Older News

ERCo to Continue Developing Its LIBS System for Measuring Coal Properties (September 2005):
ERCo has received a grant from The State Technologies Advancement Collaborative (STAC) to develop its LIBS System to measure properties of coal on-line at coal fired power plants. ERCo is partnering with Lehigh University and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. The National Association of State Energy Officials coordinates STAC.
ERCo to Develoop its LIBS System to Measure the Elemental Concentrations of Molten Glass (July 2005):
DOE, through its Inventions and Innovations Program, has awarded a grant to ERCo to develop its LIBS system to measure the elemental concentrations of molten glass. PPG, the largest fiberglass manufacturer in the US, is partnering with ERCo.
World's Best Technology 2005 (January 2005)
Energy Research Company was selected to present at the World's Best Technologies 2005 Conference. The event will be held March 28-30, 2005 in Arlington, TX.
ERCo Installs LIBS Glass Batch Sensor in Fiberglass Plant (August 2004):
Energy Research Company has recently installed a glass batch sensor based on LIBS technology at PPG's fiberglass facility in Chester, SC. The sensor is being used to monitor the chemistry of glass feedstock at the beginning of the production process. By detecting changes in chemistry caused by the transition from one batch of raw material to another, PPG is better able to control its glass composition, thereby reducing costs and saving energy.
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ERCo LIBS Patent Issued (August 2004)
A patent covering ERCo's LIBS technology was issued on 31 August 2004. The patent covers ERCo's laser diagnostic technology which is used to measure the chemistry of molten materials, such as aluminum and glass, during industrial manufacturing operations.
ERCo Awarded Contract to Develop its LIBS Technology for Molten Glass Measurements (June 2004)
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) has awarded a contract to ERCo to develop its LIBS Technology to measure the chemistry of molten glass in ERCo's laboratory in Staten Island, NY. The development will include a probe to withstand the high temperatures of molten glass and the measurement of the molten glass in-situ and in real time.
Commercially Operating LIBS System Installed at Commonwealth Aluminum (November 2003)
ERCo installed a commercially operating LIBS System to measure the chemistry of molten aluminum at Commonwealth Aluminum's Uhrichsville, OH plant. The system continuously measures the elemental concentrations of each alloy produced. In addition, the LIBS System is a single push-button operation, no operator training is required, and calibration is not required.
An SBIR Phase II Contract Was Awarded to ERCo to Develop its LIBS Technology to Measure the properties of Coal (June 2003)
ERCo received a Phase II SBIR award and will continue its work to develop its LIBS technology to measure, in real-time, the properties of coal for electric generating power plants. When deployed, it will allow power plant operators to optimize their firing rate and will allow them to comply with future mercury emission control.
ERCo Awarded Contract to Develop its LIBS Technology for Molten Steel Measurements (September 2001)
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) has awarded a contract to ERCo to develop its LIBS Technology to measure the chemistry of molten steel at Crucible Specialty Metals.
ERCo Awarded Contracts for Applying Its Laser Technology to the Coal Industry:
Two $100,000 grants from the federal Department of Energy were recently awarded to ERCo to develop a laser system aimed at reducing toxic emissions from coal-burning power plants. Congressman Vito Fossella (R, SI) announced the awards at ERCO's facility on June 3, 2002 Read More
ERCo Wins DOE Contract to Develop Inert Anodes for the Aluminum Industry
ERCo received a contract from DOE to develop a novel inert anode to replace the consumable carbon anode in the Hall-Héroult process for the primary aluminum industry. This technology can completely eliminate perfluorocarbons and CO2 emissions, both of which significantly contribute to global warming. Additionally, an energy reduction up to 25% would result. Operating cost reductions up to10% and productivity improvements up to 5% will also occur. ERCo will experimentally confirm the feasibility of the concept and chart its performance in the first phase of the program.
ERCo Showcases Its Technologies at Alcoa
ERCo will demonstrate its VFM and Laser Diagnostics at a showcase sponsored by the Department of Energy and Alcoa. The showcase will take place at Alcoa's Spanish Forks plant in Utah August 27, 2001 through August 29, 2001.
ERCo Announces the Qualification of its Vertical Floatation Melter (VFM)
ERCo has announced that its VFM, for use in melting dirty and oily scrap aluminum, has passed all qualifying tests at its pilot facility and is now available for commercial sale. The VFM removes organics and then melts scrap aluminum in a single step.
ERCo's President Writes About Technology Innovation
ERCo's president, Robert De Saro, discusses the origins of innovation in an article published in the June 2001 issue of Energy User News.
Click Here for PDF of Article
Energy Research Company Highlighted in DOE Review of Aluminum Technologies(November 2000)
In the November 2000 issue of JOM, a journal of The Minerals, Metals, & Materials Society (TMS), John Altdorfer reviews current U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) projects related to the aluminum industry. Three of the featured projects are ERCo projects: The IDEX system, the Vertical Floatation Melter and Decoater (VFM, VFD), and the laser based melt analyzer.
The full text of the article can be purchased from the TMS web site. Click Here for the TMS web site
ERCo Awarded $1.4 million from DOE to Develop New Glass Feedstock Sensor (October 2000)
The US Department of Energy's Office of Industrial Technologies has selected ERCo as one of only five organizations to take part in a $11.8 million program to develop technology to improve the energy efficiency and reduce the environmental impact of the glass industry.
ERCo nominated "DOE OIT Partner of the Year" Award (January 2000)
The US Department of Energy's Office of Industrial Technologies has nominated ERCo for their "Partner of the Year" award. In nominating ERCo, DOE stated "ERCo's Robert De Saro of Energy Research Company has exhibited extraordinary initiative and commitment to advancing the goals of the Industries of the Future partnerships through his research and outreach efforts to advance the state-of-the-art in aluminum and steel processes."
ERCo's IDEX Project Nominated for "DOE OIT Project of the Year" Award (January 2000)
The US Department of Energy's Office of Industrial Technologies has nominated ERCo's IDEX project for "Project of the Year" Award.
ERCo Announces the Qualification of the VFM Decoater.
ERCo has announced that its VFM Decoater, for use in processing scrap aluminum, has passed all qualifying tests at its pilot facility, and is now available for commercial sale. The VFM Decoater removes organics from scrap aluminum prior to melting. The VFM Decoater meets all EPA emission regulations.
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Alcoa wins DOE NICE3 Award Using ERCo's Coatings
Alcoa has won a grant from DOE to build a recuperator for use on their furnaces. Alcoa is partnering with ERCo and is using ERCo's coating to protect the recuperator from the harsh flue gas environment.
ERCo Seeks Host Site for its VFM Project
ERCo is seeking an aluminum plant in which it can demonstrate its VFM in decoating and melting scrap aluminum. Funding for this has been secured from DOE.
ERCo releases video of its IDEX project
ERCo has released a free video showing the success of its IDEX project, demonstrated at Wabash Alloys (formerly Roth Bros.).
ERCo Seeking Licensing Partners for its Coatings
Having successfully developed and tested its coating technology, ERCo is now seeking licensing partners to commercialize them. Applications are broad and include heat exchanger protection, gas turbine blades protection, ceramic sealing, and others.