Newswise — North Dakota State University, Fargo, and Triton Systems, Inc. (Triton), a Massachusetts-based materials products company, have announced a research partnership and Triton’s plan to establish a new facility in the NDSU Research & Technology Park. The company’s Fargo facility will primarily be devoted to applications engineering and manufacturing of advanced coatings for military products including bed nets, tent fabrics, and military garments. Future applications include chemical detection sensing systems. The Triton facility, to be located in Fargo’s NDSU Research & Technology Park, will house Triton’s novel and environmentally friendly ASSET™ coatings capabilities. The ASSET™ (Advanced Solutions in Surface Engineering Technology) coating method is a unique and powerful process enabling ultrathin, rugged, highly functional surface modifications and coatings for such broad applications as biomedical devices, textiles, optical systems, and electronics. The coatings can be applied to almost any surface making it ideal for a variety of new products. Initially, the facility will be set up to support applications engineering for a number of end-uses for the Department of Defense in partnership with NDSU. Triton plans to acquire approximately 3,000 sq ft of space with the goal of doubling that space within 24 months.
“We are excited that the company recognizes the opportunities and expertise available in partnership with NDSU,” commented NDSU President Richard A. Hanson. “NDSU offered the first coatings course in 1905 and continues its international reputation for coatings research and licensing of coatings technology to global companies.” NDSU’s Department of Coatings and Polymeric Materials and the Center for Nanoscale Science and Engineering specialize in coatings research.
“We see this as a great growth opportunity for Triton and for the NDSU community,” said Dr. Philip Boudjouk, vice president for Research, Creative Activities and Technology Transfer at NDSU. “Triton’s partnership with NDSU leverages more than a century of experience in coatings research on campus and nearly a decade of cutting-edge expertise in robotics applied to polymers research and development. The support of U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan and the Red River Valley Research Corridor for NDSU’s marine and antimicrobial coatings program laid the foundation for this significant new opportunity. We’re very excited to have Triton join our high-tech community.”
Being close to the world-class facilities at North Dakota State University (NDSU) enables Triton to leverage the capabilities of NDSU researchers and Centers of Excellence, with Triton’s engineering and manufacturing expertise to support concepts all the way to full production of coatings products. “Establishing this facility at this juncture, in partnership with the State of North Dakota, strongly complements the commercialization path that we're on,” said Ross Haghighat, Triton president and CEO. “Our customers will benefit immensely from the synergy between Triton and NDSU.” Dr. Arjan Giaya, Triton vice president of technology, also noted, “Anti-microbial (anti-bacterial) coatings are increasingly important to the U.S. Military as service personnel deployed overseas are exposed to environmental conditions that can cause illnesses from airborne diseases and physical contact.” The specialty coatings that Triton is developing for fabrics (garments, tents, etc.) and medical systems help to markedly reduce the risk of these diseases. The Triton-designed bed nets also combine unprecedented insecticide performance with a form, fit and function that promises to bring enhanced protection and added functionality.
“Having Triton open this facility defines the model of success that we’re continuing to build on – to reach out to new technology companies to partner with us and to continue this path of success together,” explained Tony Grindberg, executive director, NDSU Research & Technology Park. “We want our young talent to stay in North Dakota – we want companies to move in.”
Triton has a proven track record of forging global alliances to transition product concepts out of the lab and into the marketplace, partnering with numerous Fortune 500 companies and major universities alike to mature ideas to marketable products. Triton plans to hire applications engineering, processing and manufacturing positions in Fargo.
About North Dakota State University (NDSU) (http://www.ndsu.edu/research/)With more than 14,000 students, NDSU is listed in the top 100 research universities in the country in several National Science Foundation (NSF) research categories including chemistry, physical sciences, agricultural sciences and social sciences for FY 2007 (most recent available). As a metropolitan land-grant university, NDSU conducts more than $100 million in research activities annually. The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching classifies NDSU among “Research Universities (high research activity).” NDSU’s thriving research enterprise has led to globally-recognized discoveries and NDSU continues to be at the forefront nationally and internationally in many disciplines. The Combinatorial Materials Research Laboratory at NDSU’s Center for Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE) uses robotics and serves among the most well-equipped academic laboratories in the world for conducting polymer and surface coating research using a combinatorial approach. In addition, the Bioactive Materials Research Laboratory at CNSE researches biomedically-relevant coatings and materials, as well as coatings designed to be used in the marine environment.
About NDSU Research and Technology Park (www.ndsuresearchpark.com)The NDSU Research & Technology Park operates to enhance the investments in North Dakota State University by the citizens of North Dakota. Through partnerships with international, national and regional centers of excellence, high technology-based businesses, and the research community at NDSU, the Research & Technology Park will achieve successful technology-based development and broaden the economic base of North Dakota.About Triton Systems, Inc. (Triton) (www.tritonsystems.com)
Triton Systems, Inc. (Triton) is an advanced materials and systems engineering product development firm headquartered near Boston, Massachusetts. Triton selectively combines US Government funds with private equity investments to transition ideas to the marketplace. Founded in 1992, Triton, along with its affiliates, has two locations in Massachusetts, a life science group in Berkeley, California, and a manufacturing site in Domat-EMS, Switzerland.
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