Hasta La Ideas

Like so many others, we were duly impressed with the first videos of Ross Nanotechnology’s proprietary superhydrophobic coating NeverWet when they hit the web just under two years ago. The product has since been licensed by Rust-Oleum, allowing “NeverWet to focus on developing and refining products without getting lost in the issues related to manufacturing and selling them.” The Lancaster Online article continues:

“We look at ourselves as an innovation company, not as a manufacturer,” [Daniel Hobson, NeverWet’s chief executive officer,] said.

The Conestoga Valley Industrial Park company’s first innovation began as its then-parent’s solution to a basic, industrial problem. About five years ago, Ross Technology Corp. needed a better way to reduce corrosion on the steel products it makes here. When they couldn’t find one, they decided to make something on their own.

But soon, the small group of scientists working on the anti-corrosive coating saw a lot of new possibilities for the nano-particle coating that kept things clean, dry and free of bacteria and ice. The group became Ross Nanotechnology, a subsidiary of Ross Technology Corp.

As of about four weeks ago, NeverWet has been available at Home Depot for just under $20 a pop. After seeing the video above and a similar (unembeddable) demo on the product page on Home Depot, I was strongly considering getting my hands on it to try it out… until I started reading the reviews.

(more…)