Michelin Researcher Seeks to Perfect New Manufacturing Process

After a quarter of century at Michelin North America, one of the company’s top researchers has launched his own high-tech start up company. Drawing upon experience gained during his time with the tyre maker, former director of external research Ralph Hulseman plans to build a company around a technology that allows the moulding of microstructures and nanostructures into curved surfaces.

In a report published in The Greenville News, a paper from Michelin North America’s hometown, Hulseman said the new technology has the potential to change the look, feel and performance of a wide variety of everyday products. For example, he said, vinyl flooring could be made to feel like carpet. “It can be applied to anything that’s made in moulds,” he said.

Hulseman added that Michelin supports his new endeavour after a quarter century of corporate life. “Michelin realised that one way to develop the technology was to have a third party commercialise it, and so eventually I asked if I could leave the company and try to do that,” he said. “Everyone hopes that Michelin may be a customer some day – as well as a lot of other companies.”