Cavitus is the leading proprietary systems developer and solutions provider of high-power ultrasonics ("HPU") applications for liquid-phase food and beverage processing. Customers benefit from the low operating costs and capital asset productivity gains offered by implementing our solutions, whilst simultaneously improving safety and enhancing product quality. The Company's patent portfolio ranges across HPU cleaning and disinfection, extraction and fermentation management.
Technology
HPU is distinguished from traditional, low-power ultrasonics by the energy transmitted per volumetric measure (e.g., W/cm3), with typical differences measured in orders-of-magnitude. Ultrasonic sound waves cause dissolved gas bubbles present in liquids to expand and contract thousands of times per second, creating internal temperatures of 5000+ Kelvin and pressure of 2000+ atmospheres. When they collapse or implode ("cavitation"), a fast (i.e., 570 km/h), high-shear energy wave is released, which results in a strong agitation action for cleaning and/or etching of hard surfaces; the modification of particles in a liquid or on surfaces at fluid boundaries, or within solid structures where liquid is present; and the break-down of molecular structures.
Applications
The Company's first proprietary product is targeted at the twin industry problems of wine spoilage during the maturation cycle, and shortened barrel life, which result from the ineffective methods of barrel washing and disinfection employed today. Beta testing with select transnational wine companies in North America and Australia will take place in mid-2008.
Cavitus has begun product development embodying its HPU extraction patent for increasing yields and improving process kinetics in tea (batch) and fruit/vegetable (continuous) product processing. The system solution will be retro-fitted to existing manufacturing processes. Beta trials are programmed for the second half of 2009.
The Company has begun pilot trial planning on an ultrasonic defoaming system with international FMCG customers and anticipates full production installations in North America to begin late in 2008.
Partners
Cavitus has developed key R&D relationships with global Fortune 500 wine companies and agribusiness supply-chain processors, in addition to public research institutions. The Company is currently seeking distribution partners with focused expertise in food- and wine-equipment and processing to support Cavitus' growth plans world-wide.
Investors in Cavitus represent a major Australian pension fund, and North American and Australian families associated with the FMCG and wine industries.
Team
Management is led by co-founder and Chief Executive, Ned Strong, whose track record includes successfully co-founding an Australian technology services company in 1997. He is partnered by a world-leader in HPU applications, Darren Bates, Ph.D., and a co-founding team of experts in oenology, food and wine microbiology, and chemical process and product engineering.
The Board of Directors includes a 25-year FMCG and food-packaging executive, as well as an institutional investor representative, and is chaired by an experienced venture capitalist. The Technical Advisory Committee is chaired by a former CTO of E&J Gallo.
