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| TOM BERRY/Ledger & Times
Pictured is a mobile pulverized fuel delivery system developed by Matrix Engineering of Paducah that utilizes a waste fuel called “petroleum coke” created by gas refining to fuel kilns at paper pulp mills. Use of petroleum waste by-products cuts the use of industrial oil and natural gas putting more on the open markets and keeping down prices for consumers. |
Murray State center plays role in engineering business expansion
By TOM BERRY
Staff Writer
PADUCAH, Ky. - Murray State University's Innovation and Commercialization Center was instrumental in the expansion of a Paducah engineering business with promise to use waste by-products from petroleum production to fuel machinery producing pulp paper while saving vital oil and natural gas resources.
Gov. Steve Beshear, MSU President Randy Dunn and officials with Matrix Engineering PLLC announced during a press conference Friday that $500,000 Economic Development Bond High-Tech Grant from the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development. Matrix officials will match the grant for a total investment of $1 million.
Matrix Engineering, which has been in business for 15 years, is a supplier of petroleum waste-fuel equipment for the pulp and paper industry. The investment is expected to help the business expand its customer base and bring 20 new high-tech jobs averaging salaries of more than $50,000 to western Kentucky over the next three years.
Beshear commended the joint education-business effort as an example of what can happen when Kentuckians work together and as an example of keeping a promise to Kentuckians to move the state's economy into the future.
“And one of the things that we are doing is what we are doing right here today,” he said. “What an exciting thing this is for west Kentucky...We will continue to become a state, not only where things are put together, but where ideas, technology and inventions are developed and where creativity and innovation are actually fostered.”
Beshear emphasized that the cooperative effort will help keep existing Kentucky businesses strong while growing new ones.
“Because when we help our own business to expand we can create jobs faster than we could ever create than just by recruiting businesses from someplace else.” he said.
Dunn also commended the university's contribution to the effort as an example of what is possible now and in the future.
“Many of you have heard me say this before. One of the defining missions, one of the defining elements of a strong, regional comprehensive university is to be engaged in outreach and partnership within the region we serve,” Dunn said. “The regional center that we operate through the College of Business and Public Affairs, the RDIC, has been very involved in working with Matrix and we're just glad to be a part of that activity because we think it is an exemplar for what you call upon your regional, state university to do.”
According to Beshear and Matrix engineer Michael Eck, the business's proprietary technology in the development of an advanced fuel feed system called “pet coke” has helped many industries save energy and reduce costs for fuel. The use of petroleum waste products in pulp and paper mills for fuel keeps more gasoline and natural gas on the market ensuring availability to homes and businesses as well as keeping down the cost.
To read the entire article, pick up a copy of Saturday's Murray Ledger & Times.
Story created Aug 02, 2008 - 00:06:17 EDT.
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