Cleantech

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Stanford University Should Charge for This!

Wednesday, July 01, 2009

Posted by John Dearborn

A while back, our CEO, Ray Leach, wrote a blog regarding podcasts available from Stanford University concerning a wide range of topics for entrepreneurs. For those of you that follow ...

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Cleantech industries provide superior products and services which improve operational performance while using less energy, creating less pollution or waste, or doing so at lower costs. They aim to reduce the negative ecological impact on the environment and use our natural resources productively and responsibly.

AMTI

AMTIAdvanced Materials Technology International LLC (AMTI) is developing and commercializing a line of high-tech, energy-curable, nanoparticle dispersions and coatings. AMTI’s method of producing smaller particles (nanoparticles) and evenly suspending them in liquid medium results in improved color quality, easier application, and improved durability. AMTI produces a solvent-free and energy curable product, which significantly reduces ink and coating drying time and the space requirements needed for air drying large pieces. This unique process addresses environmental concerns, provides superior durability, and can be applied more effectively than standard application methods.

Aria Analytics

Aria Analytics is commercializing a novel platform analytical technology used to characterize liquids in industry and medical testing. This technology lowers both capital and operating costs per test. Prior to the availability of the Aria technology it was necessary to run a battery of tests on multiple laboratory instruments to obtain a profile of a specific sample. The Aria technology differentiates liquids by providing a unique acoustic signature during the drying process of the sample. Aria’s mission is to provide sound analysis for industry and healthcare.

Logos Energy, Inc.

Logos Energy, Inc. develops alternative energy technologies through two operating companies, Contained Energy LLC and Phycal LLC.

Contained Energy LLC is developing direct carbon fuel cells (DCFC) – fuel cells that use carbon rather than hydrogen as fuel. DCFCs directly convert readily available carbon fuels, generate distributed power that will be cost competitive with the grid, and realize considerable environmental benefits relative to current combustion technologies. Early products will provide breakthrough energy density for mobile applications. Contained Energy transferred its technology to Cleveland in 2007 and is developing its products at the Wright Fuel Cell Group’s facilities in Cleveland, OH and Stark State College of Technology facilities in Canton, OH.

Phycal LLC is developing and commercializing systems for growing algae and harvesting commercially viable energy products from the biomass: primarily algal oil (also called lipids) and methane gas. The lipids can be converted into biodiesel, or refined into drop-in replacements for diesel, jet fuel, gasoline, and plastic feedstock. Phycal LLC is currently conducting research and development activities in a sub-pilot scale production facility in Ohio, and in an algae laboratory in St. Louis, and will open a pilot in early 2010 through its subsidiary Phycal Hawaii R&D LLC.

Delta Plant Technologies

Delta Plant Technologies, located in Akron, Ohio, is developing and commercializing an alternative source of rubber for the $10B natural rubber market. Today, the world’s only commercial source of natural rubber comes exclusively from Southeast Asia. The need for an alternative to the natural rubber supply is compelling: experts forecast a 15% natural rubber shortage by the end of the decade. As a natural rubber substitute, synthetic rubber is often not appropriate, and so finding new natural sources of rubber is critical. Delta Plant Technologies will also produce ethanol, a critical alternative fuel source, from the liquid byproduct stream of its alternative source of natural rubber.

 

MAR Systems

MAR Systems provides proprietary processes for the removal of metal contaminants from water and industrial fluid waste streams through the use of recycled alumina catalysts - transforming waste alumina catalysts into a major contributor for improving our environment. The patented process, jointly developed with the United States Environmental Protection Agency, offers a low cost, state-of-the-art method for meeting the newly applied, more stringent U.S. drinking water standards for arsenic and for dealing with emerging, international water quality problems. The global market for the removal of arsenic from drinking water is projected to exceed $30B. In addition, the proprietary technology shows promise in removing metal contaminants from gaseous streams, including coal-fired electrical generators and industrial incinerators. This process can lead to the reduction in emissions of mercury to the environment (a major contributor to contamination of fresh water aquatic life) – which generates $8B additional market potential. MAR Systems is a spin-off of Cleveland-based, minority owned Metaloy, the global leader in providing innovation, alternate markets, and leading edge technologies for recycling in the international energy and chemical industries.

