Name: BioSIPs
Elevator Pitch: Technology to take low grade waste and turn it into high value wood replacement products
Faculty: Julee Herdt, CU Architecture Professor & Architect
Next Steps: Participate in Boulder Innovation Center Facilitated Business Model & Manufacturing Strategy Meeting
To Indicate an Interest or for More Information: Eric Gricus, Eric@BoulderInnovationCenter.com, 303 444 2111

Overview
CU Architecture Professor and architect, Julee Herdt, in working with the USDA Forest Products Laboratory, has advanced a process in which a wide range of low grade waste lignocellulosic fibers, agro-biomass, and recycled paper can be wet-pulp-molded into flat or 3D, structural fiberboards with strengths suitable for building materials and other purposes. To date, the main focus has been using the resulting 100% recycled input, bio-fiberboard as either a replacement to dry-processed, engineered building panel products (i.e. particle board and plywood replacement for furniture) or adding a few steps to create structural insulated panels (BioSIPs) for use in energy- and resource efficient home and building construction. Given the potential of the technology, the State of Colorado and private investors have provided funding to develop the technology and Julee has formed a company, BioSIPs, Inc, to commercialize her intellectual property. Please click here for 2 slides on the technology.

Key benefits of the technology;
•Cost competitive with existing virgin wood products
•No toxic adhesives required,No VOC’s; no off-gassing
•Creating high-value-added products from plentiful waste streams
•Multiple-potential products from the BioBoard product
•Higher strength-to-weight than standard dry-processed products
•Lower embodied energy in manufacturing through closed-loop processes
•Clean-tech / low-tech fabrication methods resulting in high-tech products
The Boulder Innovation Center is recruiting a team to work with Julee and the company to develop a business model and manufacturing strategy for the BioBoard and BioSIPs products.

Some of the desired characteristics we are recruiting for;
•Wet fiber molding expertise, Extruded product expertise
•Molded Product Expertise
•Green Building/Building Industry Experience
•Experience with Computer Numerically Controlled and other digital fabrication methods
•Ability to integrate CNC and computer-based techniques with standard manufacturing equipment and processes
•Ability to understand design methodologies and aesthetic goals while assisting designers in translating visions into manufactured products

The next step will be a meeting with the company, manufacturing gurus and building industry experts. If you are interested or know someone who could help us develop the manufacturing strategy, please contact me at Eric@BoulderInnovationCenter.com for more information and a chance to discuss the Boulder Innovation Center Advising process.

To Indicate an Interest or for More Information: Eric Gricus, Eric@BoulderInnovationCenter.com, 303 444 2111