Date: Apr 21, 2014 Author: Gordon Vincent Source: Daily Times Chronicle (
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WOBURN - Without too much difficulty, a research and testing firm obtained a special permit from the City Council this week to open a laboratory on Gill Street in North Woburn.
Boston Electrometallurgical Corp. (BEMC) is a startup company from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology that extracts primary metals, performs computational analysis and produces master alloys for different markets.
The laboratory will house a furnace "about the size of a washing machine," according to Matthew Humbert, an engineer representing BEMC. The furnace allows the technicians to separate the metals.
BEMC's business plan is to manufacture small quantities of master alloys that will be sold to secondary users, called "mini-mills," that will use the material to test their processes at their plants. If the model is successful, BEMC will look to secure funding for a large-scale facility.
"It's not really research and testing," said local attorney Mark Salvati, representing BEMC. "It's more of a manufacturing operation of the things they've invented."
Salvati said BEMC's operations would likely be classified as "light manufacturing," rather than heavy manufacturing.
The facility at 6C Gill St., off New Boston Street in North Woburn, previously housed a similar use. BEMC has submitted permits to make equipment-specific improvements to the HVAC and electrical systems, leaving the remainder of the suite unchanged. The company's operational procedures comply with all local, state, and federal health and safety regulations.
Humbert noted the company has also obtained four permits from the Woburn Fire Dept.
Ward 1 Alderman Rosa DiTucci asked if any fumes would be produced during production. Humbert said there is as vapor similar to what a welding tool produces, "but with no toxic components," which will be filtered through ventilation. In response to another question from DiTucci, Humbert piqued the interest of council members when he said that one of elements that the company works on is manganese.
Council members, and likely most Woburn residents, are familiar with manganese. It is the element that, though harmless, gives the city's well water an unsightly reddish/brown hue.
"Let us know if you need any manganese," joked City Council President Richard Haggerty, referring to the city's ample supply.
Ward 6 Alderman Michael Raymond, whose district includes Gill Street, said he has visited the site and called BEMC's operation "a very, very fascinating process."
"They're not making gold, they're not making silver," said Raymond. "This is the step in the middle … the link between MIT and production."
To its unanimous approval, the council added a condition that limits the hours of operation to between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. on weekdays. There will be no work on weekends.
