FORMOLOGY, INC. — Department of Agriculture SBIR Phase I: 8.800000000000001
FORMOLOGY, INC. — SBIR Phase I award from Department of Agriculture.
Phase I SBIR feasibility signal
- Phase I awards fund proof-of-concept work. For capture teams, they mark early interest from Department of Agriculture in a technical approach.
- Watch for Phase II follow-ons from the same firm/topic family — that conversion path is where budgets and transition pressure rise.
- Obligated amount $98,132. Cross-check similar awards in the same agency and technology tags for going-rate context.
- Topic code 8.800000000000001 links this award to a solicitation family — search the same topic stem for incumbents and recompete timing.
- Amount
- $98,132
- Agency
- Department of Agriculture
- Program / Phase
- SBIR · Phase I
- Topic
- 8.800000000000001
- Solicitation
- USDA-NIFA-SBIR-007790
- NAICS
- —
- Place of performance
- OR
- Period
- 2021-03-17 → 2022-10-31
Description
Proposed study is in response to the USDA NIFA SBIR Phase I Topic Area 8.8 "Biofuels andBiobased Products." Formology specializes in the innovation manufacture commercialization andsale of specialty wood and natural fiber panels for architecture and design/build markets; and wouldlike to meet the demands of the architecture and design (A&D) industries for environmentallysustainable and responsible product options. Building on the preliminary work by our collaboratorsat Washington State University on resin transfer molding (RTM) of agricluture residues wepropose to conduct further research to scale-up the manufacturing process to produce thick 4 ft by 8ft panels with mechanical performance dimensional stability and high-quality surface finishrequired for decorative architectural panels. Four tasks to achieve this objective are to: design andfabricate a large-size aluminum mold determine a protocol to consisently build a binder-lesshazelnut shell preform within the mold cavity evaluate and establish ideal resin infusionparameters and manufacture large-size panels and evaluate their performance.Proposed solution will produce strong stiff dimensionally stable and aesthecially pleasing panelsusing agricultural byproducts and provide Formology new business opportunities. Additionallyutilization of agricultural waste streams such as hazelnut shells to produce higher value productswill not only have environmental benefits of reduced burden on landfills and carbon storage butwill also lead to new opportunities for tree nut growers and processors. We anticipate the RTMpanels to be at a medium price range so we can offer performance and aesthetic advantages whilebeating out many higher priced materials.