Date: Jul 10, 2012 Source: (
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An unexpected breakthrough in turbine technology that originated in Charlottesville has attracted the attention of German conglomerate Siemens.
The Charlottesville Business Innovation Council recently recognized Mikro Systems with the Breakthrough Award, which recognizes an advance or unforeseen application of an existing technology or process. This was the first time Mikro was formally honored by CBIC.
The company's breakthrough product is a ceramic casting core.
Essentially, it's a ceramic mold that's used in the metal casting process for making turbines' metal blades.
The process designed by Mikro allows for the formation of internal cooling passages, which allow the turbines to run more efficiently. The ceramic material in the casting core is later chemically dissolved out.
Michael Appleby is president and CEO of Mikro Systems. He said having a breakthrough in an existing technology is especially rewarding. Turbines are used in both the power generation and aircraft markets, sectors that are worth billions of dollars per year.
"It's definitely a challenge because the industries get very set and accepting of their limitations, so you ... [must] produce actual tangible results."
Founded in Charlottesville in 2001, the company holds 17 patents and has 50 patents pending, according to a summary provided by the CBIC.
"Mikro is an example of a company that both innovates and runs a business with exceptional skill, while also minding the local community's best interests as a growing hub of technology companies," Tracey Danner, CBIC's interim executive director, said by email.
Appleby is originally from Boston and has lived in the Charlottesville area for nearly 20 years. Before founding Mikro, he worked for a large Fortune 500 company developing highly engineered product assembly techniques.
"I think they're an amazing company who's been under the radar and deserves to have better attention," said Gary Henry, chairman of the CBIC board. Henry lauded the company's role in spurring economic development in the region and desire to keep its technology development local.
"I think that's remarkable in that they're bringing manufacturing technology back to the United States and back to Charlottesville," Henry said.
For those not directly connected with the industry, Appleby said the products are still likely to have a tangible effect on people's lives. The new technology is likely to lower fuel and energy consumption for both power generation and aircraft, things that affect everyone.
And the best part?
"This is home grown," Appleby said of the company's people, products, research and development.
