Innovation & Job News

Ann Arbor’s Nanosystems turns sustainable foam into big growth

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Ann Arbor

The products from John Nanos' company Nanosystems find themselves in the oddest places, ranging from surfboards to ear plugs to big, nasty, bleeding wounds.

Nanos, a University of Michigan graduate, took his experience in specialty foams nearly four years ago and created his own company that specializes in the organic versions of these foams. Today that company employs four people, three independent contractors and an intern.

The company now makes soy bean-based foam used in the rigid cores of surfboards and those aforementioned ear plugs and cosmetic foams. The former manufacturer of those surfboard cores ruled the market but lost it when their signature material turned out to be less than environmentally friendly. Nanosystems stepped in with its organic foam and an industry was cornered.

"It helped my clients find an environmentally friendly material to use," Nanos says.

One of the most promising sectors is using the foam for medical purposes. The foam has an almost insatiable appetite for absorbing liquid. Nanosystems is making an organic foam that could be used in deep injuries to soak up blood, water and other bodily fluids.

"Instead of using gauze they’re starting to use foam," Nanos says.

Nanosystems, a product of Ann Arbor SPARK, hopes add as many as 6-8 technologists next year as it breaks into new markets and grows vertically. The idea is to grow vertically into manufacturing its own products, which will mean more local jobs on top of the 6-8 already planned.

"There's going to be a tipping point where it makes more sense for us to make it ourselves," Nanos says.

Source: John Nanos, president and owner of Nanosystems
Writer: Jon Zemke

Innovation & Job News

Ann Arbor’s Nanosystems turns sustainable foam into big growth

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