About Us
Powdermet is a nationally recognized nanotechnology and advanced materials research and development organization. This 20+ person firm was founded by Andrew Sherman, who started Powdermet as a spin-out of Ultramet, Inc., in 1996. Powdermet develops, matures, and transitions breakthrough materials innovations that enable reduced weight, resource consumption, environmental footprint and life-cycle costs, while increasing energy-efficiency based on value-creation gained through engineered nano-scale features and hierarchically structures of metal and/or ceramic phases in a structure. Powdermet has an extensive proprietary technology base and application data in materials compositions, structures, and manufacturing processes incorporating nano-scale and submicron features into engineering materials through powder metallurgy and ceramic processing techniques.
Powdermet has primarily financed their development and manufacturing operations by winning over 80 government sponsored grants, as well as manufacturing and selling nanoengineered products to multinational companies that white label Powdermet’s manufactured powders.
Powdermet’s breakthrough potential lies in its innovation capability and management’s ability to meet materials challenges of the future. This innovation capability is greatly enhanced by one of the firm’s other core assets, their extensive materials sciences network and collaborations, which include some of the top:
Given the contacts and knowledge base of these institutions, Powdermet’s management is able to keep on top of all the latest innovations in materials sciences and make sure they advance their product R&D to be in line with planned market needs. Powdermet currently operates commercially as a toll manufacturer/service provider, carrying their research for hire and toll manufacturing for clients, but is transitioning from a toll nano-powder producer business model to a value-added materials solutions provider, focused on “clean, green, sustainable material solutions.” The company’s continuing mission is to mature and transition clean, sustainable, energy and life-saving advanced materials solutions to the marketplace. Using primarily the SBIR program, the company is developing breakthrough metallic nanocomposite products. To enable focused commercialization of development results, the company operates as a technology incubator, and partners with financial partners or larger institutions (primes, Fortune 500 companies) to address the full value chain with core competencies outside Powdermet’s advanced materials and processing competencies.
Corporation History
Powdermet, founded in 1996, acquired an operating unit and exclusive worldwide rights to our processing technology from Ultramet in 1997. The operating group acquired was active in developing encapsulated powders since 1974, with initial patents granted for WC coated ceramic particles in 1978. This operating group successfully completed powder encapsulation process development, which was scaled-up for commercial production at Powdermet. Procedures were developed for depositing numerous metals and ceramics onto particle sizes ranging from submicrometer to 100mils.
2003: The Mayor of the City of Euclid cutting the ribbon to open Powdermet’s 54,000 square foot production plant.
Powdermet has acquired exclusive worldwide rights to the proprietary Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) technology developed at Ultramet over the past three decades (limited to particulate coating). This effort represents over 400 man-years of development and production experience. In May 1997 Powdermet moved into its Sun Valley, California facility. In September 2003 Powdermet completed moving from our California location into our new 54,000 square foot production plant in Euclid, Ohio.
The Euclid plant has initial capabilities to produce 2-3 million pounds of powder per year. Since 1996 Powdermet has grown at an 80% annual rate, has completed ISO9001 quality system development and implementation, and has increased capacity to over ten R&D, pilot, and production reactors for producing up to 100,000 lb./year of nanoengineered particulates.
Powdermet was founded on the principle of “Bringing the Benefits of Advanced Materials to the World” and focuses on commercial development of advanced nanoengineered composite powders for the engineered materials user community. Our mission is to change the way that advanced materials are designed and manufactured, worldwide.
MATERIALS SCIENCES EXPERTISE
Providing innovation breakthrough potential.
Our breakthrough potential lies in our ability to innovate and meet the materials needs of the future. This innovation capability is greatly enhanced by our other core asset, our extensive materials sciences network and collaborations, which include some of the top:
Powdermet Group of Companies
Terves is the leader in the development, manufacturing and sale of Engineered Response materials for the oil and gas industry.
Magnesium extrusions and castings for industries including automotive, aerospace, defense, electronics, construction, energy, and chemical.
Hybrid Materials has developed a family of nanocomposite materials to address multiple critical wear, corrosion and friction concerns.