Company Profile

In January 2001, it was announced that MgB₂, a compound that was well known to chemists, was superconducting up to 39 Kelvin. Building on this discovery, Hyper Tech was formed in 2001 to develop MgB₂ for use in wire form using methods scalable to large production capacity. Since then, the Hyper Tech team has developed and patented continuous tube forming and filling (CTFF) process in order to make a powder metallurgy based MgB₂ superconductor wire.

Through contracts with the Department of Defense, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, National Institutes of Health, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the State of Ohio, Hyper Tech has put together a combined investment of more than $10 million for product development and now has backlog of $4 million. This government research and development investment has propelled Hyper Tech into becoming a world leader in commercializing MgB₂ superconductor wire.

Hyper Tech’s facility contains the proprietary equipment necessary to manufacture MgB₂ superconducting wire of varying diameters and lengths. A team of 20 engineers, scientists and technicians has been assembled to develop and produce the superconducting wires and related products. While the primary product is the superconductor wire, Hyper Tech builds superconducting coils for various applications and is scaling up production capability to meet the anticipated demand. Hyper Tech is marketing MgB₂ superconductor wires targeted for MRI applications and has cooperative relationships with the four major companies for applying MgB₂ superconductor wire to MRI devices. This is projected to be the commercial market that will allow Hyper Tech to lower the wire cost to a level such that it will be economical for power systems applications as well.

The effort to market MgB₂ superconductor wire for MRIs has readied Hyper Tech to move into power system applications. This will require strategic relationships with system integrators and electrical system manufacturers in order to develop commercial and military electrical equipment. Working with selected partners, the first power electrical component targeted for development is a superconducting FCL.

Facilities

Hyper Tech’s 8,600-square-foot facility contains equipment necessary to manufacture MgB₂ superconducting wire of varying diameters and lengths. This includes powder processing equipment, a CTFF machine, die sets, draw benches and capstans, roll pointers and swagers, and annealing and heat treatment furnaces.

Hyper Tech's current location in a business center in Columbus, Ohio, near The Ohio State University

Hyper Tech continues to upgrade its facility to keep pace with the demands for its research efforts and superconducting wire development.

Set of tube furnaces used for heat treatment

Expanded wire drawing capacity put in place in 2005