Univenture, Battelle, and the Ohio Soybean Council Win Prestigious R&D 100 Award
Monday, August 24th, 2009Polypropylene and Soybean Meal Provide Agricultural Plastic for UniKeep Binders
Marysville, OH–August 24, 2009–Univenture, Inc. is pleased to announce the R&D 100 Award received for their joint entry with Battelle and the Ohio Soybean Council. The award for Bio-based Materials Derived from Agricultural Co-Products will be formally presented during a gala awards ceremony in Orlando, Florida, on November 12, 2009.
Funded by the Ohio Soybean Council, Battelle’s pioneering research developed a process to combine soybean meal and plastics, creating a soy-based polymer. This polymer could replace the weight of petroleum-based materials found in products by 10-40%. The agricultural plastic was tested using Univenture’s patented UniKeep design and injection molding process at its manufacturing facility. A UniKeep binder was produced using agricultural plastic, affirming commercial success and projecting a final cost reduction of 30-40%.
“We are honored to be part of this cutting-edge group of R&D 100 Award winners,” stated Ross Youngs, Univenture’s CEO and Founder. “Collaborating with Battelle and the Ohio Soybean Council to advance bio-based research and products will assist Ohio and its soybean farmers, bringing new green businesses and providing employment. Univenture has produced eco-friendly products for over 21 years and it is exciting to be involved in the green initiatives taking place in Ohio.”
The R&D 100 Award was founded by R&D Magazine in 1963 to promote the 100 most technically innovative products developed each year in applications as diverse as environmental sciences, energy devices, semiconductor, software, and communications. The award is highly regarded in the global scientific and technology R&D community.
“Battelle scientists have developed an innovative method and technology of using agricultural co-products to reduce the use of petroleum based products. Univenture has been a strategic resource for us to be able to demonstrate the commercial success of our soy-based polymer and to produce a marketable commodity such as the UniKeep Binder,” commented Barry McGraw, Battelle’s Program Manager.
As an inventor and manufacturer of document and media packaging, Univenture recognizes the importance of considering the environment and incorporating eco-friendly characteristics in both product design and materials when creating packaging solutions.
“It was great working with Battelle on this project to demonstrate Univenture’s injection molding capability with eco-friendly materials. Receiving this prestigious award is outstanding,” remarked Bruce Thornbloom, Univenture’s Business Unit Manager – Molding.
“The soy meal polymer technology has great potential to add tremendous value to Ohio soybeans,” said John Lumpe, Ohio Soybean Council executive director. “There are so many different applications that this technology could be used for, and the fact that Univenture was able to manufacture the soy meal binder using its existing process is a testament to the viability of this innovative technology in the marketplace.”
To watch a video and learn more about the soy-based polymer developed by OSC and Battelle, and the soy meal binder manufactured by Univenture, please visit: http://associationdatabase.com/aws/OHSOY/pt/sp/osc_home?view=84.
About Univenture
Univenture has been designing and manufacturing converted and molded plastic products, including bio-based plastics, since it’s founding in 1988. The company was listed on the Inc. 500 fastest growing privately held companies five times in the 1990s, and the Small Business Administration named founder, Ross O. Youngs, National Business Person of the Year in 1997. The dedicated focus of the Univenture team has resulted in numerous industry awards and accolades for its innovation, commitment to customers, and sales growth.
About Battelle
Battelle is the world’s largest non-profit independent research and development organization, providing innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing needs through its four global businesses: Laboratory Management, National Security, Energy Technology, and Health and Life Sciences. It advances scientific discovery and application by conducting $5.2 billion in global R&D annually through contract research, laboratory management and technology commercialization. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Battelle oversees 20,400 employees in more than 130 cities worldwide, including seven national laboratories that Battelle manages or co-manages for the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and two international laboratories–a nuclear energy lab in the United Kingdom and a renewable energy lab in Malaysia. Battelle is one of the nation’s leading charitable trusts focusing on societal and economic impact and actively supporting and promoting science and math education.
About the Ohio Soybean Council
Headquartered in Worthington, the Ohio Soybean Council is governed by a 17-member volunteer farmer board, which directs the Soybean Promotion and Research Program. The program’s primary goal is to improve soybean profitability by targeting research and development projects through the investment of farmer-contributed funds.
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