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Kettering research center wants to make impact with sustainable products

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By Thomas Gnau, Staff Writer Updated 1:10 AM Sunday, September 27, 2009

KETTERING — Licensing technology from firms in Italy, led by a chief executive who lives in California and with its North American base at the National Composite Center, Composite Technical Services Inc. is ready to make a global mark — in a sustainable way.

Company leaders announced late last month that it has established a research and development site at the Kettering composite center.

CTS is aiming for three areas of specialization: resins made from cashew nut shells, metals-free flame retardant additives and composite material gas cylinders.

If there’s a common thread, it’s safe and sustainable materials.

With the shell-derived resins, for instance, nature already has performed the engineering, as Enrico Ferri, CTS chief executive, put it. The firm’s “ExaPhen” resins may make their way to construction materials or composite laminates used in structures or aerospace components.

One peculiar property of the resin is its flame-retardant qualities. Said Ferri, “It will burn — but it will burn slowly.”

The material could be useful when fire safety is a consideration.

“Construction, transportation, Army, Navy applications, closed-environment applications ... it’s a very wide market target, but we’re still looking into that more closely,” said Elena Benedetti, technical director for CTS’ materials division.

The company was celebrating its first purchase order Sept. 18 of its “Novocard” epoxy hardener. The material is meant to be used as a curing agent. The firm declined to name its customer.

Although the company is charging only for shipping at this point, the order is still heartening. “The interest is out there,” Ferri said.

The main product is the resins, but none of the technology is new. This is a family business, with partners including members of the Cimtec Holding Group, based in Italy.

“What is new is the way we are able to process and functionalize these products,” Ferri said.

It’s early to talk about employment growth, but Ferri and Benedetti refer to targets of four employees next month, five employees as operations begin and 20 within three years.

Said Ferri, “We’re here to stay. That’s for sure.”

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2390 or tgnau@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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