By Jim Stafford Business Writer
The Oklahoman


Five Oklahoma businesses that want to use nanotechnology in their manufacturing processes have been awarded almost $1.25 million in the first Oklahoma Nanotechnology Applications Project awards, officials said Friday.

The winners include two companies that are focused on manufacturing nanotechnology particles for industrial and medical use, a designer of prosthetic technology, the maker of high-pressure valves and a company that makes products for use in medical related endoscopic equipment. The winners and their amounts were:

• SouthWest NanoTechnologies, Norman, $430,000: SouthWest Nano-Technologies Inc. manufactures high quality carbon nanotubes for use in a variety of industries. With new OCAST funding and new manufacturing techniques developed at the University of Oklahoma, the company plans to diversify its manufacturing processes and mass produce a “commercial grade” of carbon nanotubes at a substantially lower price than is currently possible.

“We are investing the money to put in place a much larger scale reactor that will run continuous and produce materials that are tailored for composite applications,” said David Arthur, SouthWest NanoTechnologies’ chief executive. “That’s a billion dollar market opportunity for us, and having this larger scale manufacturing line will allows us to support customers we already have and bring on a number of other key customers.”

In addition to the state’s nanotech award, SouthWest NanoTechnologies is raising a capital round that is approximately 10 times that number, Arthur said. When the new reactor is in place it will have the capability to produce 1,000 grams of nanoparticles per day as opposed to the few grams per day of which it is now capable. 

• XetaComp Nanotechnologies, Edmond, $250,000: In conjunction with an equipment manufacturer, XetaComp has developed a proprietary manufacturing process to produce titanium dioxide nanoparticles. A subsidiary of Nanobiomagnetics, Xeta-Comp is developing the technology with the goal of lowering costs. The company plans to manufacture the nanoparticles in a planned Lawton facility and use it in sunscreens.

• Rupture Pin Technology, Oklahoma City, $150,000: Rupture Pin plans to use nanotechnology to build pressure relief valves that can be used in high pressure situations, founder Julian Taylor said. He owns two companies that produce pressure valves, but the problem is the valves will break if subjected to high pressures.

"That will let me increase my business, I can easily double it if I can overcome that, because I can take on more difficult jobs,” Taylor said.


• Access Optics, Broken Arrow, $165,000: Access Optics makes components and complete sub-assemblies for medical related endoscopic equipment. It is done using small particles of ceramic or metal to form a seal between the lens and metal encasement. During normal use, the product is subjected to extensive autoclave cleanings and therefore significant wear occurs on the seals. The company will use nanoparticles to improve the glass to metal seal for the lens.


• Martin Bionics, Oklahoma City, $250,000: A relatively new company, Martin Bionics is focused on state of the art research in the field of prosthetics and the commercialization of new prosthetics innovations. Its research is focused on a nanoparticle platform technology capable of producing multiple products for amputees.

The awards were made this week by the governing board of the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology. The program is designed to provide financial support and technical services for the use of nanotechnology in Oklahoma’s manufacturing and business community.

Two OCAST partners, the Oklahoma Alliance for Manufacturing Excellence and i2E were contracted to help implement the new program.

There were 26 applications for the nanotechnology applications awards, said Michael Carolina, center executive director. The recipients were selected through a competitive, peer-reviewed process, he said.

“Our goal is to establish Oklahoma as a key player in nanotechnology and create an environment conducive to the rapid development and commercialization of nanontechnology,” Carolina said.

More Oklahoma Nanotechnology Applications Project funding is available through OCAST’s Oklahoma Applied Research Support program specifically targeted to the later stage development of nanotechnology.

That money is expected to be awarded before the end of June, Carolina said.

Copyright 2007, The Oklahoma Publishing Company