In a quiet industrial park, just outside downtown Blackville, SC, Climax Global Energy is finalizing its production line for full-scale operation. The company, which has received support by SCRA Technology Ventures‘ flagship program SC Launch, has developed a method for converting mixed-waste plastics into high-quality, usable products such as oil-based lubricants, diesel fuel and commercial waxes.
The company takes plastic waste from recycling companies and landfills and shreds it. Then, using a process involving large microwave emitters, the plastics are chemically broken down into synthetic crude oil. The only byproducts from the conversion is a charcoal-like carbon and light gases, such as butane, methane and propane, which the company intends to use as a source of heat to make the conversion process more efficient. Once the facility is fully online, the production line is expected to turn 10 tons of plastics into 50 barrels of usable synthetic crude oil per day. The crude oil can then be further broken down into high-quality diesel fuel, oil-based lubricant or waxes for use in an industrial setting.
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- CGE receives waste plastics from area recyclers and waste collectors
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- The recovered plastic is mostly grocery bags and plastic bottles.
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- The recovered plastic is sent to a shredder at the end of this conveyor.
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- The shredded plastic is held in silos for use as needed.
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- From the silos, the shredded plastics are converted to synthetic crude oil through a process using microwaves to break down the chemicals.
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- The resulting product is a type of synthetic crude oil that can be broken down further into diesel fuel, heavy oils and industrial waxes.
COO Tom Pinto receives the InnoVision Award from Greg Clark of SCRA Technology Ventures
Climax Global Energy has recently been honored for their innovations and has received an InnoVision Technology Award, which recognizes businesses, individuals and organizations that have demonstrated significant advancements in the areas of innovation and technological progress. Greg Clark of SCRA Technology Ventures received the award on their behalf and presented it to Chief Operating Officer Tom Pinto at the facility in Blackville.
When a recent property deal didn’t work out as expected, the company was supported by the small business support infrastructure in South Carolina through economic development programs in Barnwell County and programs like SC Launch which were able to provide assistance and opportunities, allowing the company to build their production facility in the state. The company already has plans for expansion and has built their current facility with this specifically in mind. Climax Global Energy expects to create at least 20 new jobs in Barnwell County in the near future, but will likely have an even greater impact in the long-term as more jobs are created within the company and along the company’s associated supply chain.
UPDATE (12/10/12): Here is the InnoVision Awards video featuring Climax Global Energy. Make sure to check out the InnoVision Awards on facebook and special thanks to Mojoe.net for producing this video.
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