Perhaps I have this backwards but it seems to me that announcing a patent isn’t an especially exciting business or technology event. Nonetheless, Toronto-based Integran’s latest patent is mentioned in a Mar. 7, 2013 news item on Azonano,
Toronto-based Integran Technologies Inc. (Integran) today announced further advances in its “structural metal plating-on-polymer” technology (Nanovate™ NP) for enhancing fuel efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by enabling the cost-effective manufacture of lightweight transportation parts. [emphasis mine]
Under development for several years, Integran’s nanometal-polymer hybrid core technology is protected by a number of patent filings including US 8,367,170 which issued on Feb 5, 2013 and EP 2,193,664 which issued on Feb 20, 2013 disclosing lightweight metal-coated polymer electric and electronic housings for use, e.g., in automotive electronic control units (ECUs).
Integran’s Vice President of Intellectual Property Klaus Tomantschger stated, “We are pleased that our developments relating to structural plating-on-polymer parts have been recognized in the patent jurisdictions of Europe and the United States as these remain dominant regions for advanced automotive technology development.” [emphasis mine]
How does getting a patent advance the technology as the company states in the opening sentence of the news item? Perhaps someone could relieve my ignorance by leaving a comment explaining how this works.
Meanwhile, the Integran news blog’s Mar. 7, 2013 posting states the patents are meant for ‘protection’ (Note: A link has been removed),
Today we announced another series of issued patents that protect our “structural plating on plastic” Nanovate NP platform. [emphasis mine] This approach is used to create lightweight, structural, EMI and magnetic shielded housings for electronics using an injection molded, machined, or rapid prototyped polymer with a structural Nanovate metal electroplated cladding on the outer surface.
While the patents are geared towards the transportation industry, this approach has value for any application where there is weight sensitivity, but a durable, structural part is required. As an example, hand held medical devices used in hospitals, or ruggedized hand held military electronics are good examples of other applications where this Nanovate metal structural plating could provide a durability part while also providing a part weight reduction.
I have a special interest in this company, since as a Canadian taxpayer, I, and millions others of us, have an investment in it as per my April 16, 2012 posting about the Canadian government’s ‘venture capital’ program and its Integran investment.