Winds of Change Lead Spinoff Company to Lighter Technology

	ADI Wind President Mike Winiasz (at left) shows off the company’s lightweight gear mechanisms that will be used in wind turbines to (from left) Sheffield Village Mayor John Hunter, Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland, State Senator Sue Morano, LCCC President Dr. Roy Church and State Representative Matt Lundy. Behind Church is ADI Wind Vice President Kurt Lauer.

ADI Wind is making wind powered energy more practical and affordable through their revolutionary wind turbine gearbox.

The lightweight gearbox caught the attention of Ohio Governor Ted Strickland, who toured ADI Wind’s Sheffield facility March 5, along with Lorain County Community College President Dr. Roy A. Church and local government leaders.

“This is a homegrown, local company engaged in cutting edge research activities,” Strickland said. “This company is doing things right here that will affect the world.”

A spinoff company of Advanced Design Industries (ADI), ADI Wind was awarded $25,000 in seed money through the Innovation Fund in March 2009 to support its plans for a new gearbox that will create lighter and less expensive wind turbines.

Supported by the Lorain County Community College Foundation, the Innovation Fund assists promising technology-based start-up companies in Northeast Ohio. The fund also links companies with business help through the Great Lakes Innovation Center (GLIDE), housed in LCCC’s Entrepreneurship Innovation Center through a partnership with the Lorain County Commissioners and the Lorain County Chamber of Commerce.

“This is where the local and state partnership comes in,” Church said. “GLIDE becomes the local agent, working with the company, tapping into the Third Frontier resources.”

To be considered for an Innovation Fund award, a company must be in one of the five growth areas identified by the Ohio Third Frontier Program: biomedical, information technology, instruments-controls-electronics, advanced materials or advanced/alternative energy. To date, the Third Frontier Program has awarded $2.4 million for the Innovation Fund, which as in turn leveraged an additional $3 million from partners and the philanthropic community.

With the financial support provided by the Innovation Fund, ADI Wind was able to secure a patent for its titanium gearbox, which is twice as strong as the steel used in traditional boxes and half the weight.

“With the help of the Innovation Fund, we were able to secure the novelty of our unit,” explained ADI President Mike Winiasz. “The award allowed us to continue with our design work knowing that we control the future of our company.”

ADI’s lighter and smaller gearbox can reduce the weight of a traditional wind turbine by up to 400 percent, making it possible to mount a turbine to a mobile trailer unit. The lighter gearbox also simplifies routine maintenance and will cost about half as much as a traditional unit. Additionally, nearly all the supplies used in the gearbox and turbines can be created in Ohio.

“ADI Wind is revolutionizing the design improving the efficiency, reliability and durability of wind turbines, and reducing the cost,” Church said.

Utilizing the resources of GLIDE, the company perfected its business plan and is ready to move to the next stage of investments in its product.

“GLIDE helped us immeasurably. We got funding and help with our business plan,” ADI Vice President Jerry Winiasz said. “Without GLIDE, we wouldn’t be where we are today.”

As part of the agreement to receive funding, LCCC students have interned with the company to gain experience in a real-life business and engineering environment. Company executives have also been guest lecturers in classes for LCCC’s new Wind Turbine major, and plan to continue working closely with the program.

Strickland stressed the importance of advances in Ohio’s manufacturing industries and the key role that the state can play. He also urged voters to continue to support the Third Frontier Program, helping Ohio businesses rise to the top.

“The manufacturing sector is what is leading this economy out of the recession,” Strickland said. “Ohio has a supply chain that is second-to-none. That supply chain is flexible and adaptable and can adapt to new technology.”

As ADI continues with test units for the new gearbox, Mike Winiasz said the company will continue to work with local entities to make Lorain County a wind energy capital.

“Energy is the lifeblood of this country,” Mike Winiasz said. “We need alternative energy, and wind will play a large role.”

For more information on the Innovation Fund, visit www.lorainccc.edu/if.

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