Apr. 5, 2007 — Zyvex, which calls itself “the first molecular nanotechnology company,” has announced its first company spinout: Zyvex Performance Materials (ZPM). The new company leverages Zyvex’s reputation, nanomaterials patents, proprietary methods, core technologies, and revenue-generating customer base.
ZPM, which is in the process of scaling its business to meet growing demand for commercial applications in nanomaterials, plans to locate in Columbus, Ohio, which the company says is the epicenter of the advanced materials industry. The company expects to add at least 25 people to the new facility over the next twelve months, and more afterward.
“There is increasing interest from aerospace, consumer goods, and industrial product markets to use our nanomaterials to impart enhanced thermal, mechanical, and electrical properties in composite systems,” said Thomas W. Hughes, ZPM’s General Manager. “By scaling up our production technology and resources, we can meet this industrial demand and provide our customers with the best solution available. Ohio is an ideal location for our facility since we’ll be close to our customers and strategic partners as well as key scientists, engineers, and production resources.”
As part of this expansion, ZPM is also increasing its presence at its satellite facility in Rapid City, South Dakota. The Nanomaterials Prototyping, Testing and Characterization Facility at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology’s Polymer Processing Center (SDSM&T-PPC) was established in July 2006.
Two industry leaders have already joined the company’s board: James R. Von Ehr, founder of Zyvex, the Texas Nanotechnology Initiative, and an invited member of the Nanotechnology Technical Advisory Group (NTAG) to the U.S. President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST); and serial entrepeneur David W. Heard, who founded Spatial Networks, which was sold to Alcatel for over $300 million.
The company’s NanoSolve materials have received acclaim, including an R&D 100 award. ZPM has key customers in aerospace and defense, healthcare and medical, semiconductor and electronics, biomedical, marine, and sporting goods.