PhilaU. alumni present rubber band launcher at New York Toy Fair

TIA's annual Toy Fair in New York City showcased hundreds of thousands of products in a 415,000 square-foot exhibit space.
TIA's annual Toy Fair in New York City showcased hundreds of thousands of products in a 415,000 square-foot exhibit space. | Contributed photo
Former Philadelphia University students Ben Stack and Alan Dorfman made a showing at Toy Fair 2016 with their Precision RBS launcher, which blasts a burst of multiple rubber bands with each launch.

Stack had designed the device when he was an undergrad student in PhilaU.'s industrial design program.

The Toy Industry Association Inc. is a nonprofit organization that calls attention to and represents businesses that create and bring toys and games to the public. With over 900 members, it accounts for 90 percent of the $22 billion domestic toy market.

In 2016, its annual Toy Fair in New York City showcased hundreds of thousands of products in a 415,000 square-foot exhibit space, breaking previous size records. Attendees included retailers, wholesalers, importers, distributors, manufacturers, representatives, as well as consumers and suppliers. No one under age 18 is admitted, though all adults are welcome with admission fees.

The collaboration between Stack and Dorfman came about partly due to both of them having attended PhilaU. Stack had the design, and Dorfman owns Super Impulse, a toy company in Bristol, Pennsylvani. They worked together to refine the design of the rubber band launcher, smoothing out the rough edges and presenting it at the Toy Fair as viable for the marketplace.