A technology company that developed on campus signed an agreement with one of the nation’s largest steel manufacturers yesterday.
CAP Technologies, part of the Louisiana Business and Technology Center — a center that helps small, developing business in Louisiana — signed a joint venture with Nucor Steel, which manufactures and recycles industrial steel.
Nucor will begin using “electro-plasma technology,” which CAP technologies developed to clean and coat steel, said Charles D’Agostino, LBTC director.
Previously, steel was cleaned with acid, D’Agostino said, which caused several environmental problems. But the new method will remove those problems.
Eddie Baigle and Greg Tenhundfeld, both University graduates, founded CAP Technologies.
Tenhundfeld, vice president and 1979 graduate, said the company began working on campus in 2001.
The technology had been previously developed in Russia.
When CAP began working on campus, they started a second generation of research.
“We’ve taken the technology, and we’re in the process of doing some commercialization,” Tenhundfeld said, adding that the partnership with Nucor will make that process easier.
D’Agostino said the center provides resources for the small businesses, such as the marketing research and engineering departments which CAP used.
D’Agostino said that in the four years CAP has been on campus, it has employed undergraduate and graduate students to help with research and development.
Tenhundfeld and Baigle also work with students to preform analysis using equipment in the mechanical engineering department.
D’Agostino said the partnership will expand the business with the opportunity for more student involvement and possible employment.