News & Press
Hendrik Meerman Joins OPXBIO
20-Year Bioprocess Leader Appointed Director of Fermentation
BOULDER, Colo. – January 31, 2012 – OPX Biotechnologies Inc. (OPXBIO) has added veteran bioprocess engineer Hendrik Meerman to its team working to create bio-chemicals that are cost-effective and renewable replacements for petroleum-based chemicals. Meerman will serve as OPXBIO's director of fermentation development and play a critical role in bringing the company's first product - bio-based acrylic acid – to commercial scale.
"Hendrik's technical knowledge, skills, and experience are exceptionally strong. He is also highly skilled as a team leader and is a great motivator; these traits will reinforce the 'good chemistry' of our team," said Charles (Chas) Eggert, OPXBIO's chief executive officer. "We've set aggressive milestones for scaling up BioAcrylic to commercial production, and Hendrik brings the type of experience we need to meet those milestones."
Meerman has worked in the biotechnology field for the past two decades for companies such as Genencor, Valentis Bioprocessing and Cobalt Technologies. At Cobalt, he led the designing, building and commissioning of bench and pilot-scale bioreactors. He has also been instrumental in the design of demonstration and commercial-scale facilities and holds numerous patents. Meerman earned a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and his master's and doctorate degrees in chemical engineering from the University of Texas at Austin.
Named Colorado's Breakout Cleantech Company of 2011, OPXBIO uses its proprietary EDGE™ (Efficiency Directed Genome Engineering) technology to make renewable, bio-based chemicals and fuels that are more economical and sustainable than existing petroleum-based products. With unprecedented speed and capital efficiency, OPXBIO has developed and piloted the mi-crobe and bioprocess that will produce BioAcrylic at 25-percent lower cost and a 75-percent re-duction in greenhouse gas emissions than petroleum-based acrylic.
"EDGE is one of OPXBIO's most powerful and distinguishing capabilities. I am also excited to work with a team that is passionate about bringing products to reality," Meerman said. "It's clear that 'good chemistry' is much more than a tagline in this company – it's an approach that ensures the company's products deliver the best value. That approach makes me truly happy to join this team."
About OPXBIO
OPXBIO uses its proprietary leading EDGE™ (Efficiency Directed Genome Engineering) technology to manufacture renewable bio-based chemicals and fuels that are lower cost, higher return, and more sustainable than existing petro-based products. With unprecedented speed and capital efficiency, in just 18 months OPXBIO has developed and piloted the microbe and bioprocess that will produce its first renewable chemical product - BioAcrylic - at lower cost than petro-acrylic with a 75% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. The company's second product is diesel fuel bio-processed from carbon dioxide and hydrogen. OPXBIO has raised $64 million with venture investors Altira Group, Braemar Energy Ventures, DBL Investors, Mohr Davidow Ventures, US Renewables Group, Wolfenson Capital Partners, and X/Seed Capital. For more information, visit http://www.opxbio.com, and follow OPXBIO on Twitter.
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