UMaine Technology Commercialization Announcements
Contact: Joe Carr at (207) 581-3571
ORONO — Gov. John Baldacci, Sen. Susan Collins and Rep. Michael Michaud participated in a Friday morning University of Maine event announcing the commercialization of UMaine technology related to composites bridge construction.
“At a time when good economic news is hard to find, we are pleased to have this opportunity to talk about – and demonstrate – the economic development potential that comes from the power of the idea,” UMaine President Robert Kennedy said to those assembled at UMaine’s AEWC Composites Center.
Approximately 100 people attended the event. The AEWC center, directed by UMaine Prof. Habib Dagher, employees 140 people and provides unique educational opportunities for UMaine students. More than 90 percent of the money that supports the center and its R&D activities comes from outside grants and contracts.
Kennedy, Dagher and University of Maine System Chancellor Richard Pattenaude all praised Baldacci, Cohen and Michaud for their support of UMaine technology development, specifically in composites R&D.
“This would not have happened without their support,” Dagher said.
Sen. Olympia Snowe was represented by Gail Kelly from her staff, who read a letter of congratulations from the senator.
The Friday event included three interrelated announcements related to the commercialization of composite bridges in Maine.
1. Dedication of “Bridge in a Backpack” in Pittsfield, Maine. The University of Maine, working with the Department of Transportation, has recently completed the construction of the 44 ft. wide x 35 ft. long Neal Bridge in Pittsfield, Maine. The bridge is the first of its kind, utilizing a rigidified inflatable composite arch design. The arches can be inflated at the bridge site, bent to any shape to fit the geometry of the site and infused with a resin to become rigid overnight.
The inflatable lightweight hollow tubes can be set in place manually or with a boom-truck, then they are filled with concrete. The tubes have three functions: (1) They act as an “instant” stay-in-place form for the concrete, (2) they reinforce the concrete (no rebars are necessary) and (3) they create a protective layer for the concrete. The result is a bridge that can be built quickly, reducing shipping and labor costs. These bridges are more durable than those built from conventional steel or concrete. As opposed to those built from conventional materials, these bridge arches can be folded up and shipped in a bag to any job site.
Funding to develop this revolutionary technology was provided through the US Army Natick Soldier Center, the FHWA, and the Maine DOT.
2. Announcement of a new Orono, Maine spinoff company to commercialize the composite bridge arch technology. An investment team coordinated by Brit E. Svoboda has formed a new Maine company, Advanced Infrastructure Technologies (AIT), located at the Orono Maine Technology Park. This business will start commercializing the technology. The goal in the first year is to construct as many as 6 bridges in Maine, working with the MDOT and local contractors and engineering firms. The firm will also work with UMaine to begin design and testing of multiple bridge concepts using the arch technology platform. In time, the company plans to design and kit these bridges in Maine, and ship them around the country. After an initial incubation of 5 years, the company sees a growth potential to over 100 jobs. These employees will include engineers, technicians, manufacturing, and sales/marketing personnel.
3. Announcement of job growth in the composite bridge market at yet another UMaine spinoff company, Harbor Technologies in Brunswick, Maine. Harbor Technologies, formed by Martin Grimnes, is a relatively new company that has been working on commercializing composite pilings developed and designed at UMaine. The company has also been working with UMaine on a composite beam technology for bridge girders. The technology consists of stay-in-place composite forms that are filled with concrete at the site to make straight bridge girders. The company will be constructing a 500 ft.-long bridge in the summer of 2009 in Maine, and will be adding 20 new positions this spring and summer. Harbor Technologies is also looking at pilings and bridge contracts nationally with a potential job growth in excess of 100 new positions.
Collins noted that these projects, and others like them, “mesh perfectly” with the federal economic stimulus package emphasis on investing in transportation infrastructure projects.
“What most excites me about this news is the partnership with the private sector,” she said. “It is, after all the goal of R&D to commercialize and create spinoff companies and create great jobs right here in Maine.”