Tony Lammers, CEO of MAR Systems

MesoCoat

MesoCoatMesoCoat is an advanced materials company offering nanocomposite coatings and focused arc coating systems to industry. A wholly-owned subsidiary of Powdermet, Inc, its products and services are used to mitigate wear and corrosion on sliding or exposed parts, such as hydraulic cylinders, storage tanks, rotating shaft seals, pipelines, railcars, pump rotors, marine structures, and valve seats. MesoCoat’s Particulate nanoComPosite (PComP™) coatings almost double component lifetimes compared to chrome plate and carbide alternatives, while eliminating the need for costly diamond grinding in many applications and expand the applicability of thermal spray repair processes to large and highly stressed components. Its FARCoat™ Focused ARC Coating application systems enable the application of metallurgical bonded coatings and claddings at application productivity rates exceeding 60 square yards per hour. MesoCoat’s products produce significantly lower environmental, health, and safety liabilities compared to market alternatives, while reducing the total cost of ownership to the end user.

Myers Motors

Myers MotorsMyers Motors develops, manufactures, and sells the most affordable all-electric vehicle in America today. Its single passenger vehicle, the NmG (“No more Gas”), is able to meet the needs of the 70 million daily commuters who travel under 50 miles per outing on a single charge. Able to reach highway speeds of up to 75 miles per hour, the NmG uses one-quarter the energy of existing hybrids, recharges with a standard 110 volt household outlet, costs users approximately two cents per mile, and is fun to drive. Myers Motors’ is currently developing the NmG2, a two-passenger vehicle.

Dana Myers, CEO of Myers Motors



reXorce Thermionics, Inc.

reXorce Thermionics, Inc. develops and manufactures the Thermafficient™ thermal engine, which recovers thermal energy from a wide variety of thermal sources that are transformed into useable electricity, cooling, and heating. Thermafficient is a patented system that utilizes supercritical carbon dioxide “CO2” and other working fluids to create a power generating cycle in applications as broad as bottom cycling in power plants, industrial waste heat, solar thermal, geothermal, and alternatives to the Internal Combustion Engine.

RSP Tooling

RSP ToolingRSP Tooling has commercialized a process for manufacturing dies and molds by spraying atomized molten tool steel onto a cast ceramic negative mold. The patented Rapid Solidification Process (RSP) technology reduces production costs and lead times and produces tools that have improved physical properties, resulting in increased tool life compared to tools produced with conventional subtractive machining methods. The RSP technology, which was developed by the U.S. Department of Energy, is currently being used to manufacture production and prototype tools for the forging, die casting, and plastic injection industries and for both domestic and foreign markets. Other applications in development include bimetallic (steel/copper) tools, which improve cycle time in die casting and plastic injection operations by 35 percent. RSP Tooling currently offers a single-nozzle system capable of producing dies and molds up to nine inches in diameter and is continuing product development efforts on a multi-nozzle system capable of producing large dies and molds for aerospace wing and fuselage applications.

Stanton Advanced Ceramics

Stanton Advanced Ceramics ("Stanton") develops, produces, and markets leading refractory technologies for global molten processing companies. The company’s patented FireSlayerTM ceramic technology is a breakthrough advance that operates in the highest temperature, most severe thermal-cycle, and highest-corrosion refractory environments in existence (specifically, the metals, glass, coke, power generation, and concrete industries). The FireSlayer solution also saves companies money: compared to traditional ceramic materials, FireSlayer’s next generation ceramic material offers dramatic cost savings in the form of:

1) Significantly extended furnace life cycles
2) Reduced energy loss over the life of the furnace, and
3) Reduced furnace maintenance time and expense

Stanton has developed FireSlayer over many years and, with its product advances and focus on providing solutions that immediately increase its customers’ bottom-line, is among the most innovative companies operating in the advanced materials market today. Stanton is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, and its team consists of individuals who have developed market-leading technologies as well as led high-growth businesses in a variety of molten processing industries

Wireless Environment

Wireless EnvironmentWireless Environment designs light-emitting diode (LED) lighting products that improve the convenience and energy efficiency of current lighting solutions. Using existing light sockets or using batteries for power, Wireless Environment has created proprietary products that provide light and also increase control and safety features. These products use LEDs as their light source and have integrated electronics that give users control over features such as brightness and timing. Wireless Environment's socket-powered lighting products provide such features as battery back-up and programmability, while increasing energy efficiency by more than 90 percent. Wireless Environment's Mr. Beams™ line of portable lights allows homeowners to install bright light anywhere in minutes. The Mr. Beams product line is currently sold through catalogs and internet retailers.

David Levine, CEO of Wireless Environment