Texas Explosives Company to Use EMRTC Testing Facility

by Shawna Carter

SOCORRO, N.M., Dec. 9, 2005 — Nanotechnologies Inc., an Austin-based explosives company, is spinning off a sister company, Nanoenergetics Inc., which will use the Energetic Materials Research Testing Center (EMRTC) at New Mexico Tech as its main testing facility for new explosive technologies the company hopes to develop and market.

“There is nothing equivalent to EMRTC’s test and evaluation capabilities in Texas, or in my opinion, any other state,” says Dennis Wilson, chief technology officer in charge of the newly created Nanoenergetics.

Nanoenergetics representatives also say that New Mexico’s research and testing assets, economic incentives, growing private investment scene and accessible political leaders make it an ideal place to establish their new setup.

Recently, Nanoenergetics and New Mexico Tech submitted a proposal to the U.S. Department of Justice to develop anti-improvised explosive devices, which could be used by police during a terrorist attack to neutralize certain explosive charges.

Nanoenergetics plans to open its doors in early 2006 with an administrative building in Albuquerque and testing facilities at New Mexico Tech.

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