SurClean added another $25,000 to its ledger when it walked away from the
Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition earlier this month.
The Wixom-based startup won the Product and Services category, which comes with a check for $25,000 in seed capital. SurClean plans to add that money to the Series A round of investment it is currently raising, and use it to help secure its intellectual property.
"We're in the process of filing numerous patents," says Susan Sprentall, CEO of
SurClean.
The company is developing a laser-based technology that replaces the harmful chemicals, media blasting, and other abrasives typically used in the removal of paint and other coatings from aircraft, vessels, and bridges undergoing maintenance. Its system uses a laser beam to disintegrate and remove paint and other coatings like rust from substrate in a cost-effective, safe, energy-efficient and earth-friendly way.
The company launched the first generation of the product this year. It's in the process of developing the second generation of the product and should be ready to bring it to market by next spring.
"We should have established sales in the aviation sector (by then)," Sprentall says. "We should also be moving forward in the bridge and U.S. Dept. of Transportation sector by then."
SurClean currently has a staff of five employees and two interns. It is also looking to hire another three people right now, and 10-15 additional by the end of next year.
Source: Susan Sprentall, CEO of SurClean
Writer: Jon Zemke
Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.
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