Kurt Brandt, president of Pewaukee-based Brandt Innovative Technologies, was a freelance consultant after obtaining his PhD in physics when he realized his true path in life was to be an inventor and entrepreneur, instead of a university researcher.
Brandt Innovative Technologies consists of a group of engineers and physicists who perform research and development and system integration services. The main focus of the group’s innovations is sensor technology, Brandt said.
The company is currently working on creating a spin-off company called Abiolux, selling the innovation Abiolux, a non-invasive container inspection device. Using handheld sensor technology and a database containing fingerprint-type data on different material make-ups, Abiolux can identify the contents of almost any container while it is still closed.
Brandt Innovative Technologies has already received a $100,000 grant and a $750,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Defense for research and development. The product took third place in the Wisconsin Governor’s Business Plan Contest in 2005 and has also received small state grants.
The spin-off company already has its management in place, including a chief executive officer, chief financial officer and senior executives. Abiolux will be a separate company from Brandt Innovative Technologies, but Brandt will serve as the primary owner.
The company plans to sell Abiolux systems for $40,000 to $50,000. Brandt said he expects to be manufacturing 3,000 units per year by the year 2011.
“There are a lot of applications for Abiolux in different markets,” Brandt said.
