High-tech abound in Fairfield County

Sixteen companies in Fairfield County were ranked among the fastest-growth high-tech companies in the state, as part of the Connecticut Technology Council and UHY L.L.P. annual Tech Top 40 rankings.

On Oct. 22, the fastest-growth companies in six different industry categories will be honored at a ceremony scheduled for the Chevrolet Theater in Wallingford.

Fairfield County dominated the software category with seven of a dozen entries in all, including Norwalk companies Adeptra Inc., eNR Services Inc., and Terra Technology Inc.; L-1 Identity Solutions Inc. and Protegrity USA Inc., both of Stamford; PASSUR Aerospace Inc. of Greenwich; and Triple Point Technology Inc. of Westport.

Adeptra sells software to help companies spot credit card fraud, along with other call-center automation services. Software from eNR helps public relations and marketing agencies distribute materials to media outlets, while monitoring reports about PR clients. Terra Technology”™s system collects point-of-sale data and other information to help consumer products companies forecast their inventory needs. L-1 produces tamper-resistant identity cards and documents for government agencies. Protegrity sells security software for a range of purposes, including firewalls and database encryption. PASSUR operates a passive radar network at airports to provide flight data to airlines and corporate jet operators. Triple Point Technology sells software to help financial and commodities traders manage their portfolios and execute transactions.

A trio of Internet and new media companies from Fairfield County were among the seven recognized in that category statewide, including Priceline.com Inc. which enjoyed continued growth this year despite the recession and its impact on travel. Also ranked were Norwalk-based Webloyalty.com Inc., which manages customer rewards programs offered over the Internet; and M2 Media Group L.L.C., a Stamford company that helps magazine publishers capture and retain subscribers.

Norwalk-based Bolt Technology Corp. was ranked among five advanced manufacturers statewide, with Bolt selling compressed air guns for use in oil and gas exploration. Towed behind ships, Bolt”™s air guns emit massive underwater bubbles to help create detailed seismic readings of the ocean floor.

FuelCell Energy Inc. and Clean Diesel Technologies Inc. were recognized among energy and environmental companies. While both companies”™ sales have dropped sharply this year, FuelCell Energy signed a large contract to provide fuel cells to a South Korean power company. Clean Diesel is marketing a system to help filter particulates out of engine lubricants in ships, vehicles and other heavy machinery, eliminating the need for frequent oil changes.?Two Shelton companies were included on the list of fastest-growing information technology services providers: Cervalis L.L.C. and SAI Systems International. Cervalis provides data backup and disaster recovery services; in July the company finalized a $48 million loan to build a data center at an undisclosed location in northern New Jersey. SAI supports a wide range of network and computer systems, including providing staffing on an outsourced basis.

Danbury-based Penwest Pharmaceuticals Inc. was the lone Fairfield County company recognized for life sciences. Penwest is developing drugs to treat pain and neurological disorders such as epilepsy and Parkinson”™s disease.

UHY L.L.P. Tech Top 40 sponsors include CNA Financial Corp., Connecticut Innovations Inc., McLaughlin, DelVecchio & Casey Inc., Oracle Corp., Pullman & Comley L.L.C., Robert Half International, Webster Financial Corp., and Wellstone Insurance.

Separately, the Connecticut Technology Council and the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology released their 2009 list of Connecticut “companies to watch,” with Fairfield County businesses including: