Owner/CEO's Name & Business's Name
Robert Gaubert
Odor Control Technology, Inc.
Year Established
1991
Current Year Revenue (Optional - please include year)
Company sold prior to 2009.
Why is your business unique and what's your pitch?
Chemical and Equipment Manufacturer
Built Specialty Chemicals and Engineered Application Systems to remove nuisance particulate matter in controlling environmental compliance.
What led you to start the business?
After the implementation of the Clean Air Act in the early 1990, companies were forced to implement systems to meet the compliance of the Clean Air Act, but the systems failed to meet the full compliance and firms were being fined as not complying with the law.
A void remained on how to take care of remaining chemical particulates coming out of the emission stack, and designed scrubber systems were either too costly or not efficient. I saw an opportunity to design and manufacturer specialty chemicals to bond with these particulate substances, removing the remaining nuisances to fully comply with Environmental Laws.
Through trial and error, I was able to build and develop from concept the manufacturing of specialty chemicals, and engineered application systems used for emission stack management, further processing entities, and water management programs in controlling environmental conditions necessary for compliance.
The chemical manufacturing facility was designed, from concept, and built over a period of time to meet standardization in organized implemented computerization processing, lean manufacturing, computerized monitoring, material tracking, inventory controls and material ordering data base management. The design met an ISO Standards of quality measurement, and policies. The Engineered Applications Systems were built and customize to meet each individual purchase order and were architected and manufactured meeting UL, CSA & CE Standards. Standardization and Cost saving techniques were implemented throughout the manufacturing process.
Sales calls consisted on taking a plant survey, full plant visit, in gathering of all pertinent information to fully understand the client’s issues and problems. Engineering maps, processing designs and pictures of the clients operations were gathered for internal usage and design specifications.
The design and implementation team installed the application system at the client’s location, monitoring through the clients control room, with sensor technology. Programs were established for the chemical bonding with these particulate substances, on a 24 hours basis, in the removal the remaining nuisances to fully comply with Environmental Laws.
The business grew locally, and throughout the US and Canada. The firm was written up in many industry publications as an innovative technology leader. A Fortune 500 firm partnered as a subsidiary leading to a purchase. In short, the concept paid off.
Lessons Learned
- The business was self funded and grew organically which limited the growth of the business.
- Hiring of the wrong management team caused some delay in growth.
- Managing operations losing the visionary focus for meeting market demands.
- Need to prepare a road map for success and follow the plan.