated with home buying that make it almost prohibitive to first-time homeowners or people who don’t have ten to twenty thousand dollars in savings,” Snipes said. “With the fluctuations in the housing market on top of all the costs, people are frightened to stick their necks out and buy a home. What I want to do is reduce some of the homebuyer’s concerns and save them some money so that they are more inclined to take that risk. I think that’s a win-win.”

Snipes is a lifetime resident of Rowan County and went to Catawba College. His idea was to take a business model that has been successful in other areas of the country and apply it to selling homes in the county. He believes that this will help to stimulate local home sales and put people who may have otherwise continued to rent in a home of their own.

Pay U 2 Buy asks for buyers to provide a one time, up front retainer fee of $100 that will be refunded at closing. Once the home purchase has been negotiated and closed, Pay U 2 Buy will refund the $100 and half the broker commission to the home purchaser in the form of a commission rebate check.

For more information about the program call 704-636-2211.

Fowler earns certification

CONCORD — Matthew “Matt” Fowler of Carolina Crematory recently earned his Certified Crematory Operator (CCO) designation from the National Funeral Directors Association.

NFDA’s Certified Crematory Operator Program provides participants with instruction in best practices for safe, proper and ethical crematory operations and for excellence in service to families that choose cremation.

Nationally, in 2014, 43.2 percent of people who died in the United States were cremated, up from 34.2 percent in 2013. As the cremation rate continues to increase, ensuring that crematory and funeral home staff are properly trained to meet the needs of families that choose cremation is of utmost importance.

Small Business Day held

RALEIGH — The National Federation of Independent Business Small Business Day was held June 4. The morning session included presentations from and Q&A with Lt. Governor Dan Forest, President Pro Tem Phil Berger and Sen. Joel Ford. Also addressing the crowd were Speaker of the House Tim Moore, Majority House Leader Mike Hager and NFIB member, Rep. Gary Pendleton.

Food Lion has new website

Food Lion has launched a new website at www.foodlion.com designed to make shopping, saving and planning for dinner easy for shoppers.

The new website, built and based on customer feedback, offers shoppers a personalized experience when they log in. Each customer’s personalized dashboard includes the customer’s savings for the year and other relevant information and offers. The newly launched site is also fully responsive, meaning the site is easy for customers to use whether they are accessing the site via a computer, tablet or phone.

One of the enhancement to help customers plan for dinner, is the addition of an online Recipe Portal, which features customer-generated recipes that shoppers can save and rate based on their experience. A new virtual shopping list enables customers to plan grocery trips weeks or even months out by keeping an ongoing list, as well as creating new ones for special occasions. Customers can also use the weekly flyer to add sale items to their lists to take advantage of the week’s best deals. Additionally, a more robust MVP Coupon Hub provides customers with access to more than 150 relevant coupons that customers can load directly to their MVP Savings card or print at home.