K-State's Technology Development Institute assists company in development of new prototype device
Thursday, April 20, 2023
K-State's Technology Development Institute provided design and production assistance to NORDEF, based in Shawnee, to create a prototype device to produce diesel exhaust fluid and continue to expand the company's business. | Download this photo.
MANHATTAN — Kansas State University's Technology Development Institute has provided design and production assistance to a technology-based company, NORDEF, to create a prototype device to produce diesel exhaust fluid and continue to expand the company's business.
NORDEF seeks to reduce nitrogen oxide, or NOx, emissions and single-use plastic bottles by producing diesel exhaust fluid on demand as needed in an effort to reduce transportation costs, reduce waste and produce a more cost-effective product for customers. Diesel exhaust fluid is a combination of ultra-pure water and urea, a nitrogenous compound. The diesel exhaust fluid is injected into the exhaust of a diesel engine to reduce NOx emissions.
The company, based in Shawnee, was formed in 2019 and entered the Digital Sandbox program in 2020, where they were able to obtain funding needed to file for patent protection of the concept. The company then contacted the Technology Development Institute, or TDI, to assist in the creation of a computer-aided design model and ultimately fabrication of an initial prototype unit.
TDI utilized its innovation stimulus program with funding provided by the Economic Development Administration to cover the design costs of the system. The institute then worked with the team at NORDEF to make an application to the Kansas Department of Commerce proof-of-concept program in order to cover the cost of producing the initial prototype.
Engineers at TDI took a detailed bill of materials from NORDEF and designed a virtual model of the prototype system as envisioned by the entrepreneurs. After several iterations and adjusting for parts that were unavailable given the global supply chain shortage, the virtual model was completed, and work began on device fabrication.
"Working with TDI has been an excellent experience as they understand both the technology as well as the challenges we face as a small start-up company," said William Walls, a founding partner of NORDEF. "We would not have been able to continue to move our technology forward without both the technical and business support that TDI has provided to us."
TDI completed the fabrication and testing of the prototype device in late 2022, at which time NORDEF was selected from more than 70 to compete in the Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge held in Puerto Rico in January 2023. NORDEF won the contest and was awarded $50,000 to continue to grow and expand the company.
The Technology Development Institute is in K-State's Carl R. Ice College of Engineering. It is a U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration University Center that provides a broad range of engineering and business development services to both private industry and university researchers to advance the commercial readiness of new products or technologies.
