Company News

Press Release - October 10, 2007

Compact Membrane Systems Receives National “Model of Excellence” Award

John Bowser, President of Delaware-based Compact Membrane Systems, Inc. (CMS) announced that the company is one of 55 companies in the U.S. to receive the 2007 Tibbetts Award from the Small Business Administration.  The award, presented October 10, 2007 at a ceremony sponsored by the Small Business Technology Council (SBTC) in Washington, D.C., is given to organizations and individuals working in research and development that are “models of excellence” in the area of high technology.  The 2007 award marks the third time that CMS has achieved this distinction.

The company is being recognized for their innovative technology used in a vapor recovery system that will be mandated in California to capture escaping gasoline vapor at pumps and tank vents and return it to underground storage tanks – a technology that prevents air pollution and saves gasoline.

Named for Roland Tibbetts, the person acknowledged as the father of the SBIR program, these prestigious, national awards are made annually to those small firms, projects, organizations, and individuals judged to exemplify the very best in SBIR achievement.  CMS was selected from over 4,000 companies that receive contracts and grants under the SBIR program.  The SBTC plays a crucial role in promoting congressional legislation and federal regulations that aid small, technology-based companies including re-authorization of the SBIR program.

Delaware Senator Tom Carper said, “It is only fitting that an entrepreneurial firm like CMS be recognized by receiving the prestigious Tibbetts Award from the Small Business Administration for its innovative approach to capturing harmful vapors released into the atmosphere, and making our air a little cleaner for our children and their children to breathe.  CMS represents the ingenuity found right here in the United States that can lead the world in addressing climate change and lessen our dependence on foreign oil.  Thanks to CMS, Delawareans may enjoy highly skilled, good paying jobs, while reducing harmful fuel vapors from the air we breathe and stimulating economic development for our state and nation.” 

Since its inception in 1993, the company has received funding from the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program and the many organizations that support the SBIR including the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Energy, National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  In addition, the company receives considerable support from Delaware’s Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) through the State of Delaware Energy Office, the Delaware Economic Development office, as well as Delaware’s congressional delegation.

Press Release - June 4, 2007

Delaware Company Benefits from California Mandate to Reduce Gasoline Emissions

John Bowser, President of Compact Membrane Systems, Inc., reported that the California Air Resources Board has announced forthcoming certification of a vapor recovery system that utilizes Compact Membrane Systems' membrane cartridges for use in the state of California.  This equipment captures escaping gasoline vapor at the pumps and tank vents and returns the gasoline to the underground storage tanks.    Gasoline emissions form smog, are a loss of a nonrenewable resource, and are an unnecessary cost to the station owner.  Compact Membrane Systems is the sole developer and supplier of the membrane technology key to the system, which captures 99% of the gasoline that would otherwise be emitted.

The California Air Resources Board has mandated that 13,000 gasoline stations throughout the state must install certified vapor recovery equipment by April, 2009.   Currently, Compact Membrane Systems has the only technology to be certified for use at approximately 11,500 of these stations.     Historically, many other states adopt California emissions standards.  Full adoption in the USA would result in savings of about 100 million gallons per year and significantly lower smog and ground level ozone pollution.

Stuart Nemser, founder of Compact Membrane Systems, said, “Our company’s membranes have superb chemical and thermal resistance for processing gasoline and other fuels.  Retaining gasoline in underground storage tanks saves energy and is good environmental stewardship.  We anticipate that the core technology will have additional applications which will be good for the environment and reduce our dependence on foreign oil.”

Bowser said, “Several Delaware based companies including DuPont and MEDAL/Air Liquide supported the development of this product and will benefit as suppliers.    We are in the process of expanding our operations as a result of this new business and anticipate that our suppliers will do the same, improving local job opportunities and positively impacting the local economy.”

Early stage funding for the development of this technology was provided by the State of Delaware Energy Office, the Delaware Economic Development Office, the US Department of Energy, Environmental Protection Agency, and National Science Foundation.

Compact Membrane Systems, Inc. is a technology company located in Wilmington, Delaware. It was founded in 1993 by Stuart Nemser after acquiring exclusive rights to specific Dupont patents and fluoropolymers.   Compact Membrane Systems' focus is on the research, development and commercialization of membranes and thin films composed of fluorinated polymers with exceptional gas transport properties and chemical resistance.