Continued Support Leads to Additional Impact
About
eSpin Technologies, Inc. was founded with the mission to develop technology to commercially manufacture nanofibers and nanofiber-based products. eSpin is located at the center of Enterprise South Industrial Park in Chattanooga TN, one of the premier technology corridors in the Southeast. Their manufacturing facility is equipped with state-of-the-art technology for producing a variety of nanofibers. Functioning as a self-funded advanced research facility, eSpin has teamed up with several federal agencies and industrial partners to develop unique solutions for filtration and environmental remediation, functional textiles, and advanced materials. The company has emerged as a global leader in nanofiber technology with commercial manufacturing capabilities and products in the marketplace. eSpin currently manufactures and markets customized non-woven nanofiber rolls (nWeb™) for filtration and functional textiles. They have also launched high performance nanofiber-based Air Filters (exceed ® with nanofibers) for commercial, industrial, and residential customers requiring superior sub-micron particle filtration.
The Challenge
During the beginning stage of the COVID pandemic, eSpin was able to pivot production to support the healthcare industry by providing mask filter materials. As critical supply chain needs improved, eSpin continued their focus on business growth in the automotive, commercial, and residential air filtration markets and requested assistance in conducting an ISO9001:2015 internal audit.
MEP's Role
TMEP, part of the MEP National Network™, assisted eSpin by conducting an ISO9001 internal audit with funding available through the MEP National Network CARES grant. An internal audit is an important function of the ISO9001 certification process as it provides a mechanism by which the company can assess process conformity, evaluate performance, and identify improvement opportunities. A TMEP quality consultant spent two days reviewing current processes, comparing processes to the ISO9001 standard, and identifying gaps that would have led to audit findings. Additionally, TMEP provided advice and coaching on needed adjustments to their processes in relation to the standard. The assistance helped ensure the system was fully implemented and prepared the company for external audits required to maintain ISO9001 certification.
RESULTS
- $650,000 in increased or retained sales
- $868,000 in new investment
- $2,500 in training